Newspapers / The Pilot (Southern Pines, … / Sept. 10, 1954, edition 1 / Page 2
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PAGE TWO THE PILOT. Southern Pines, North Carolina FRIDAY. SEPTEMBER 10. 1954 V ^ ^ Tifr- Southern Pines North Carolina “In taking over The Pilot no changes are contemplated. We will try to keep this a good paper. We wiU try to make a Mttle money for all concerned. Where there seems to be an occa sion to use our influence for the pubKc good we will try to do it. And we wiU treat everybody alike.”—James Boyd, May 23, 1941. The School Budget Controversy - IV As this is written, the county board of educa tion has accepted the decision of Clerk of Court Carlton Kennedy, statutory arbitrator in the school capital outlay funds dispute. While the board of commissioners had not, at this writing, gathered to discuss the deci sion and to decide whether or not they will approve, it appeared likely that they <would go along with the clerk’s ruling. The addition al $8,359.50 allowed the board of education by the decision would require about two cents increase in the tax rate. Possibly it could be found within the budget as it stands, in view of the fact that the budget, as we understand it, has been made up very conservatively and there is a likelihood of more revenue than was figured in the budget estimate. With seven of the nine school districts of the county, system due to receive benefits from the added appropriation, it appears that this small increase in the rate would meet acceptance throughout the county. Mr. Kennedy, it seems tO' us, rendered a fair decision under the most trying circumstances. We can well understand that the county com missioners felt they could not raise the tax rate from the $1.35 established in the budget to over $1.77, which would have been neces sary had the full requests of th^ board of edu cation been granted, assuming no reductions were made in other appropriations in the bud get as it stands. Residents of the Southern Pines school dis trict should thank Mr. Kennedy for his re jection of the county board of education’s proposal to cut $75,344.32 from the appropria tion of $135,000 in capital outlay funds for Southern Pines and transfer this $75,344.32 to the county school system, thus putting the dis tribution of the total capital outlay funds for the county. Southern Pines and Pinehurst sys tems on a strictly per capita basis. This amazing proposal was the number one point in the board of education’s statement of issues and contentions in the dispute, presented to the clerk for his benefit in reaching a de cision. It would have given the county system $344,344.32; the Pinehurst system $13,400 (no change) and the Southern Pines system $59,- 655.68. The court clerk in his ruling on the contro versy cited school law to show that capital out lay funds are not to be allotted on a per capita basis, as are debt service and current expense school fimds, but are allotted on the basis of necessity. He made the point that “from the evidence presented, both oral and written, the undersigned can find no violation of the duty imposed upon the Board of County Commis sioners of Moore Coimty by statute respecting school funds in the allocation of $135,000.00 to the Southern Pines administrative unit for cap ital outlay purposes, nor can the undersigned find from the evidence that said allocation was arbitrarily made and that no need existed for the allocation of such sum. . While it may well be true that the county school system should have more money than it was allowed for school plant construction and alteration, we fciil to see how the commission ers could be expected to serve the cause of edu cation in the county as a whole by taking from Southern Pines, at the suggestion of the board of education, more than half of the money offi cials here are depending on to build the second half or “Phase B” of the new hig'h schcol—the old high school having been torn down. In the entire $422,471.43 requested by the board of education for capital outlay in this year’s budget, of which the commissioners al lowed the board $269,000, the only actual class room construction proposed was a new Car thage elementary school building, for which $154,500 was requested and which would re place a building that is old and outmoded but in a temporarily serviceable condition. Total estimated cost of the Carthage ele mentary school is $175,000, the balance over the $154,500 to be provided by the State. The commissioners allotted $110,052 to this project, rather than the amount requested, on the theory that Carthage, like other school districts in the county—notably Southern Pines with its new high school—could spread the cost of the structure over two or more years. This seems tO' us like fair treatment. We feel that the board of education has per formed a valuable pubUc service in rejecting the school budget as it was first drawn up. The board deserved the increases allowed by Mr. Kennedy—and quite possibly more, too. Where the line is to be drawn depends pri marily on how much the people of Moore County can and will pay for school plant con struction each year. The focusing of public attention on how school money is allotted is a healthy thing for the county and, in the course of the recent discussions and hearings, much has been re vealed that should be more widely known and understood. Board of education members say that it is revealing and significant of the attitude of the board of county commissioners on school mat ters that the chairman of the commissioners testified in one of the hearings that . . after deducting all the other expenses ot the county, we found that that was all the money we had for capital outlay. . .” School needs, the board of education members say, should not be fig ured last in making up a budget—although, of course, it is obvious that many of the other budget items are inflexible. Here