North Carolina Newspapers

BUY»AND SELL IN ROCKY MOUNT, TRADE CENTER OF EASTERN CAROLINA VOLUME 1. NO. 17. MRS. MCDONALD BURIED SUNDAY Final Rites For Prominent Resident Held From Church Of Good Shepherd Funeral services for Mrs. Wil liam H. McDonald, prominent local resident, were held from the Church of the Good Shepherd at 4:30 o'clock Sunday afternoon with Rev. Francis H. Cra.ighill, rector, in charge. Burial followed in the Battle family cemetery in Nash County. Mrs. McDonald died late Satur day afternoon at her residence on Franklin street after several months of illness. She was 60 years old. She was the widow of the late William H. McDonald and daugh ter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Joseph John Battle, prominent residents of Nash County. Surviving are four sons, John McDonald, of Newport News, Va., George McDonald, of this city, Hugh McDonald, of Raleigh and William S. McDonald, of Richmond Va.; one daughter, Miss Flora Mc . Donald, of Baltimore, Md.; one brother, Hugh H. Battle, of this city; three sisters, Mrs. C. Gordon Simth and Mrs. W. E. Spruill of this city and Mrs. W. J. King of Wilmington; and her step-mother, Mrs. Mary J>. Battle of this city. MRS. DOUGHTON DIES AT AGE 96 Mother Of Men Vhon Won w Distinction In State And Nation Sucumbs Laurel Springs, May 3.—Mrs. Rebecca Jones Doughton, Allegha ny county pioneer woman who helped develop the mountain sec tion of North Carolina and raised a family which brought distinction to the State and nation, died at her home here today. Had she lived un til June, she would have been 96 years old. Mrs. Doughton was the mothjr of Representative R. L. Doughton, chairman of the House ways and means committee and of R. A. Doughton, of Sparta, former Lieu tenant-Governor, highway commis sion chairman, commissioner of re venue, and a member of the State Legislature for more than a score of years. A stroke of paralysis suffered a week ago before she had entirely recovered from a seige of pneu monia, was the cause of death. Mrs. Doughton was the widow of J. Horton Doughton, who died 28 years ago. She was the mother of nine children. In addition to R. A. and R. L. Doughton, four others survive. They are: W. F. Doughton and Mrs. F. Miller, both of Laurel Springs; Mrs. D. J. Carson, of Sparta, and Mrs. W. A. Feer, of Washington. Her children were with her at death. Mrs. Doughton was buried Fri day in the Doughton family grave-yard after funeral services at 2 p. m., in the Laurel Springs Baptist Church. o CADMAN ADDRESS TO FEATURE CLOSING Wilson, May 9.—The address by Dr. S. Parkes Cadman, noteH cler gyman, author and former presi dent of the Federal Council of Churches of Christ in America, will feature the thirty-second annual commencement of Atlantic Chris tian College, which will begin at 8 o'clock, Saturday evening, May 26, with the joint literary society program and end Monday evening at 8 o'clock, May 28, at which time the address by Dr. Cadman will be given. Also featuring this year's com mencement season will be the an nual glee club recital which will be presented at 4:30 in the afternoon of Sunday, May 27. Dr. H. O. Pritchard, secretary of the board of education, Disciples Church, will also be present during commencement, being here in the interest of the expansion program that the college is now putting on. Heavy rains in the east have de layed cutton and tobacco planting. The Rocky Mount Herald Hope Sales Tax Drive Will Produce 500000 State revenue officials hope to get an additional $500,000 in sales tax receipts by the close of the fis cal year on June 30 through the drive ordered this week at a meet ing of all State revenue deputies, Commissioner of Revenue A. J. Maxwell said yesterday. Governor Ehringhaus, speaking* to the deputies Wednesday es a part of the four-day school held here, told them to get out and prod for taxes. The sales tax drive is part of the prodding to be under taken in an effort to balance the general fund budget for this fiscal year. The extra $600,000 —if it proves to be that much—will be needed in the general fund budget. Collec tions for the first 10 months of the fiscal year were $18,685,988.31 while the general fund budget for the year is approximately $25,500.