The Franklin Times
Published Every Tuesday & Thursday
St rvlng All Of Franklin County
Telephone Gy6-3283
Ten Cents
Louisburg, N. C., Thursday, October 23, 1969
(Eight Plages Today)
100th Year-Number 72
Local Shriners Give To
Crippled Children Hospital
Officials of the Ftanklin County Shrine are shown above with state Shrine officials here Monday night as the locals made
their annual gift to the Shrine's Crippled Children's Hospital. Pictured left to right are: Potentate Ed R. Higgans of Durham; N.
C. Mullen, Treasurer of the local group; W. B. Joyner. Franklin Shrine President; Jack Cannady of Henderson, Potentate Aide; J.
Ed Glover of Raleigh, Chairman, Crippled Children's Fund and Dick Moore of Raleigh. Co-Chairman of the Fund. The local
organization contributed $4400 to the Fund with most of the proceeds coming from its annual fish fry.
?Photo by Ross Shuping.
County Attorney Explains Sales
Tax Issue To Lions Club
County Attorney W. H. (Jack) Tay
lor spoke to the Louisburg Lions Club
here Tuesday- night on behalf of the
Board of County Commissioners and
endorsed the upcoming local and he
pointed out that the counties have no
way of raising the mopey except
through the group his views on the
need for additional revenue by the
county.
Taylor explained that no new regis
tration is required for the November 4
vote and added that another election
on the question could not be held for
less than a year.
"Too often", Taylor said, "Locals
pass responsibility to other agencies.
Legislators from Bumcombe and
Mecklenberg, for example, vote on
salaries paid in Franklin County.
Home rule was passed to encourage
local governments to assume this re
sponsibility and to improve the legis
lature."
The Attorney told of the recent 32
percent increase in the budget of the
Department of Social Services brought
on by laws passed in the recent Gen
eral Assembly and he pointed out that
the counties have no way of raising the
money except through property taxes.
He also praised the work of the De
partment saying, "There are a lot of
happy homes in this county because of
the fine work these people do."
He told of a 33 percent decrease in
revenue received by the county from
beer and wine sales. "Industrial de
mands have been terrific", he ex
plained and told of water line costs for
new plants. "I think the Commis
sioners have gone overboard in helping
industry."
Taylor explained the present coun
ty tax structure including the appraisal
of property every eight years. He said
the tax rate is based on 100 percent
appraisal reduced to 80 percent and
has a ratio of fifty percent in both the
county and the towns. He revealed
thatFranklin has $37,000,000 in ap
praised real property; $15,000,000 in
personal property and $2,000,000 in
excess as determined by the state.
"It is estimated that if all 100
counties approve the sales tax, Frank
lin County will receive $257,000",
Taylor said. He explained that the
sales lax funds would be split with
one-half returning to the county where
collected and the other half being
placed in a pool to be divided among
the participating counties on a per
capita basis.
Resolutions, passed by the Board of
Commissioners, were read to the
group. In both the tax issue was
endorsed. In the resolution passed
Monday, the Commissioners said half
of the revenue received by the county
will be applied against the ad valorem
tax with the other half going for such
necessary improvements as schools,
fire and rescue services, hospital, law
Injuries Light
Scene above ?how? accident on U 3-401 three mile* north of Louiaburg laat
Friday afternoon. Samuel Thomaa Pearce, Jr.. w/m/68, Andrew* Are., Hendenon,
neaped with minor head laceration* when hl? car ran off the road and overturned.
Staff photo by Clint Fuller.
enforcement and others.
"We have arrived at a point in our
county. . . .where people can assert
our right to govern ourselves with
dignity and intelligence and do It on a
local level", Taylor concluded and
urged a favorable vote on November 4.
Taylor was introduced by Edward
F. Yarborough, Lions Program Chair
man. President H. D. Jeffreys presided
and Times Editor Clint Fuller was ?<
special guest.
Sales Tax Chances Improve
How much chance does the Local
Option Sales Tax have of passing in
Franklin County?
A few weeks ago, one could have
borrowed from Dizzy Dean's famous
statement: Two chances, slim and
none. But what about today?
With the apparent sincere endorse
ment of the issue by the County
Commissioners^ followed closely by an
explanation of what the Board plans
to do with the money, chances for
passage have improved greatly. This is
not to say, however, that if the vote
were held today that Franklin would
be among the counties going for the
new tax.
