Petition of Carolina Telephone and Telegraph Co.

The statutory provisions pertinent to this appeal are as follows:

G.S. 105-120. “Franchise or privilege tax on telephone companies. — (a) Every person, firm, or corporation, domestic or foreign, owning and/or operating a telephone business for the transmission of messages and/or conversations to, from, through, in or across this State, shall, within thirty days after the first day of January, April, July and October of each year, make and deliver to the Commissioner of Revenue a quarterly return, verified by the affirmation of the officer or authorized agent making such return, showing the…