- 000. That means approximately $7,000,000 must be collected in two months to produce a balanced gen eral fund budget. The general fund overdraft as of March 31, 1934, $1,781,501.65, was cared for in the highway fund. General fund overdraft for several years have been cared for from that source. Total collections in the highway fund for the first 10 months of this year were $19,386,698.44, more than was estimated for the'entire year. The general fund's chief sources of revenue for the remaining of the year are the sales tax and the schedule B license taxes which fall due June 1. The license taxes brought in approximately $1,900,- 000 last year and are estimated to yield $2,000,000 this year. The sales tax, through March, had yielded an average of $470,00(1 but during April a total of $632,- 515.56 was received. The Revenue Department some months ago started a drive for the collection of professional license taxes due under schedule B. Collec tions from that source for the first 10 months of this year were ap proximately $60,000 higher than those for the same period last year. o POOL IS OPENED WITH SPECIAL CEREMONIES Jarboro, May 3.—At the formal opening of the swimming pool here Tuesday afternoon Rev. Chester Alexander acted as master of cere monies, he congratulated the city commissioners and other citizens on their interest and activity in se curing the swimming pool and com munity house. He introduced Dr. James P. Keech who gave a brief history of the community house which was built by General Thomas Blount, a revolutionary hero and member of Congress. Commission ers Arthur Bass and W. G. Ed wards said the commissioners worked hard for the improvements and they hoped the people would enjoy them. Mayor Rawls Howard acted as host of the occasion and gave a barbecue dinner. o CARAMOUNT DEFEATS PUROL PEP OUTFIT After tying at eight all last Sun day, Caromount defeated Purol Pep here Sunday afternoon 3-2. Both teams showed strength in the field. Lindsey, pitching for Caromount, kept Purol hits well scattered and was neve r in trouble. Booth, pitch ing for Purol, pitched good ball, but a couple of errors by his mates were costly. These two teams are members of the newly formed Bi- County League. Score: R. H. E. Caromount.. .200 100 000—3 7 1 Purol Pep 000 020 000—2 6 2 Batteries: Lindsay and Outland; Booth and Ayers. o FALL INTO POOL PROVES FATAL Thomas H. Webb, Jr., 37, died Thursday, May 3, in a Concord hos pital where he had been since Mon day when he accidentally fell into an empty swimming pool at a Con cord club and fractured his skull. Nine killed, eighteen injured in Ohio bus and Bay State car ROCKY MOUNT, NORTH CAROLINA, FRIDAY, MAY 11, 1934 Refuse To Limit Term Of Bishops Conference Votes Heavily Against Plan To Stop Electing For Life Jackson, Miss., May 4.—Advis ed that it was subordinate to the College of the Episcopal Bishops, the Gsneral Conference of the Me thodist Episcopal Church, South, voted today heavily against all pro posals to limit the terms of bishops. The delegates, now'calmed after days of controversy over retire ment and tenure of high ranking heads of the church broke into rip ples of laughter at the story of the little woodpecker which was told by Dr. J. W. Perry, of Chat tanooga, chairman of the commit tee on episcopacy, as he closed his plea for life ordination of the bish ops. "The woodpecker pecked and pecked away in the top of the hic kory tree," said the minister. "Lightning struck the tree and tore it down and the woodpecker spread his wings and thought he did it." Dr. Perry sat abruptly down and the "term-ites," as the minority group seeking term bishops has be come intimately known in the con ference, squirmed uncomfortably as the conference laughed. Bishop James Cannon v Jr., whose proposed retirement on infirmity claims was blocked yesterday by a substantial majority, presided over today's session which was pegged around the bishops. The conference voted down 131 to 252 a resolution to appoint an administrative officer which would have deferred settlement of term episcopacy until the 1938 conven tion. Then the delegates approved the report of the committee on episco pacy favoring ordination of the church heads until they reach ths retirement-age of 72 years. The conference went on record against the election of any new bishops at the current sessions, but it was reported that a move would be made tomorrow to reconsider the action. Many in the conference feel that new bishops should be elected to succeed three who are at the age of retirement. o ROCKY MOUNT'S FASTEST GROWING INDUSTRY Rocky Mount is the home of The Tidy Company. Tidy is a specially prepared cleaner made from a for mula prepared by Professor Ver non Kyser. More than 100,000 pounds weTe sold last year. Tidy is used for the general cleansing of everything, specially designed for use in the home as well as all public buildings, for floors, wood work, furniture, and in general use where ever a cleans er is needed. Profesosr Kyser has had the as sistance of his father, Dr. P. B. Kyser, who is one of the best known druggists in Eastern N. C., having been in business in Rocky Mount for the past 44 years. While this business has already had a wonderful success yet it is just in its infancy as to what its future growth is expected to be. o BOY WITH MISPLACED HEART DIES AT THREE Roanoke Rapids, May 4.