' V
VOLUME XXIV
(Tuesday)
WARRENTON, N. C, F RIDAY, OCTOBER 17, 1919
(Friday)
NUMBER 82
A SEMI-WEEKLY NEWS PAPER DEVOTED TO THE INTERESTS OP WARRENTON AND WARREN COUNTY
5c. THE COPY
uir u, ws
HOW THE TORNADO LEFT CORPUS CHRISTI, TEX.
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ORTH CAROLINA'S THREE
PLANS OF TAXATION
!
An Explanation of The System
of Revaluation; The $300 Ex
emption and The Income Tax.
Amendment To Be Voted.
Ail over North Carolina there is
much interest in the State. s new tax
ation policy and many inquires as to
just what is proposed.
The matter has already been ex
plained in The Progressive Farmer,
but since that was several months
oao it seems well to explain the mat
ter afresh to our farmers who are now
reporting on their land values.
1. The $300 Tax Emption
The new taxation policy of the
State aims at three things:
(1) Honesty in assessments.
(2) A reduction in tax rate to cor
respond to the increase in assessed
values.
(3) Provision for lightening the
burdens of poverty and industry, and
putting a larger share of the burdens
of taxation on men with large in
comes.
With regard to the latter point, we
may note in the outset that the recent
Legislature was the first one to take
advantage of the authority given it
by the Constitution to provide a $300
xemption for tax-payers, this provis
ion of the new law reading as follows:
"From and after the year 1919 there
shall be allowed an exemption for
each person of wearing. apparel, arms
for muster, household and kitchen
furniture, the mechanical and agricul
tural instruments of mechanics and
farmers, laborers and scientific instru
ments, and provisions, not exceeding
a total value of three hundred dol
lars."
II. The Revaluation Plan
Now about the plans for securing
just assessments. In the past every
body understood that he was permit
ted to list property for ' something
less than its real value; and the re
suit was that the more pliable a man's
conscience, the lower the rate he nam
ed; and this thing had grown worse
and worse year after year: until it has
amounted to a state disgrace. For a
man to list his property at its real
value meant that he would have to
pay practically twice as much tax as
he ought to pay. Such a system en
couraged lying, and corrupted public
morals at the fountain head. If the
sworn officials of he state set the ex
ample of assessing, real estate at 33 1
per cent of its value, how could the
state expect the individual taxpayer
to list his personal property at 100
percent? '
Now all this is to be changed. Here
after every property owner Jn the
state is expected to list every cent's
worth of property he owns and list
't at what it would bring if offered for
sale under favorable conditions, and
ot merely at its probable .selling
Price at a forced sale.
X
Now if this plan for revaluing prop
erty for taxation were offered with
out assurance that the tax rate would
be correspondingly cut, of course this
Plan would largely fail. It specifical
ly provides, however, that as assessed
values increase, the tax rate must de
crease. It is provided that the amount
f tax collected by the state, or by any
county, city, town, or special tax dis
tricts shall not exceed a 10 per cent
"Urease in the amount now raised by
taxation. Consequently if assessed
values are increased 200 per cent, as
tney probably will be, the tax rate per
Ki.'O vorth of property will be pro
Prti nally reduced, plus the nominal
ly Per cent increase. Mr. A. J. Max
ell , who is the state's foremost tax
authority, expressed the postive opin
ion, in fact, that under this revalua
tion plan, the average tax rates will
b reduced to about one-fourth the
Present rates.
The state tax commission will su
pervise assessments and valuations
through a scientifically designed sys
Je,n so that the man who voluntarily
sts his property at full value is go-
be .compelled to do the same
lng. This new valuation recently
egan, arid it will take about a year to
eet this monumental task done for the
w-iitState Then the legislature
be called 'together and the tax
ial t PGr 10 f or state county, spec
tax district and municipal purpos
First photograpbLfrom Corpus Chrlsti, Tex., showing some of the destruction
hundreds of persons and did immense property damage.
es will be cut just in proportion as
valuations have been increased.,
III. The Income Tax Constitutional
Amendment
But some one may say, "While "tile
Legislature forbade an immediate in
crease exceeding one-tenth in amount
of taxes collected, will not this soon
be increased as a result of .revalua
tion?"
We think not, and for a very impor
tant reason.