Until a few weeks ago, little was
heard about the sales tax referendum
locally. Then the Board of Commis
sioners adopted a canned resolution
? endorsing the tax. Some observers
shook their heads and uttered an
unenthusiastic so-what. The resolution
was probably sent in for the locals to
fill in the blanks, sign and publicize. It
was a tool of the League of Muni
cipalities and the Association of
County Commissioners.
Some local politicians felt that it
had about the same impact as the
Commissioners' endorsement of the
courthouse bond issue last year. This
endorsement came about as easy as a
dentist pulling a wisdom tooth. And
once obtained, the Board -as far as
could be determined at the time- just
forgot the whole thing.
However, this week, the Commis
sioners took a step designed to assure
the people that their endorsement was
real. They agreed on the use of at least
half the money that might be coming
to the county from the sales tax.
One-half will be used tfl hold the
line -or even reduce-the over burden
some ad valorem or property tax in
the county. The other half will be used
for a host of things, all listed by the
By Clint Fuller
Times Managing Editor
Board.
The action on the first half will be
attractive to property owners who
have felt for some time that they were
carrying too much of the local load.
With this assurance from the Board, a
number of heavy taxpayers will un
doubtedly take a favorable stand on
the sales tax. They will influence
others and thereby enhance the
chances of its passage.
In some counties. Boards have
promised to use all or a major part of
the funds to improve schools. Not so,
hera. Schools come in the second list
which Includes just about everything
except pay raises for county em
ployees -which* could have gained a
few votes--and renovations to the Old
Griffin Motor Co. building.
Schools represent more potential
voters than any other agency in the
county. A clear cut plan for schools to
benefit from the sale* tax could have
almost insured a favorable vote. How
ever, schools are listed below the
hospital and fire and revue services
both popular agencies among county
voters.
Even though the package does not
necessarily appeal to parents and
teachers as a group, other aspects may
attract some of these same people to
the polls to mark "Yes" on November
4.
Conspicously absent at this late
hour is any endorsement of the sales
tax by the municipal boards in the
county. All would benefit from the
passage by the county. All would
receive a per capita share of the
revenue. Why, no endorsement?
One theory is that some have
revenue from ABC stores and don't
need more money. In the case of
Louisburg, there is the ABC revenue,
parking meters and a very lucrative
electric power sales bonanza.
Another theory is that the town
leaders don't want to go on record a*
favoring any tax in a time of anti-tax
phobia. Some may believe it unwiae
and may be content to continue
passing the buck -literally and figura
tively-to the state.
The Board of County Co mm is
sioners-however energetically it may
work -is unlikely to be able to swing it
alone. There is too little time and too
much hostility to all taxation to sell
the goods. It will take a monumental *
effort by a great many people to
spread the word in the next 12 days.
The issue is extremely complicated-a
legislator's nightmare -to be explained
briefly. At best, it is a guessing game aa
to how much Franklin or any other
county will get from its passage.
But one thing seems definite.
Franklin County, with retail sales of
$27,417,000 in 1967-68, will receive
half of the $274,170 these sales will
bring in in sales tax. The other half
will be placed in a pool and divided
among all counties participating ip the
tax program and the municipalities
therein on a per capita basis.
# It could be a real boom for Frank
lin. If it is one of a few small countiea
to vote for the tax and there are
several large counties doing the same,
the division of the second half could
be most profitable. The additional
revenue can surely give the County
Commissioner -and Town Boards
some funds for industrial growth and
expansion of public services which are
more increasingly in demand.
Regardless, there is no denying that
a sales tax is the most equitable tax.
Here and only here does everybody
become a first class citizen. It U here
that everybody pays their share of the
load. This could be the beat thing
going for the issue here in Franklin.
Town Council Cracks Down On Lifter
The Louisburg Town Council has
adopted two new ordinances designed
to end the practice of abandoning
automobiles within the town limits
Market Sales Reach $7.5 Million
The Louisburg tobacco market has
sold 7,504,960 pounds of tobacco
through sales last week, according to a
report by William Boone, Sales Super
viser
The sales have brought
$5,379,849.00 Into the county's eco
nomy and sales have averaged $71.68
per hundred for the season through
? last Thursday, according to Boone.
Sales here Monday totaled 254,814
pounds for $180,659.31. Averages
varied with the three warehouse. The
highest reported was $71.41 and the
lowest was $69.37 with the third
house hitting an average of $71.16.
Prices declined on North Carolina's
Old and Middle belt flue-cured tobac
co markets Wednesday but showed
some improvement on the Eastern
Belt.'
The Federal-State Market News Ser
vice reported that prices continued to
decline on the Old Belt markets as
most grade averages were unchanged
to lower than Tuesday.