—Wil liam Carlton Spraggins, three-year old son of Mr. and Mrs. S. E. Spraggins, died i n the Roanoke Rapids hospital at 7 o'clock to night. This was the only child of the couple and was the child which attracted so much notice by the fact that its heart was outside of its body. Pictures of the child were printed in a number of state and county papers. It had good health until about two weeks ago, since which time it has suffered attacks of the misplaced organ. The funeral was held at 2:30 p. m., Sunday at Va., the services conducted by Rev. Z. H. Grantham. o- In Wayne county the chamber of commerce has started a move ment stressing better quality crops. Large attendances have been re corded at meetings held to stimu late interest in better crops City Election The Primary to nominate Aldermen, City Recorder and Prosecutor for the City Court was held last Friday, May 5. There was only one Contest-for Alderman and Mr. Brake won out over- Mr. Weathers by a somewhat close vote. Mr. Thomas won over Mr. Arrington and Mr. Elmore won o%'er Mr. Gold. The contests for Recorder and City Prosecutor were both clqse considering the number of votes cast, all of the Candidates making strong and creditable runs. This is the first time the people have had the right to vote for Re corder and Pvosecutor. The people have wanted this right for some time. They have shown their interest by coming out and voting. The people have spoken. The offices have been filled and under a democracy the will of the majority should prevail. The minority is satisfied at the results because they have had a right to give expression to their will whether their candidate won or not. The officers elected should feel grati fied because they have received their election from a majority of the qualified voters who saw fit to cast their vote. The City of Rocky Mount is indebted to Mr. Van S. Watson, Rep resentative from Nash County, for giving them this privilege. We do not agree with the Evening Telegram that the issue was whether or not the voters should uphold the hands of the Board of Aldermen in the matter of choosing a Recorder and an Attorney for the City Court. Nor do we agree that the bill was introduced by Mr. Watson against Mr. Thomas. There has been a general public demand for the change, several pe titions having been carried around in previous years. While it was stated and rumored on the streets that the Board of Al dermen had organized a working effort in behalf of certain candidates, as to this rumor this paper is not advised as to whether was or was not, nor is it our desire to raise this issue. We do not see where this change could have re flected in the least on the Board of Aldermen. Many of the cities of North Carolina elect the Judges of their Courts by popular vote and certainly the citizenship of Rocky Mount is just as intelligent as in any other city in North Carolina and just as capable of exercising the right to vote. Since this issue has been raised by the Evening Telegram and an intimation that at the next session of the Legislature that there will be an effort to change this law again, then we' believe that the Candidates should be asked to give their views and whether or not they are intending changing this law. Salaries In a former issue of the Herald we carried information on the salaries of the City Advisory Counsel, the Judge and the City Prosecutor. The salary of the City Advisory Counsel be ing $200.00 per month since 1927 until changed one year ago to $150.00 per month. The judge of the Municipal Court re ceives $135.00 per month and the city prosecutor receives SIOO.OO per n\„»th and there was a suggestion that the City Advisory Counsel's salary was not in line with other cities of similar size, it being more. We have made some recent investigation which is as fol lows: The County of Edgecombe pays its County Attorney, who advises the Commissioners and prosecutes in the County Court, SBOO.OO per year. The City of Kinston pays its Advis ory Counsel $500.00 per year. The City of Goldsboro up to the present year paid its City Advisory Counsel $50.00 per month but owing to certain services rendered in reducing telephone rents and electric light rates his salary has been increased to SIOO.OO per month. The City of Greenville does not have a regular retained Attorney, the Mayor receiving SIOO.OO per month and performing this service. The City of Wilmington which has