again, the decision rests with the people of the county. If they want their school plants constructed and altered at a faster pace than has been possible with tax rates as they are and have been in recent years, they should let the county commissioners know how heavily they are willing to be taxed for schools. It appears to us that both boards have acted throughout this controversy as they sincerely believed the people -who elected them would want them to act. The entire proceeding has been conducted with dignity and without the interjection of personalities and extraneous issues into the controversy—something that has not been true in some other similar school budget disagree ments elsewhere in the state. Controversy is inherent in the nature of the matter and we by no means think the events of the past few weeks will end disagreements in this county on school appropriations. We do feel, however, that the public interest has been serv ed by the whole affair and that because of it, the matter of school finani^ing in the future will be carried on with greater understanding, both on the part of the two boards and the public. PTA And Segregation The Group Relations committee of the North Carolina Congress of Parents and Teachers, meeting recently, went on record with the statement that the segregation decision of the Supreme Court is in harmony with the ob jects and policy of the State and National Con gress of Parents and Teachers. The policies of these organizations, it was pointed out, have always paramounted the wel fare of all children. Regardless of whether or not there is agree ment with the findings of this committee, there is no doubt that organizations of parents and teachers, in both white and Negro communities, will play a key part in making whatever ad justments will be necessary after it is known how t^ie Court decision is to be implemented. The welfare of all children—white and Ne gro—is certainly the goal in whatever actions may be taken as the Court decision is ap plied at the community level. Those who oppose breaking down the segre gation barrier in the schools cite welfare of the children as one reason for opposing integration. Both groups, these observers say, would be made less tolerant, more unhappy by the con flicts which are assumed to be inevitable in such a situation. Yet it was the welfare of children that was cited in the wordipg of the Supreme Court de cision itself: “To separate them from others of similar age qnd qualifications solely because of their race generates a feeling of inferiority as to their status in the community that may affect their hearts and minds in a way unlikely ever to be undone.” Some time ago, The Pilot suggested that uppsokCHm m mPT/uam.. % STOP SCHOOL BUS ilS In THE LAW IN MANY STATUS Irs Mwm A mp idea ... • AtnoHCon Trudnng AMOdoHoitt <*K. The Public Speaking Ridicule Poor Substitute To the Editor; ^ I have read the series of letters from Capt. McDaniel, published in the Pilot, leveling certain charges against the town admin istration. Regarding the merits of these charges I am not informed, but I assume that the whole mat ter could be satisfactorily ex plained by a forthright statement of facts by the Mayor. The rash of anonymous letters in rebuttal, all appearing to have a con\mon origin, may have some merit as curios but contribute just nothing towards public enlight enment. Ridicule is a poor substitute for argument and might weU prove to be a two edged sword. This correspondent has been favorably impressed with the ac complishments of cur present town administration. E. W. BUSH, D. Southern Pines O. Anonymous Letters school integration begin, if it must begin, with younger children in whom a pattern of racial antagonism has not become established. With them, we don’t think that conflicts would be inevitable. Indeed, we are much less pessimistic than some observers about conflicts on all age levels. Organizations of parents and teachers now have—in this waiting period before implemen tation of the decision becomes a matter of local action—a golden opportunity to examine con scientiously the grave responsibilities that may be thrust upon them—always with the goal of the children’s welfare in mind. It would be wise now for white and Negro parents and teachers to meet and exchange thoughts on this subject, so that there wiR be a background of mutual understanding, should they be required in the future to help make in tegration work. To The Editor; The other day I read a “quip in one of the Greensboro papers. It said—“People can be placed in three classes; the few who make things happen; the many who watch things happen; and the overwhelming majority who have no idea what has happened.” In regard to the McDaniel letj ters in The Public Speaking, must confess that I am classed with the overwhelming majority, I do not knew what they are talking about. Do know at least two things— to wit—one: that Southern Pines is one of the finest places on earth in which to live—two: that the people of Southern Pines are good neigihbors and I love them all. Might add an observation; note that Mr. McDaniel signs his let ters and the public know who has been the writer; for this cour age and forthrightness, one can not help but admire Mr. McDan iel. , Anonymous letters seldom throw any light on any subject matter. They seldom do the writer any good and do very little harm to those to whom they are directed. Yours anonymously, CALVIN H. BURKHEAD Southern Pines (Ed. Note; The Pilot does not publish letters whose writers are unknown to the editor, although letter writers may request that their names be withheld when the letter is printed. We agree, however, that a letter is far more effective when the writer allows his name to be used.) Crest, the residental develop- , ment, toteded $2,838.42. Mr. Philips, Read of (the coirb- pany, advised that he was filing the cost of same' with the Board of