North Carolina Newspapers

1 coir-ty. tie tae v ik.i celled yarn j ..factnring -center ef tit ". I .h, now. ranks fourth ia ' ' rtca; 1.025.92J findlei PfCTr fl ia a city.af . !T 7 V1 beautiful home and proiperous" people a place worth living ia. Popu lation 12.871; 123 p. c g ain. HXMBEK Or THS ASSOCIATED PRESS ; ; - iVs vi-i, .. av. , . .. V " W :... 3f It -! -:!- - if.,-.:. : GASTONiA.N.C., WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON, AUGUST 11, tC20. SINGLE fOPY 5 CCftT X t :7frniinn nirrfCTTiJ? PircPAnr ii 4 mmsmmm. In bia taxation -message to toe General '.Aneetublr Governor Bkkeft said: For manjr years the tax books of North 'Carolina presented the comedies of error H !ad tragedies ' of - injustice. These . un - lovely exhibitions t were not due to any principle in out organic law, not, to any aneral perversion of. our people. The eon' titutioa has always required property to 4e listed for taxation, at its true .value. " .'.The average eitken bs always desired to " peak the truth and todo equir. The errors and inequalities) that have made our ' tax boots look like the minutes of an Aaaniaa club were born of machines acts fitter ry unsuited to modern conditions and ' Jiopelessly inadequate' to' execate the vir r tuoos wishes of the people,' as declared in tha plain language of the constitution. Thia general assembly at vtha regular , session of 1919 consecrated Itself te the ' task of devising a machinery act Jthat . would find al lthe property in the state jand dtermine its true value, - ; am grateful to report that thia high purpose fiaa been accomplished with' remarkable . completeness lanoLPacisUn. i Tor the first time ia our history tax values are true walues. 'For the first time the eitiaen and ' atranger within our gatesmay go to (the tax books and find a fairly accurate , inventory of the property of the state and ,-.je fairly -accurate appraisement of its ., walue. , la 'he . aew machinery acts the , - geople were for' the first' time,, seriously ;' Asked to tell the truth and they; bare re sponded to thia appeal in noble fashion. (From every quarter of the state word has icoma thai the people are happy to "get ,;ay from the old system of concealments And evasions and to let the exact truth . , about their property stand .forth. '4', : No ' ueh august array of -witnesses has ever teen assembled to appear in the highfia - aueaLthat Jhas just been completed. For in the diligent and devout search for the aihinurte facts every property' owner in . the state was put upon the stand and sol mnjy swore to tell the truth,' the whoje 'truth and 'nothing but the truth. The , findings follow the testimony. The values " fixed are the crystalization of the sworn evidence of alt the people. ;; - Taking the state ; as a- whole seventy - Jive per eeut of the assesments were made -, t substantially the values sworn to by t. the ownef of the property; twenty per-- ent were substantially increased, and five ' y gtercent were decreased. ; x -The law gives to every" property owner . - the right to appeal from the judgment of .' 'the eounty board, te the state tax eommis ' aion. The local authorities approximated true fl!uee so closely that not one person" in a thousand appealed from their judg Xanent. .This Is a record without a parallel V 4Jn the history1 of judreial tribunals. -The v real grievance voiced by a few people it xtot against the4 failure of" the act, but is Against its success '' w"'"--. ' V ..The , high 'objective of the act is to ' equalise the burdens of , taxation 'and to wipe; but ,: discrimination."? And just in proportion as-true values have appeared ' on the-tax books, errors and inequalities have vanished. True values are always , - equal values, but neither wisdom nor vir " tuet noiv (principalities nor powers, nor length nor breadth, nor heighth nor depth, - nor things present nor things to come, aior any other creature can equalize . : kettle of lies, ,v ' Illustrations i are always better than rgumenta,,By thefr fruits ye'shall know them. , Therefore' I give to you four typi , al illustrations of "what has been done in every nook and corner of the state. , 1. In one of our county seats there lives upon the same street a lawyer and a -,, "widow, f The lawyer oWnaa valuable piece of property in a desirable portion of the , town, and', this, tinder the old system was . .' assessed at 3,80. The widow had $10,- 000 that she hadjreceived from life insur ance policies -on her husband. , This money was loaned on real estate mort- cages which were listed for taxation af , .their