a property valuation of twice that of Rocky Mount pay's its City Advisory Counsel $1,500.00 per year. The City of Raleigh being practically three times the size of Rocky Mount pays its City Attorney $200.00 per month. In the above instances these Attorneys do not receive additional sums for handling tax suits, except Rocky Mount. The City Attorneys, Messrs. Thorpe & Thorpe, in Rocky Mount now re ceiving $1,800.00 per year and our information is SIO.OO for each tax suit handled. Several of the above cities have had much work in refund ing bonds but Rocky Mount has not had much work of this kind since it owns its public utilities and has been able to meet its bonded indebtedness. Most of our bond issues were prepared and prosecuted through to final sale by the late Senator Bassett. This additional information has been requested and we feel that it is information that the public is entitled to know. Danger Of Unguarded Lilly Pool While we admire the beauty of the lilly pool and appreciate the interest and efforts of our home owners in seeking to beautify their premises and making the city more beautiful, we feel constrained to call attention to the danger of con structing these pools too deep and leaving them unguarded. A beautiful pool is a very seductive place and exceedingly in teresting to children of tender years. While we know no home owner would be willing to leave a place of danger open on their premises which would hurt a child, yet this is a condition that prevails while not intentionally nevertheless it is true, and if some child should fall in and be drowned it would cause the owner of the pool great sorrow and probably might be called upon in addition to their mental worry to answer in civil damages. The Supreme Court has already de cided that the owner of property cannot leave unguarded places of danger which are alluring and inviting to children open without laying themselves liable to damages. Eagles Out For House Of Representatives In this issue of the Herald, pub lic announcement has been made of the candidacy of Mr. W. W. Eagles for House of Representatives from Edgecombe County. Mr. Eagles represented Edge combe County in the last general assembly, and is well known throu out the county, being one of the largest and most progressive farm ers of the county. Mr. Eagles has been interested in all matters af fecting agriculture and the general welfare of the farmer, taking in terest in all matters effecting the public, M. O. BLOUNT OUT FOR LEGISLATURE M. O. Blount, well-known citizen of Bethel, has announced his can didacy for a membership in the House of Representatives. It goes without saying that Mr. Blount needs no introduction to the peo ple of Pitt. For 25 years he has served as a member of the County Board of Education. He is a prom inent merchant in Bethel and also is president of the Blount-Harvey Co., in this city. PWA approves projects calling for expenditure of $500,000,000. Propose Big Re For Telephone Charges Switchman Dies As Result Of Injuries George F. Guill, of Rocky Mount, Fatally Hurt In Uncoupling Cars George F. Guill, 46, Atlantic Coast Line switchman, who was severely injured while on duty In the north yard here Saturday died at a local hospital Tuesday. Mr. Guill was said to have been in the act of separating two mov ing cars when he was jerked from the end of one of the cars and thrown to the ground. He suffered a fractured skull when bis head struck a rail. He was rused to the hospital. Funeral services were held from his home at 4:30 o'clock Wednes day afternoon with Rev. K. I. Tuck er, pastor of South Rocky Mount Methodist church, in charge. Burial was at Pine View cemetery. Surviving are his widow; three daughters, Nettie, Margie an.i Mary Ruth; one son, George F. Jr.; two brothers, J. S. Guill, of Tar boro, and W. H. Guill, of Hender sonville, and five sisters, Mrs. C. W. Bandy, of Four Oaks; Mrs. J. L. Bridgers, of Dillon, S. C.; Mrs. A. W. Wallace, of Dillon; Mrs. B. H. Sapp, of Dillon and Mrs. E. L. Burney, of Benson. o BOY OUTSPELLS TEN GIRLS IN CITY TOURNEY Three of the ten best spellers in the Raleigh white elementary schools remained standing. "Parallel," called Miss Mildred English. Down went the three. Raleigh was without a champion in the first inter-school spelling match. Miss Juanita Matthews, in charge of the event; Referee J. W. Fowler and Miss English put their heads to gether. All three were called back and "parallel" was discarded. "Gradually," called Miss English, and down went Frances Thurston, representing Lewis School. Frances is a fifth grader. "Individual." Flora Goetze of the Hayes-Bar ton sixth grade tripped. That left only Neil