The Fr
Times
Your Award Winning County Newspaper
LOCAL EDITORIAL COMMENT
What We Might Be Missing
It is pleasing to see that Franklin
County is continuing its growth in
retail sales as reported this week by
the North Carolina Department of
Revenue. It is disturbing to note,
however, that the growth for this
latest period was considerably below
that of the proceeding 12 months.
Much-but not all-the decrease
came in the building material cate
gory. The County's sales in this field
dropped around $2 million in the year
ending last June 30. Some of this is
understandable. The tight money mar
ket has slowed building across the
country.
However, the latest figures avail
able-- which happen to be for the year
1967-show that Franklin has an Ef
fective Buying Income of
$42,607,000. It also shows that for
that same year retail sales here were
$27,417,000. The slight difference in
the figures here and those reported by
the Revenue Department is probably
due to the different source and to a
different measuring period.
Regardless, if we project the EBI
and the total retail sales up to today's
figures, we find quite a discrepency.
The obvious question; Where is the
difference being spent? If not here at
home, where?
The equity obvious answer is: Out
of toym. While all purchases of goods
and services are not subject to the
sales tax and therefore not reported as
a retail sale, one cannot deny that
several million dollars in business is
getting away from Franklin mer
chants. ,
Since no major changes have been
noted, it is safe to assume that if
Franklin's Buying Income was over
$42 in 1967 and its retail sales were
over $27 million and that the sales
reached nearly $35 million this year,
it might be safe to assume that the
Buying Income also rose in propor
tion. Assuming that it did, Franklin
couldjiave lost out on something like
$15 million in 1967 and in the
1968-69 fiscal year.
Granted a certain degree of guess
work goes into such assumptions, it
still gives a great deal of food for
thought Think what this much more
local business could mean to this
county. More jobs, more tax, more
people employed.
It's certainly something to think
about And it might well be that ^iile
we are thinking, we begin doing some
thing about it Like, maybe, trading at
home?
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
To The Editor:
Nov that the General
Assembly has adjourned and
the duxt is settling over the
hud, there we a few com
ments I fed should be made
about the gentlemen from
Franklin County, it was a real
privilege and; pleasure to ob
serve these men getting all the
facts available on each issue.
Both men displayed real
concern for all of their dis
trict and dedicated their
efforts to real progress for
their people. Certainly there
were things each would like
to have done which they were
unable to. do and some things
they would like to have done
differently. We must realize,
however, there are limits to
what any man can accom
plish. After all, even the Gov
ernor was forced into tome
compromises and defeat* on
some issues.
Certainly our men were
tuned in on our wave length
when they voted against the
"financial desert" the major
ity of the General Assembly
passed tor themselves In
their years of service our men
have distinguished themselves
as men concerned about the
welfare of their state and
people. Farm leaders and
farm organizations across
North Carolina have come to
know Representative Speed
as a true friend and a valued
advisor, and, in this season,
came to know Senator Griffin
as sympathetic and under
standing of their problems
Both Representative Speed
and Senator Griffin are men
of unwavering integrity. They
are thorough in study and
sure of their conviction.
Their service to their district
is a credit to them and to us.
All persons interested in
tobacco are grateful for their
stand against the tax. The
part General Assembly is
worthy of the wrath it has
stirred across the state. How
ever, let us give our good
men-credit-they did a fine
jOt>. They came home from
Raleigh with their integrity.
They did not trade it for
political appointments or per
sonal gain. It is men such as
thsae that make us say. "I'm
from Flanklin County and
Proud of Hi
John R Ihrie, m
Route 4,
Louisburg. N. C.
Asks Views Of The People
Fountain Questions Nixon Welfare Proposals
Congressman L. H. Fountain,
D-N.C. has questioned some of the
pro pools advanced by President
Nixon in Isst week's national televised
speech. The Congressman makes sev
eral points in a statement released
today, apparently questioning the
workabfllty of the Presidents pro
posals.