par value of $10,000.' .Under the re valuation act the property" of, the lawyer waa valued at $15,000, and he can get this sun oast of money for it any morning be fore breakfast Under the law, the wid- nw in proportion to her real worth was - paying, four times as much taxes as the lawyer. Under the new law this wicked' nesa is wiped out, and both the lawyer and the widow are paying according to sjrhat they are really worth. -.The result is that the lawyer ia cursing the revaluation aet and swearing that he is going to ire 5 peal it, while the widow is praising God sukd the general assembly of 1919 for its enaetinent, v ' "S ' i , Gentlemen,-what are you going te do about itt Are you going to make .the lawyer - chuckle with satanie glee, or trengthen the faith of the widow in God .. and in meat g.i "fr '' ''. 2..' In one of our piedmont counties the experts of $he tax commission examined - two cotton mills." They found that one mill was on the tax books at 17 per cent f its real value, while the other mill was the books at 65 per cent of itsjreal - '!. "Under ' the revaluation act this V'Y' are placed on the books at their true value. and. this' year the. 17 per cent mill will pay a great deal more taxes than it has heretofore paid, whife the $5 percent mill win pay a great deal less. v ; : y In -a eertain county, . and : in the same neighborhood, Ihere then lived two farmers, one on twelve acres,' and the other on a fifty acre farm. ; Under, the old law the twelve acre farm waa assessed- a $800- and the vflf ty. acre, farm likewise at $600. .' New .when tlese farmers received their fuestioimaires the twelve acre farm er swore that his land: was worth (650. The fifty acre farmer swore that his land waa7 worth $4,000." ; 'Under the revalua tion act, the', two honest' citizens, when they, have the 'opportunity to do lOj corrected a rank injustice. '.-; v .;, -: 4. In another county a man had ,a son and daughter. , la his wil he stated that he desired to' give them an equal amount of property. . He had a farm wich in his .will, he said was worth $19,000. and U is worth it. J wiU briifg that amount on the market any' morning. He gave this farm to his son and then he gaves his "daughter . e)10,000 in money. When thesheriff came around he collect ed fromhe daughter five times as much taxes as he -did -from the son.;, The daugh- J ter naturally eompUiaed about it and ask ed the Sheriff why she should have to pay. five times as much taxes as the brother, when their, father had given - them, iSfl amount of property. The sheriff explain ed to her that' the land was assessed at only $2,000, though he admitted that, it was worth tea thousand, while the money was assessed at ten thousand, and that he, (the sheriff) had no power to change it. The revaluation act does change it It carries out the will of the dead father and makes fne son and daughter equal before the law. .. A;! , "'' .Inequalities like those just cited (and there are tens of thousands of them in the state) Jve been tolerated : because they were not known. All that waa necessary to kill them was to uncover them, and the revaluation act is exposing them iu all their; naked ugliness. Who wants to throw over these inequalities, the mantle of an old machinery act that always went blind when the true valuej of property ap pears? Hid Treasurers. The beloved and lamentedHohii Charles McNeill, in one of his juciest poems writes : "I knowed a' ol' woman wut scrubbed f- and hoed v En never' didn't go nowhar -t En when she died the people knowed Dat'she had supp'n kid 'bout dar." xFor some time there has.peen a grow ing suspicion that many- men, when the tax listers came around ' ' had supp 'n hid about dar." One or the chief objectives of the new law was to uncover these hid treasures. There i? no claim that in this respect the machinery of the act has func tioned wth perfect efficiency. What piece of machineryj mechanical or government al, ever did perfect work the first time it was tried. For two years the Wrightl brothers tested their, flying machine on Killdevil hill in this state. Compared If with 'present day perrormances it. was crude work, but none -the less it was a miracle for they left the ground-they actually did -fly, and the mighty airships of the present day are the logical devel opments of their earnest endeavorings. , .