The big purpose of this revaluation
of property is not to increase the
amount of taxes to secure justice and
equality in assessment. Then in or
der to provide larger revenues for tho
state and give us the necessary money
for the many important tasks which
an advancing civilization . places on
the commonwealth better schools,
better roads, better health, better
care of the unfortunate, etc. the Leg
islature submits to the people anoth
er important plan. At the election in
November, 1920, 'the people will vote
on a constitutional amendment au
thorizing the state to tax the income
of the wealth v. without regard to
whether any particular income is de
rived from invested wealth or other
wise. We hope evry Progressive Farmer
reader will now make up his mind to
vote for this amendment and urge
others to do so. Heretofore we have
ha J a shameful system in No :th Caro
lina. Incomes u2v.:ved from labor have
been taxable, while incomes derived
from invested capital have been ex
empt from taxation, under constitu
tional provisions. Thus it is said that
a famous tobacco manufacturer of
this state had an income of about a
half a million dollars a year from his
property, and was not required to pay
one cent of income tax on it, while nis
stenographer or clerk getting $1,250
a year or more was required to pay
an income tax. In England for years
it has been the plan to put a heavier
tax on "unearned irfcomes," that is to
say, on those derived from one's labor
or profession. Our North -JCarolina
plan has been on the other extreme,
and the voters of the state ought .to
pile up 100,000 majority for chang
ing it, just as they did for changing
the constitution so as to provide a six
rnonth's school term.
A great part of the state's wealth
5s concentrated in the hands of a com- j
paratively few wealthy persons, and
it only fair that they bear a larger
of taxation. This
lis all the proposed income tax amend
Ul Ull
ment means. Progressive r armer.
SCHOOL AND FARM
It ought to dawn on some of us fair
ly soon that better education is not
simply a matter of finer buildings and
apparatus, more pay, more taxes,
more organization. These tmngs are
all helpful, but there must be some ac
tive spring of life in the child to now
out through the growth cnanneis
which schooling can set.
The teacher builds on the solid foun
dation of new resources, better equip
ped homes,- bigger cattle, more skiii
fully attended fields, more productive
crops. To popularize gardens, to de
vise better ways of storing, moying,
and selling food, to multiply public
markets, to clear the entire path from
the farm to the family 'supper table
au such improvements help, directly
and mightly, to make a moe effec
tive education possible.
In this time of change we must take
account of realities and make sure of
our., foundations. The foundation of
the good school is the good farm.
Cllier's Magazine.
Return Is Led
By Maynard
Cheyenne, Wyo., Oct. 15. Lieut.
Maynard, leader in the trans-continental
air derby, arrived here at 4:24 p.
m., after flying from, Salt Lake City,
in four minutes less that four hours,
breaking all records.
Lieut. Maynard said he expected to
make New York City by Friday. A
reception in his honor had been plan
ned tonight by officers at Fort Rus
sell, but he refused to stay, wishing to
make Sidney, Neb., before night. He
was in the best of spirits and was
still accompanied by his German po
lice dog. He left for ' the east at
5 o'clock.
At Sidney, Neb., For the Night
Sidney, Neb., Oct. 15. Lieut. May
nard, blazing the way to the eastern
terminal in the air flight, as he did in
his trip from Mineola, N. Y., to San
Francisco, arrived here tonight at
5:45, mountain time, making the
ninety-three miles from Cheyenne,
Wyo., in 33 minutes. Maynard will
remain here overnight.
He said he had 'encountered fine
weather during the latter part of the
day. He plans to leave here for
North Platte at Sunrise tomorrow. If
he is able to maintain as good speed
tomorrow as he did on his westward
flight, he will be in Chicago by night.
He left 'Battle Mountain, Nev., at 7:33
this morning, Pacific coast time. The
distance from Battle Mountain o Sid
ney is about 740 miles. The "Flying
parson is in excellent health and
Lps.
PRESIDENT WILSON GRAD
UALLY IMPROVING IN HEALTH
Washington, Oct: 15. Absence of
any new complication in President
Wilson's ilness brought from his bed
side late today the assurance that he
is "getting better," elimination of the
recent annoyance caused by a slightly
enlarged gland has removed the only
outstanding obstacle to his convales
cence and about the White House
there was manifested a decided atmos
phere of optimism. t
With the exception of the news
furnished him by Mrs. Wilson, the
President has learned very little 3i
national and - international develop
ments although he is given daily a
general summary of events. He has
at times expressed a keen desire for
more comprehensive reports and has
asked Rear Admiral Grayson his per
sonal physician, for news but always
Dr. Grayson has succeeded in keeping
away from his patient information
that might prove, trying to his nerves
with the reminder that as a. physician
he has been too busy to keep in touch
with government subjects.