The text of Congressman Foun
tain's statement foflows: "I hope
many of our people listened to the
Praddaut last Friday evening when
over nationwide television he proposed
acme basic changes in our public wel
fare programs I am never satisfied
with the terra "Uberal" and "come
rvathre." because they never adequate
ly deecribe anything or anybody. How
ever, I think the President's recom
mendations might be described as a
mixture of Uberal and conservative
approaches to the problem of public
welfare
I think moat people agree that theee
programs have not worked satisfac
torily tor mMy years. My own reac
tion might best be characterized ss one
of "guarded hopefulness" for the
prsesnt, inasmuch as the details of the
Pled dent's proposals an not yet avail
able and I can see some problems on
ttas horizon
(1) The Prsrident proposes sattiag a
national minimum level of payment
tor si welfare programs For OAA
(old age aaMance), for example, this
would be a standard payment of ?6S
for each aged parson regardless of the
coat or level of living hi his commun
ity. Admitted^. the approach has
appeal becauae we all have a deep
sympathy for our elderly In need; but
I am not sure just how feasible this
?ill be.
I am concerned that the proposal
dcta not appear to come to grips with
the daring inequities among States In
their recipient rates. Over ten yean
ago the Intergovernmental Relatione
Subcommittee, of which I am Chair
man, examined this problem In public
hwtnn throughout the nation. We
found that OAA is, in practice,
virtually a pension system In soms
States, while relatively few elderly
qualify for assistance in other States.
And this is still true today.
For example, more than 4 out of
every 10 persons 65 years and older
receive OAA benefits in Louisianna,
while the comparable figure for North
Carolina Is 1 in 10. The basic reason
for the great disparities in OAA ntes
between States is that most States
have relatives' responsibility laws,
which they nay or may not enforce
vigorously, while a number of States
do not hold children and other rela
tives responsible for the maintenance
of the elderly. This Is a serious pro
blem, especially since moat of the
money for the OAA program comes
out of the Federal Treasury Yet, I do
not believe the President proposes to
deal with It at the same time that a
national minimum payment Is pro
poaed.
(2) It appears that a new "family
assistance" plan Is to be substituted
for the existing program of "aid to
families with dependent children"
(AFDC).
This, of course, is the program that
baa cauaed moat of the friction and
discontent in recent years, and the
program in wWch coats have been
rWng sharply.
The benefits of this new and broad
er plan would go "to the working poor
aa well aa the non-working, to families
with dependent chihkvn headed by a
father aa well aa to thoee headed by a
mother and a baric federal minimum
would be provided, the same In every
State." I have serious doubts about the
advisability of a guaranteed annual
minbrai m- especially if IS milion
more citizens will be eligible for help
We must also consider the aocial
ramificattone of a national standard In
terms of its potential effect on popula
tion migration from high to lower coat
areas. This, in turn, rateea some very
basic questions about manpower train
inf. I subscribe fully to the principle
of getting people off relief into job*,
but we cannot ignore the question of
what jobs will the welfare recipients be
trained for, and will the jobs be
available once they are trained?
We must bear in mind that welfare
recipients are largely people with limit
ed skills and limited education who aie
the tint to lose their jobs when econo
mic conditions get bad. Further, unless
the job attraction is my strong, there
will be considerable incentive for some
recipients to forego the little extra pay
for a guaranteed income with leisure.
The Congress has enacted a multi
tude of manpower training programs
in recent years, including programs
intended for welfare recipients, but
these programs seem to have had
rather limited success. In tact, they are
badly In need of consolidation and
simplification 1 wit) be greatly Inter
ested in learning the details of what
the President has in mind with respect
to job training.
(3) Linked with nrinimom welfare
payments and job training la the Presi
dent '1 proposai for revenue-sharing
We have had revenue sharing Mils in
Congress for several years. We cant
anticipate the reception the President's
proposal Is likely to receive until we
sae the detals. My own feeling is one
of wait and saa.
Personally. I like the general idea of
tks Maal Government's sharing
resources with the States and local
communities. However, the specifics
concerning the Impact on the Federal
budget, and the distribution formula
are sensitive issues. After all, It la being
propoeed that the burden of raising
taxes be shifted to some extent from
the Governor and State legislature to
the Confess.
In any event, I wfll be happy to
receive the views of our people In
connection with all or any part of the
!*???! limit* ni.t, ??|
iTUMieni t proposal.