-And so while the machinery of the re valuation act hat nt at its first trial un covered all the property that has hereto fore been kept off the tax books, what it has done . in this respect constitutes r miraculous book of revelations.. , Illustrations, -s ' In Mecklenburg county the toal value iion of personal property in 1919 was fif teen million dollars; in 1920 it is 40 mil lions, an increase of 8ijnillion dollars. In Gaston county the total valuation of personal property in 1919 waa & milioa dollars; in 1920 it is 22 millions, an in-S- erease of fourteen million dollars. . V In Guilford county the total valuation of personal property in 1919 was 12 mil lion dollars ; in 1920 it is 29 millions, an Increase of 17 millions. ' In Durham eounty the totai valuation of personal property in 1919 was 20 mil lion dollars; in 1920 it is 53 millionsTV .increase-of 33 million dollars. . In this county three corporations this year listed personal property to 'the amount of 42 million dollars, a sum twice aamueh as the whole county listed two year ago. ' Ia Forsyth eounty the total valuation of personal property in 1919 waa 22 mil lion dollars; this year it is 63 millions, an increase of 45 millions. . Ia Forsyth eounty a single corporation this year list ed personal property to the amount of 47. millions. Last year all the property list ed in Forsyth county, reaL personal, indi vidual and corpora ted,, amounted to 42 millions. It will be seen that this year a' single corporation listed 17 millions of dollars more ia personal property than the whole county, Including this corporation j listed last year. ' " '- . , V ' --The total personal 'property listed in this state in 1919 was $426,000,000; the total this year Is $313,000,000 sa increase col. OPBI SEPTEMBER 13 Long Term School. Will Open at Same Time Gastonia City '' Schools Letter-FromSupt y,:-'0.;V'--' '- :The long , term county schools in Gas ton eounty will open on September 1J, the same date for the opening of the city schools. ' Ii preparation for this, . 8upt. F; P. Hall is sending to all teachers in the eounty, and those , who will teach in the eounty, the following letter: .' "September 13 has been decided upon as. the date, of opening for all our long term schools. , I suggest .that, you come not later than Friday or Saturday so that you may be ?eady for a full day's work Monday,1 I also suggest that you obtain your health certificate; at once. 'The firet few' days of school should be devoted to reviewing and. classifying pupils. If you ha v. a successful year it I is absolutely necessary, tnat your pupus be properly classified in the beginning. Have no books bought uatil you are sure of the child's permanent gradation. In your old register you will find the last year record. , Let this be verified and new pupils tested before' books are bought. Toy will find the old register with your committee. ! ' v-" . . -1. ' -' ''Be sure to use the book list that I am sending you instead of the one in the front of your register. V' ( ,( 1 "I aat writing your committee to find you a boarding plaie. They; will notify you so' that. you may know-how to reach your destination. ' If you If ail to hear from them, communicate with this office and we will see what -can be done for yon. 'I trust tnat ia whateve r community you may go you- will enter into the life of the community and adapt yourself to the conditions that you find. Be "considerate of your landlady and be appreciative of her' efforts to please you so that she will want you with her next year if you should decide, to return. : "I hope that you are-going to enjoy your work in Gaston county and that we may have a very successful year. - ' ' "Sincerely, "F.'P. HALL:" FRENCH GOVERNMENT WILL A RECOGNIZE GEN. WRANGLE TAKIS, Aug. 11 The French govern ment has decided to recognize General Baron Peter Wrangel as head of the de facto government of South Russia. In making, this announcement 'the ministry of foreign affairs said -this recognition implied rendering General Wrangel all possible military assistance.' ' of 387 millions. . The revaluation act also found and put on the tax books a large amount of sol vent credits not heretofore listed. v The solventtcredits listed for taxation in 1919 amounted to 90 million -dollars'; in 1920 to 213 millions,' an increase of 123 mil lions. - . ' ' -(.The incomes listed for taxation in 1919 amounted to 13 million dollar!; in 1920 to 33 millions, an increase of 20 million dollars. s The machinery of the, act also found and -put on the tax books 1,0.14,790 acres of land not heretofore taxed. The aver age value per acre of land on the books this year is forty dollars per acre. This makes the new lands put on the tax books worth forty-one million dollars. The average county in North Carolina