Morgan, wearing a placard proclaiming that he represented Fred A. Olds School, standing and made him Raleigh's inter-school spelling champion. Neil, 10 years old, is in the fifth grade. He is the son of the Rev. and Mrs. S. L. Morgan, 3105 Stan hope Ave. Bravely he entered the battle of words, the only boy against nine girls. Triumphantly he spelled down nine girls. That in itself in sures another match next year. The young ladies will see to that, and besides, Miss Matthews has plans along that line already. She is re sponsible for the revival of interest in spelling matches here, believing that they not only improve spelling but foster school spirit as well. She is a member of the Lewis School teaching staff. The other seven entrants with their schools were: Ruth Baldwin, Boylan Heights; Clara Wallace, Barbee; Frances Poole, Thompson; Nannie Fraser, Methodist Orphan age; Elizabeth Rogers, Wiley; Ber tha Johnson, Eliza Poole School; Margaret Beck, Murphy. The words that tripped them were: Interest, September, genius, desirous, alcohol, fiend. The finals contestants were pick ed in elimination contests in each of the ten schools, 10 best spellers from fifth and sixth grades in each originally entering. The final contest was broadcast. MEMORIES "Your wife does so remind me of my eldest sister." "She reminds me a good deal of her first husband!" Most of the farmers in Craven county plan to do a little trucking ch'is year to sell in northern mar kets. SI.OO PER YEAR Winborne Orders Southern Bell to Show Cause Why ' Rates Should Not Be Cut SAYS REPORTS REVEAL EXCESSIVE EARNINGS Investigation of Other Phone Companies Is Being Made Under 1933 Law i The State Utilities Commission Saturday moved to obtain lower telephone rates. In an order directly or indirectly affecting the 150,000 telephone subscribers in the State, Utilities Commissioner Stanley Winborne directed the Southern Bell Tele phone Company to show cause why its rates should not be reduced be tween 20 and 25 per cent." The order is returnable on May 17. The Southern Bell serves ap pnVcimately half the subscribers in the State. Reports of companies serving the remaining 75,000 sub scribers are being studied and ac tion on them is expected to follow the hearing i n the Bell case. Excessive Return. Commissioner Winborne said in the order, that after investigation of the inventories and other data furnished by the company, "it ap pears to the commissioner that the income of the company is in excess of a fair return upon a fair value of its properties, and tha tits ex change rates are unreasonably high in the city of Raleigh and through out the State and should be reduc ed." Should a reduction be provided for Raleigh, he said, rates of th© company at other exchanges throughout the State shall be re duced according to telephone popu lation on the basis of the reduction here. Proposed Reductions. Present residential rates and the proposed reduced rates are: one party, $3.25 and $2.50; two party, $2.75 and $2; four party, $2.25 and Si.so; rural, $2.50 and $2. Present business rates and the proposed reduced rates are: one party, $5.50 and $4.50; two party, $4.95 and $4; four party, $3.85 and $3; rural, $3.50 and $3; auxiliary, $2.25 and $1.75; semi-public, $4.50 and $3.50. All extensions for business and residence would be reduced to a fia* 50 cents rates from costs ranging from 75 cents to $1.50. The Southern Bell filed with the commission last week a segregated inventory of its properties in Ra leigh to supplement its general in ventory filed previously. The Ra leigh exchange is the only one for which a segregated inventory has been filed. o WEST ERGECOMBE GRADUATION SLATE The dates for the various com mencement exercises which will be gin soon in the West Edgecombi school have been annonuced recent ly by Mr. J. G. Feezor, principal. On May 11 at 8 o'clock, a prim ary operetta, "The Wedding of the Flowers," will be enacted as the starting function of the com mencement season. At 8 o'clock on May 13, Rev. W. C. Foster, pastor of the First Christian church of Rokcy Mount, will deliver the baccalaureate ser mon in the high school auditorium. Class Day exercises are slated to get underway at 8 o'clock on the night of May 17, while the seventh grade exercises will take place at 10:15 o'clock on the morning of May 18. On Friday night, May 18, at 8 o'clock, Hon. W. H. S. Burgwyn of Woodland will deliver the com mencement address. A play presented by the senior class and entitled, "The Bashful Mr. Bobbs," will be given on the night of May 21 at 8 o'clock as the final event of the graduation week, it was announced. o States enact severe penalties for drunken auto drivers.