The President's appetite is reported
t.n he as erood as expected and a recur
rence of the glandular trouble, is not f
anticipated. Unly a moderate rate oi
recovery is looked for and indications
official and otherwise, are that the im
provement announced today may be
continued.
Night Bulletin
Washington, pet. 15. Only the fol
lowing brief statement was issued by
Read Admiral Grayson, the Presi
dent's physician, at 10:30 o'clock to
night: "The President has had a satisfac
tory day."'
The headache from which: he was
suffering early in the. day, it was
learned, had disappeared.
wrought by the tornado which killed
The New Law
For Juveniles
(By Roy land F. Beasley, State Com
missioner of Public Welfare.)
The juvenile court is the means
whereby it is f oUnd that . dependent
neglected and delinquent children can
be saved from lives of failure and dis
aster and made to grow into useful
and law-abiding citizens.
This is very good for the child; all
will admit. It is equally good for so
ciety. Paupuers and criminals are
liabilities to the taxpayers. Law-abiding
citizens are an asset.
The juvenile court principle is now
being applied all over the United
States and in foreign countries. It is
one of the great forward steps of the
age, and the most important advance
in court methods in years. It can no
more be checked than the public
school. It is here to stay and be im
proved. The juevnile court can't save every
child. 'v But is has been proven that
when the system is properly carried
out it will save seventy-five per cent
of them. That is more than worth the
money.
It costs the taxpayers ten times
more to capture try, punish, and
maintain an adult criminal than it
does to save a juvenile delinquent.
All the children in North Carolina
under sixteen years of age who are
delinquent, neglected, or dependent,
are under the jurisdiction of the juve
nile court.
Every juvenile court has a proba
tion officer whose business it is to in
vestigate every case of such children,
lay -the facts before the judge, and
then carry out the decision of the
court. ' This is called probation work.
The court stands in the relation of
parent to such children, and will dis
cipline, ) guide and control them
through probation, just as a wise fath
er would.
The court may punish a child if it
is necessary, but wayward children
are more in need of wise guidance and
just discipline and friendly help than
of punishment.
The judge is the kind and wise fath
er, the probation officer is the fbig
(Continued On Third Page)
MICKIE SAYS
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Apology
NEWS & OBSERVER MAKES
AMENDS AND RETRACTION
For Article Asserting 1 "War
rants Are Issued Against
Court Officers Charging Them
With Theft"; Four Roses Case
The following editorial from the
pen of our neighbor the News & Ob
server is but doing simple justice to
Mr. John D. Newell and his deputy
Mr. Frank B. Newell, Jr. Of course,
we all make mistakes in Newspaper
dom, and we are quite sure the News
& Observer gladly retracts the dam
aging misinformation it gave to its
readers. In fact there is too much
proness among the Press to print the
sensational to bring out in big head
lines news, that too often should not
be printed, to magnify the news, so to
speak. Of course this applies to all
of us, but that does not prevent it
1 ' 1 1 1 WW
j.rom Demg Daa policy, we are
therefore glad to reproduce " the edi
torial from the News & Observer be
cause it is simply doing justice to Mr.
Newell, and .because we are quite sure
the News & Observer is glad to give
all publicity to its
RETRACTION AND APOLOGY
In the News and Observer of Sep
tember 10 there was printed a special
from Norlina in which certain sate
ments were made that reflected upon
Hon. John D. Newell, clerk of the Su
perior Court of Warren county, and
his chief deputy, Frank B. Newell.
Jr. The special was published in reg
ular, course. On September 11 Hon.
John D. Newell sent a statement cor
recting the special in question and set
ting the matter aright. This was
promptly published in the edition of
September 13.
It was, of course, far from our in
tention to misrepresent or injure Mr.
Newell or those in his office. In the
busy round of a newspaper office the
editor has.no opportunity to put his
information to a final test.
Mr. Newell has formally complain
ed of us, however, and we desire to
fully meet his wishes in the matter.
He has pointed out three particulars
in which the special complained of
contained false statements, s fol
lows: '
1. That part of the headlines to said
article which says, "Warrants Are
Issued! Against Court Officers. Charg
ing Them With Theft." ' '
2. That part of the body of said ar
ticle which says: "Charging the theft
of eleven- quarts of whiskey, .warrants
were sworn out yesterday against
John D. Newell, clerk of the Superior
Court, and his chief deputy, Frank B.
Newell, Jr." -
3. That part of the body of said ar
ticle which says: "Warrants were is
sued and the case goes to the Super
ior Court next week for a full and
complete investigation."