contains 279,000 acres of land. It will be seen therefore that the revaluation act found and placed on the tax books of the state four counties of average size. It is plain that as a finder of the bacon the revaluation act is a remarkable success. The total value of all real estate listed for taxation last year amounted to $506, 000000; the total value for this yeaiwas $1,981,000,000. i The total value of all corporate proper ty listed in 1919 was $298,000,000; the total value this year is $671,000,000, an incress of $373,000,000. The value of the cotton mills listed In 1919 was 58 million dollars; in 1920 205 million. ' . The value of knitting; mills listed in 1019 was seven million dollars; in 1920, 19 million. J The value of furniture and wood work plant listed in 1919 was" eight million; in 1920 24 million.- ' The value of publie service companies listed in 1919 was 133 million; ia 1920, 345 million. . ; . An analysis of the valuer placed on real estate in some of the larger counties will be "interesting. ''.;- , For convenience I - give , betosf a sum mary of the returns. ' , ; . . SaiinnsTrsy V The total ' value of,, all " property of every kuid listed ia the. year 1920 was $3,139,000,000. The total 4 value of all property of every kind, listed in the year 1919 was $1,099,000,000, aa increase of $2,040,000,000. - . ' - - ; , " The tola! value ef all real estate listed Ins1920' was $1,981,000,000. The total value Of sll real estate listed In 1W9 was $506,000,000,- an increase ' of $1,475.- ooo.ooo.' . : The total value of personal pVoperty in 1919 was $31300,000. : - . - - . I The machinery Set this year allows an ex emption on personal property of $275 for (ConOnued on page 6.) EEGL'I SESSIOII TODAY i ' . . ' - -' . , mmm ,'JZ , ' . - ,'. Seventh i' Annual Conference Women's Missionary Society in Session at; Dallas - The Mornins; Session. t DALLAS, Aug. 11 T.he opening of the seventh annual eonerence of the Wo men's Missionary Society of the Evan gelical Lutheran Synoi in session at Holy .Communion Lutheran church Vas most encouraging. An unusually large number of delegates waa enrolled for the first day and business is now well under way for -a most successful program. . The' president, Mrs. W. J. Boger, of Newton, presided. Mrs.. C. N. Yount, of ' Pallas, In a few well chosen- weeds ex tended not only a cordial welcome from the members , of the church, - but also from the whole town,f or many requests had been made from others, tcs assist in entertaining the many delegates expect ed from Tennessee, Virginia, North Car olina and South Carolina." . . , . 'Mrs. B. L. Fritz, of Lenoir CoileRe, graciously responded,' sayimr that it was a double pleasure for her to be present, and meet acquaintances formed 14 years ago when she attended similar gathering in thia chureb.' Bev. and Mrs. Cannaday, missionaries to India were intorduced to the confer ence. ' Committees were appointed and Mrs. Joe Gribblcwas designated as of ficial reporter of the convention for The Gastonia Gazette and Charlotte Observ r. ' ';, - The president ' address was an earnest plea to awake to these opportunities in micsionary work. A synopsis of the past year's Work was givea and a resume of Jhe future wor. A report from the Various 'societies showed encouraging ii , . .. ironw w new organizations and new members. ' After the devotional led by Mrs. Cannaday dinner -was served picnic style on the lawn in he public square. FOil'lEflClEYEaiiOI.Myra leadi::s in race Harry L. Dawia Leadinsr Con- h a c"iu ww in mco r or -Ohio Gubernatorial Nomina tion. - COLUMBUS, O., Au JC ll.Harry L. Davis, former mayor of Cleveland, had a lead of 19,646 votes for the republican nomination for governor - over f omer Congressman Balph. D. Cole,' of Findley, his nearest opponent, early today upon complete unofficial returns froiri two thirds 6f the state's "6,000 precincts, in yesterday's state-wide primary. Con gressman Boseoe C. MeCulloch, of Can ton, was third. An almost equal numbr of precincts gave former Governor Frank B. Willis, of Delaware, a le.id of nearly 30,000 .votes over Walter F. Brciwn, of Toledo, his nearest competitor, for the republteau nomination for United States senator. Judge R. . M. Hancock, of Akron, was running third. For the democratic nomination for United States senator, tabulated reports from two-thirds of the state showefW. A. Julian, of Cincinnati, leading Judge A. F. O'Neil, of Akron, by only 2,078 vote. Ai V. Donahey, state auditor, was un opopsed for the democratic nomination for governor. Although there were no well defined issues in the primary campaign on the league of nations and prohibition, Davis is considered a liberal while Cole .and Met ul loch are considered " dry." Willis i5 a strong "dry." Both Willis and Brown, his opponent took a prominent part at the Chicago convention iu nomi nating Senator Harding if or the .presi dency. Two Ohio congressmen, one a republi can and one a democrat, probably were defeated for renomination in the election. They were Henry Ij Emerson, republican, in' the 22nd (Cleveland) district, and John B.abka, democrat, in the 21st 4 Cleveland) district. ,.