Losses ranged from $1 to $4 per
hundred poundi but mo?t were $1 and
$2. However, companies were still
paying premium prices for most of the
top quality grades of leaf and cutters.
Quality of offerings was also lower.
Volume on various markets ranged
from light to heavy. Gross sales Tues
day fell to 5,019,131 pounds and
Wraged $71.57 per hundred, $1.78
ul)der Monday's average.
Prices were steady to a little lower
on the Middle Belt as a few leaf grades
lost $1 per hundred pounds. Cutters,
lugs and primings held firm with most
of these grades averaging the same as
their support prices.
Quality was about the same as on
Tuesday and volume was light at all
markets Sales Tuesday dropped to
only 882,465 gross pounds and aver
aged $69.12 per hundred, off $1.29
from Monday.
District Court Docket
The following cues were disposed
of In District Court Monday, October
20th:
You Gain An
Hour Sunday
The hour's steep lost the last Sun
day in April this year will be regained
this Sunday-or rather Saturday night.
Daylight Savings Time will end at 2
A.M. Sunday. October 26.
The idea is to set the old clock back
one hour before going to bed Saturday
night. Then upon arising Sunday
morning you'll be in time with the rest
of the world.
Only Arizona, Hawaii and Michigan
will not have to bother. Their legisla
tures exempted - them from the pro
gram following the passage of a nation
wide ssvlng* time act by the Congress.
North Carolina legislators declined to
exempt Tarheel ta In 1067 and again in
1969.
At any rate. It's been a long time to
wait to collect that lost hour. And
even without any interest on the time,
an extra hour's shut^ye will come In
mighty handy come Saturday night.
Bobby Johnson, n/m/22, public
_ drunkeness. (10.00 fine and costs
William Psul Pope, til, w/m/24,
speeding. $35.00 fine and casta.
Ann Morris Ward, w/f/31, failing to
see movement could be made safely.
Not guilty.
John Willard Psrrish, w/m/31, driv
ing under Influence. Nolle pros.
Carl Lee Satterwhite, n/m, speed
ing. $15.00 fine and coats.
Thomas Glenn Ball, w/m/22, Im
proper passing. Prayer for judgment
continued on payment of costa.
Arthur Alston, c/m, assault. Nol
pros with leave.
J. C. Bumpers, c/m/42. non sup
port. Prayer for judgment continued
on condition defendant turn over his
paycheck to his wife each week.
Prentis demons, n/m/21, allowing
unlicensed driver to drive. 60 days in
jay. suspended on payment of $40.00
fine and coats.
Harold Detaney Brinkley, n/m/26,
no driver's license. 00 days In jal,
suspended on payment of $35.00 fine
and costs.
Malcolm' House, w/m, damage to
personal property; public drunkeness.
Not leaa than 30 days nor more than 6
See DISTRICT COURT Pkge 4
and to prevent the practice of allowing
vacant lots to grow crops o f weeds and
grass.
Hie ordinance providing for the
removal, storage and disposition of
abandoned motor vehicles, provides
that any car left unattended for as
much as seven days can be removed
from the street or private property and
after proper notice sold unlets the
owner pays coits of moving the ve
hicle.
This applies to any car left unat
tended on a public street for 24 hours
or left unaccompanied on property
owned or operated by the town for a.
period of forty -eight hours.
A vehicle cannot be removed from
private property without the written
conaent of the property owner or
renter unless it has been declared a
health hazard.
A second ordinance, providing for
the prevention and abatement of
public nuisances caused by the uncon
trolled growth of noxious weeds and
grass and the accumulation of refuse,
has also been adopted.
This ordinance provides for inspec
tion by the Town Manager and proper
notice given to the land owner. When
the owner fails to act to correct the
situation, the Town will do 10 and
charge the costs to the owner of the
property.
This ordinance pertains to all types
of litter generally found on vacant lots
in the area and describes such as being
prejudical to the public health.
Both ordinances became effective
with their adoption on October 10.
C.T.A. Speaker
Dr. David Reveley, head or the Education Department at MmdKh Collage la
Raleigh. N. C. was the speaker for the Franklin County CUaaroom Taachm
Association meeting held at the Bunn High School Cafeteria Tueeday, October 21.
Dr. Revel ey spoke of the main duties and responaibUltlea of teachen and the
Importance of them budgeting their time In order tq get to their moat Important
Job - teaching students. He summed up his addreas by saying that "teachers are the
moat Important people In a community, atate, and nation." *