- 4 *11 l^V ' ?
'Don't laugh . . . there1* a lot to this fairy godmother bit'
'Jc
WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING
Citizens Disappointed
The Warren Record, Warrenton, North Carolina
Warren County citizens who know
Tom Ellis of Henderson are disap
pointed to (ear that Warren County is
not among the counties under his
supervision as a new highway com
mission. He has many friends in War
ren County and if Warren County had
been placed in his district our people
would have felt that we had one of
our own as commissioner.
It is ironic that after the Warren
County commissioners has endorsed
Mr. Ellis for highway commissioner
and his subsequent appointment that
the county was not placed in his
district ... 3 (v>. j,.
Instead of being placed in a district'
with Vance and Franklin counties,
with whom there is a natural affinity,
as well as composing the House Dis
trict in the General Assembly, Warren
finds itself grouped with Halifax, Nash
and Johnston. Our people have no ill
feeling toward these counties, and no
doubt will find W. S. Williams a ./
helpful commissioner, but the group
ing is not what Warrenton would have
preferred. ,
One sometimes wonders about the
way things work out for Warren
County. We have a senatorial district
which includes Pitt County, and a
highway district which includes Johns
ton County. With all due respect to
these fine counties, to Senator White
and to Commissioner Williams, the
fact remains that both counties are
quite a far piece from Warren.
l coloodo Edttoi
**'. . . And then, kids, in 1970 Congreaa
finally outlawed all advertiaini . . .**
Soviet Tali Talks
President Nixon ha* an
nounced, that retired Llewel
lyn Thompson, former am
bassador to Moacow, will be
called to help negotiate pro
posed curbs on Strategic arms
with the SoTi?t Union. Form
er Deputy Secretary of De
fense Paul Nttze and former
Secretary of the Air Force
Harold Brown, will also be
called to help.
i
i'
%
COME
TO
THINK
Wm Imi?
Y OF IT...
>
by
frank count
I don't git around as much as I oughta, but when I do I sura
do hear some mighty pleasant things being said about old
Frank. And I ain't the kind that dont appreciate it. I do. Ever
bit of it is appreciated. Even them muttering sounds that stop
so quick when I suddenly show up.
For instance, I overheard a high county official tell another
t 1 I
troth the other night, "111
sue be glad when he gets
through with them d. . .
chickens." Now see. Don't
that warm the cockles of
yoce heart? He's worried
about old Frank worrying
om a bunch a chickens.
He shore is a considerate
sort, aint he? I might vote
(or him agin. Might even
get some of the chickens
to vote too. Hiat L> if they
dont steal the ballots.
I could pass on the
word that I aini quite
through with them cool
chickens yet but that ,
might cause some folks
some undue lost sleep.
They shore do yell when they git pinched though, dont they?
Then there's mother fellow right here in town who worries
a powerful lot about old Frank. He aint slept since I wrote
that little piece about going to the moon. You remember, I
said I pushed the wrong button. Well, I didn't really. I just said
that. I wouldn't a hare if I'd known his honor was going to get
bags under his eyes. They do look nice, though. They match
them in the knees of his britches.
And to that sweet old lady at New Hope who dont read
nothing but Frank Count I want to say a fine hello, latere aint
a better informed woman in the county.
And I got a message for them two football players I seen in
that grocery store the other night. Men, I know you wont
reading Frank Count. You just said that to save me embanaas
ment. You was looking for your names in the paper. Now read
Frank Count like the coach told you. Keep in shape. Be ready.
You cant tell the plays without old Frank's timely advice. Go
to bed early. Dont eat nothing and leave them girls alone.
They can't tackle worth a dime.
I seen a local business lady the other night and she asked
me where was my soot suit. Right there in a trow*she asked
me. I shore am sorry that she didn't git a chapce to see me in
it. I was a sight to Mhold, IT I M^hy st> mjMttf. Some other
> folks said I was a sight, TTiey left off the behold. I told the
? kind lady I knowed how old she is. She remembered loot
suits, from the last time they was out, that is. She's honest
' though. Most women claim they dont remember them and
. since most women aint over 25 years old, I dont reckon they
, do.