- Former United States Senator Theo dore E. Burton was leading Congressman Emerson by approximately 500 votes in approximately two-thirds of the precincts in the district and former Congressman Robert Crosser had a plurality of seven votes over Congressman Babka oa the face of complete unofficial returns from the entire district. - PROHlEmOKOIDiTE ' TO BE NOTIFIED TODAY GERMAN TOWN, O.. Aug. 11 With representatives from all over the coun try expected to be ia attendance, Dr. Aaroa 8. . Watkins,! prohibition party for president and D, Leigh Colviav bin running mate, will be formally notified of their nomination here today.- , Dr. Watkins is Ohio's' third presi dential candidate. Mr. Colvin, although a resident of New York, was bora ia Ohio, v r Dc Watkins lives in German town. He Is pastor of the M. E. church and- pro fessor of English at Miami military in stitute here. - , ; . The notification 'ceremonies are to take place at 8 p. m. preceded during the af ternoon by a parade at 3 o'clock, 1 NORTH CAROLINA'S VEALTI1 FROM TAX RETURN IS OVER THREE BILLION DOLLAP Increase of Over Two Billion it Recorded - Re markable Story of Revaluation Unfolded to State Legislature Great Increases Shown Gaston County Ranks High in Wealth and Taxable Property, - - -, KALIOH, Aug. 10. The remarkable story of the revaluation of the property of the State of North Carolina was told to the legislature today, assembled in ' . . . . , special session to levy the tax rate. One of the important features is that the- in- crease" in taxable incomes listed amounts . to 20,931,017 on which the 6uW tax ; a m flrf tv . v double fhe cost, of the revaluation work. stivwiw 0vi wum isBbvauvjaw J vuab luviv than a million acres of land were un earthed and placed on the tax books for the first time, while the number ef polls was increased by 20,754: Solvent credits showed, an increase of $124,490,338, and personal property listed increased $397,- A OA AID I t l ' . n a o,uao, sua real properly mcrcMea. xv 474,755,100. At the sme time, the value of the railroad property of the state was a little more than doubled, making an in crease of 125,169,540. The property of tobacco companies increased 54,244467, the cotton mills 147,314,713, banks 13, 991,830, and the power companies 48, 152,982. According to the scale of rates worked out by the commission to produce only 10 per cent more revenue thi! year, Scot land county t would have the lowest rate at 28 cents and Clay the highest with 1.30, while the average state and county rate- would be 56 cents for general levy, which includes state, pension, school and county. The total valuation of property last year was 1,099,120,389, the average"rate of 1.45, revenue collected 16,032,265.53, while the revenue, for 1920 will be 17, 639,892,89 on a total valuation of 3,139,. 705,05, and the rate average of 56 cents. Thi8 is an incresse of more than two bililon dollars in the value of property in the state. The commission states its reasons clearly for opposing a return to May 1 listing time because of the fact that most business concerns must end their, year's business on December 31 owing vo the Federal income tax laws and the further fact that there is not ample time for ad journment of the legislature" in March until listing time in May to digest the new laws passed and set up the proper machinery for carrying out the revenue act. It is further pointed out that under the May 1 listing North Carolina, and perhaps Virginia for that matter, were being imposed upon by shifting of goods across the state lines. Virginia lists on January 1, and after listing time, the commission says, tobacoo and perhaps other things, are moved into Virginia. Virginians also purchase North Carolina people's tax free stocks,, etc., until after listing and then send them back by May 1 to help out their good North Carolina friends who helped them. The commission recommends that the state and pension fund le combined, be cause it is reiilly so now and