We hereby retract the above set-
out statements, and disavow any in-
ention to misrepresent or injure .Mr.
Newell or those in his office, and we
freely tender him our -apologies for
their publication. The News ahd Ob
server tries to. print all the news that
is fit to print; and whenever we make
a mistake our readers need no assur
ance that it was unintentional, and
that we are at all times glad to make
corrections and amends.
"BRIDGET!" HIRE OUT TO US.
"Bridget!" hire out to us and be our
cook,
With favor please on our household
look,
All evenings to yourself if you prefer;
No washing to do One Hundred Dol
lars per.
You shall have a phonograph,
Our "soda-fizz" you may freely quaff;
And when the Sherig's friends drop in,
Serve" lemonade, champagne and gin.
The parlor room and bath for yoa
aside, -And
if you are not gratified
With the parlor and the bath you to
chose; . N
"Go as far as you like" to use.
Your expenses whatever the amount
May all be charged to our account,
If you'll but come to our household
' nook,
(Continued On Third Page)
STATE BOARD OF HEALTH
DISCUSSES POSSIBILITIES
Past Experience Would Say So;
Board Urges Adoption of Safe
Policy With Every Precaution
Against Reappearance.
The epidemic of influenza will recur
this winter, if the germ that causes it
is not worn out in killing people, if
we have no artificial means quaran
tine or vaccination for controlling
the disease, or if it has not already af
fected all of the population that is
susceptible. But note the three "ifs";
any one of them can prevent or limit
the recurrence of the epidemic. It it,
therefore, necessary, in arriving at a
satisfactory answer to our question,
will the epidemic recur this winter,
that we understand the three possible
I factors that limit the duration of epi-
Idemics. As suggested, these three
tactors are:
First: The loss of virulence by the
infective germ which causes an epi
demic as a factor in the cessation, of
the epidemic, is an extremely remote
probability almost too remote to dis
cuss.. The writer is unable to find any
references in the literature available
to him on this question; indeed the
science of batcerioloby teaches the re-.
verse, that infective germs gain rath
er than lose virulence during an epi
demic. Germs are . small vegetable
forms, and it is a matter of common
observation that successive genera
tions of plants, the soil in which they
grow remaining the same, become
more vigorous rather than less vig
orous. It, , therefore, does not seem
reasoname nor prooaoie tnat epi
demics, including influenza, stop be
cause of the exhaustion of the infec
tive germs.
Second: Artificial means, such as
quarantine and vaccination, may be
effectively applied in the control of
some epidemics, as diphtheria, typhoid
scarlet fver, yellow fever, etc., but
there is no evidence to show, and there
are no health officers of dependable
reputation who believe, that any epi
demic of influenza has ever been or
can be controlled or stopped with our
present means. The most that can be
done by artificial means, such as pre
venting public assemblages, is to re
tard the progress of an epidemic so
tnat available medical and nursing
care may be adequate - to the emer
gency. 4
Third: The consumption of the in
fective material, susceptible fuel, ren
dering it immune like the unstricken
portion of the population, is, by the
exclusion of ' the other two possible
factors, the responsible factor and the
sole f actor in limiting the duration of
an influenza epidemic. To -recur to
the illustration above used: The
farmer knows what clover sick land
is; that it is land on which clover has
been grown for a number of years un
til some of the chemical elements of
the soil Necessary to the life of the
clover has been so completely con
sumed by the successive crops that
the soil can no longer produce, tue
clover which for several seasons grew
luxuriantly; and in the same way and
for the same reason the soil becomes
sick, unable to produce any crop rais
ed continuously upon it for a number
of years. So with epidemics; they can
begin, spread, and exist only on non
immune, susceptible populations, and
when the susceptible population has
been affected and made immune, the
epidemic, under natural laws, must
stop.
Now comes the real question: What ,
percentage of the influenza susceptible
population did the epidemic of last
winter affect? On our ability to an
swer this question would seem to rest
our right to draw conclusions as to
the prevalence of influenza this fall
and winter. The history of influenza
extends back over a period of 800
years and recording about 100 epi
demics, indicates than an ' epidemic
usually involves about 40 per cent of
the population. Recalling the more
recent epidemics (that of last year ex
cepted), the epidemics . of 1890, 'Ul,
and '92, and that of 1900, '01, and '02,
we had involvement during the entire
course of these epidemics of perhaps
40 per cent of the population, possible
50 per cent. In both of these last two
mentioned . epidemics there was dur
ing the several years of their preva
(Continued On Fourth Page)