Somebody hm the newspaper's been giving out some Frank
Count scratch pads. They're strowed all over town. I been
expecting to git arrested far littering, but so far I aint been
caught. I think kindly of the newspaper spreading old Fank%
picture around. And I know this is going to wound the boys in
the back room, but them pads is being put in secret drawers all
around town. Folks think so much of old Frank's picture, they
aint about to write on it They're saving it for their youngins
and their grand-youngins. Kinds like moon dust. "Hi ere aint
much of them around.
And flnaDy, all them letters. I appreciate all them letters.
There aint nothing much in them but they give me a chance
to ?e the mailman up doae. He's pretty." I thought be was
General Mac Arthur the other day That was until I seen aO
them dofs he was leading around. Then I knowed be wont no
General. When them uniforms git wet, they look like a
policeman. With all this rain lately, I been scared to death
more 'n once over that very thing. I told him not to knock no
more. Just leave the mail and git until he dries out. He's pretty
though and if he ever gits that cap off 'n his ears he's gonna
like old Frank, too. Moet everybody does
Franklin
(Continued be
$5, 38 1,662.
Building Material is off, pro
bably reflecting the decrease in
construction in recent months
due the tight money market. The
retail sale of building material in
1967-68 was listed at
$6, 105,6 1 1 . It is reported for the
year just ended at $4,412,707.
The Unclassified category,
which includes beauty shops,
funeral homes, printers, machine
Hear Winston
Youngiville Mr. Clifton Wiraton.
Agriculture Teacher at the Youngrriile
School, pressnted a program at the
YoungsriOe Lions dub mMtinf held
on Monday night, August eleventh.
Slides were presented about family
I (ring as Mr. Winston narrated.
Lion President Earl Hart presided at
list of new offlcm and committee
chalpnen for Lions DMrict 31-0.
impacel)
shops and many other businesses,
shows an increase from
$2,432,549 to $2,728,209.
The drop in building material
sales accounts for the drop in
Franklin's growth percentage
when compared to that of
1967-68. In the five-year period,
however, this particular year was
a banner one for the building
industry. The retail sales here
nearly doubled from slightly over
$3 million in 1966-67 to over $6
million in 1967-68.
A report by the Revenue De
partment, released in March of
this year shows that Franklin's
sales tax collection during the
period February 1968 through
January, 1969 amounted to
$677,246. This latest report
shows a gross tax collection of
$658,706.20 for the period July
1, 1968 through June 30, 1969.
FHA
(Continued Mom p*e 1)
of loam. They were Operating Loan
?-for uk in purchadng needed Cum
equipment and to provide operating
capital; Farm Ovnenhip Loam-wlth
low interest rate* and a 40- yes repay
ment period; Rani Homing Loan and
Sod and Water Loana. Now there are
eight. Added to the original four an:
Recreation Loam-such at Individual
development of a golf count, twtmm
ing pool or other Income producing
ventures; Aaaoclatlonal Loans -such at
the Franklinton project; Rural Rental
Houting Loan* and Economic Oppor
tunity Loans. To be eligible for many
of tbeae loans, a person doat not
necessarily have to be a farmer, K waa
explained.
In addition, FHA hat an Emergency
Loan Program to aarve anaa hK by
drought, too much nln, itormt and
the like.
Ltat year 142 family (prmers bor
rowed $448,220 to purchase needed
equipment and Franklin County re
ed red a $12,000 pant for a compre
hensive water and tewer plan,
?s Manhal say*. "The program bat
expanded rapidly In the pact four
yean and hat culminated In t 270
percent Increase In the undu plicated
raartnad of borrowers." He baa four
people. Including himtelf, In the office
at UmUbtng. In addition to Mrs. Ford,
Mrs Edith Stearin wordt for FHA<k
Aridant Office Clerk and Harold
Psalman it the Aarfataiit County Su
pervisor. The ottce la located upatabs
In the Perry Building on North Main
Street.
An agency leaflet ays the agency
programs "atrenghten family fnaw
and rural communities." ft nana to be
doing jutf that here In our county.