that the pro ceeds from poll taxes, be limited as the constitution provides, to public schools and the poor. A digest of the, statistics submitted i along withhi? reMrt are quite interest- t polls listed in Guilford ever 1919. SOVIET RUSSIA FACES WINTER WITH FOOD PROBLEM SUPREME From Far East to Finnish Frontier, 4,000 miles, the Spectre of Starvation Stalks Threatening Cry. Goes up For the Necessities of Life - Asso- elated Press Correspondent Pictures Graphic Story of Want and Starvation. (By The Associated Press.) VTBOKG, Finland, Bussiaa Frontier, Ang. id. Flushed with, success and con fident of Poland's defeat, soviet Bussia faces the approaching winter with the grim problem of food as its supreme test of power. From the Far East to the Finnish frontier 4,000 miles of undis puted territory the specter' of starvation stalks threatening aa the far reaches give oft a cry for the necessities of life from people whose hearts, long sturdy ia the struggle for a "new day," are forced to heed the demands of want. i." The Associated Press correspondent, just arrived here, has observed these con ditions in cro i"? T an! Siberia all the way from V! ' s t ??oseow an 1 Petrograi. II; r .1 i l I - '.ml fal mg,,. In total value of propery of all kmds Forsyth leads the state with $147' 721.23S i proposed tax1 rate of 39 nuUt!' omart f 144,406,625 and a rate of 49 centa, and Ouilford next, with tl27.832.767 W m. suggested rate of 55 cents, while Durham eoaea next with 122,729,157 and a sur- ff4 f V nt- Th ' big drop ia values to Wake with 87 182.733 ot 66 cents: then Bua- .... a rate; Gaston with 82,575,749 ; and 45 cents rate; Rockingham follows ' closely with 78,263,364 and a rate of 40 cento; ' and Robeson with 7,385,618 and a 48 cent rate. Wayne was close behind. , ' sThe commission also included a eolunta showing the revalue of each county for - f , . 'evy, including pensions, school and county, and increased the 1919, amounts by tea per cent to come within the law. Mecklenburg was the biggest, revenue producer last year and will be ao this year with 747,152.68? Guilford came' close, behind with 711,629.87; Wake next with 575,456.40 ; ' Forsyth fourth with 562,720.70 ; Buncombe next with 536,466.05; then Durham with 512,958.25. . ,Mecklenburg leads the state ia the value of real estate with 29,987,708; Guilford comes, second with 85,158,132 Forsyth third with 72,197,173 and Bttn eombe fourth with. $60,319,591;. the Wake with 53,739,885, and Gaston with 52,344,289. , -v In the value of personal property Dur ham eounty leads the list with $66,651,-' 182; Forsyth second with 64,402,548; Mecklenburg next with 40,487,807," and . Guilford fourth with 30,894,441; Boek- ingham next with 21,561,986 and Gaston next with 22.745,959." ' ; In total value of real and 'perapnaa. property, excluding railroads, publie eex vice 'corporations and banks and corpo rate excess, the counties rank as fololws: Forsyth first with 136,599.721; Meck lenburg 132,475,525; Guilford thii with $116,052,573, ami Durham next" frith $110,078,029. Then there is a bis drop to Buncomlje with $77,762 J 09; then, Gaston with $75,090,248, and Wake with $73,900,221. . 'w' In the list of solvertt credits Guilford ' leads the state with $8,313,282 listed; Vilson county conies next with $7,621,.--, 410: Pitt county next with $7,071,475; Mecklenburg with 6.645,543; Wayne 6, 547,858; Wake 6,280,167; Forsyth 6, 143.546, and Johnson with $5,915,368, In goods and wares listed Forsyth has 1 0.864 .436 anil Durham is close behind with $10,670,669; Wilson $3,163,382; Mecklenburg $7,565J50, and - Guilford $5,515,146; the next is Pitt with $4,408, 100. . - In these days of eensus enumerators the number of polls is interesting and in this Guilford leads the state handsomely with a listing of 12,913; Forsyth eomee Along with 10.832, and Wake third with 10.612. and Mecklenburg fourth with 10.149. Incidentally there was an in- crease of about 1.100 in the number of lowed deportation from Moscow beeauao the authorities had not given advance authorisation for crossing Siberia. Ia Finnish surroundings, be ia enabled t send aa uncensored account of the straits of the Bussiaa people assuredly observed while he and a number of refugees made the first trip of Americans across Bussia, inthe last two yearn, , . .- Everywhere In all this trip, from ana end of Bussia to the other, th$ cry for food and clothing was heard. It wii voiced by the old Russian peasant atthe Chinese frontier, where V spondent was first brought ir territory. It was bear! f - :- : teart of Ka'a, vb--' - (C