Commissioners in order that we might know the cost of the project in the event that there was a future extension of the City Limits.” (2) It is believed, Mr. Mayor, that you must have known all about the above. In view of this, how could you consent, and throw away $2,433.59 of Our pub lic funds? This contrary to public policy, the advice of our City Manager, our Town Attorney, and also that of a well informed coun cilman. Evidently all this sound advice you completely ignored. In addition you forgot your sworn duty' tO' protect the interests of the tax-payers. To cap all this, the so-called agreement is regis tered as having cost the taxpay ers “One Dollar ($1.00) and other considerations’*. Never before have I seen a greater manifestation of incom petence, favoritism, lack of lead ership or anything else one may term it, than was apparent in this socalled Golf Crest (or dead- horse) deal. The foregoing is another reason why you should resign as Mayor, immediately. A. R. McDANIEL Southern Pines opportunities? With the choice of six routes tO' Florida, is it of prime impor tance to re-route one of them? Do we just swing along with the times and O. K. it without think ing? Is there nothing to be done about the mania for speed in get ting from this place to that? Our taxe's pay for Federal, State and County highways— (I have no objection to local or rural road development). There is no rubbing of Aladdin’s lamp. PESSIMISTIC Court Not Infallible because it grew out of and was bcised on what has been found to be wise and fair by the people and was not a theory based on the ipse dixit of a group of nine men however good and intelli gent they may be. , A study of the function and de velopment of the authority of the United States Supreme Court leads to several logical and im portant conclusions, namely: 1. The authority of the Su preme Court was not a formal and cold legal delegation of pow er granted by the Federal Con stitution but something that grew up by the wisdom of wise judges and the sensible approval and ac ceptance of good citizens—the trend always being more and more toward democratic process es and seldom toward autocratic To The Editor: No loyal American would wish to detract from the respect due the Supreme Court of the Uqited \ rulings by a small group of jus- States' nor weaken the influence tices. Schools, Highways Fine Community Effort The campaign to raise funds for lighting the high school athletic field has been successful and the contributions of local organizations and individuals, some extraordinarily generous, will enable the project to be completed in time for use this Fall. The current drive is a credit to the many persons who have worked on it. The effort has involved more persons and harder work by more persons than any civic project that has been put over here in years. It is a credit, too, to the Chamber of Commerce which has co ordinated these efforts and with which the lights campaign was a major project. More About Golfcrest To the Edtior: The following is an open letter, the fifth of a series, to the Hon. Lloyd T. Clark, Mayor of South ern Pines, North Carolina. Mr. Mayor: The following is my under- stsmding about the so-called Golf Crest, Phillips, or dead-horse deal. (1) The minutes of the Town Commissioners meeting of Sep tember 12, 1951, do not reveal anything about any agreement with Mr. Phillips; in fact noth ing is recorded in these minutes pertaining to any such agreement. What is stated in these minutes reads as follows: “The Clerk read a letter from Resort Investment Co. advising that the cost of 6” water main complete with hydrants and valves into Golf To The Editor: The Pilot in one of- its issues spoke of “short-changing chil dren” in their educational oppor tunities. 'There are other ways of “short-changing children” than by withholding counly^ funds. One way is wasting funds. How much money hhs already been wasted by local school boards and no doubt will be? Every dollar wasted is equivalent to a dollar withheld. How many of us—taxpayers and parents—are aware of whether there have been prefer ential contracts for architects, buildings or equipment, where personal or political influence de termines who gets the contract and who pads the contract? Are we all alert to another source of waste: buildings so poorly built or planned, at a high cost, that they have to be condemned in a short time? There is another even more serious type Of waste that “short changes children”. We might cover it by calling it waste of time. This may be due to poor teaching which may result from a low salary schedule; also too large classes, too many classes in a room or too heavy a schedule; or a poor course o-f study—not necessarily an old-fashioned course, quite possibly a new- fashioned course. Could we not c-ffer our children everywhere, including our own town, much better educational op portunities, without raising taxes one cont, if we would face this fact? The majority of us think it more, important to spend tax money for other things than edu cation—for example, for super highways than for super-educa tion. An editorial in The Pilot states what is, unfortunately, true, that the Highway 1 project is in keep ing with the modern trend. A news item gives the construc tion price for six miles of road as $234,505.70, plus $13,650 for mov ing buildings off the right of way. Multiply this by 10 for 60 miles and again and again by 10. Sup pose we used this for education which this Court has built up in the years since it was established by our forefathers. In fact the spirit of law and order in our nation springs from the respect which we have for our courts. Our vaunted freedom is tied in with our high regard for our legal tribunals. However, our highest Court in Washington is not infallible and there is no reason why free citi zens should not discuss and de bate its decisions. A contrary idea is often expressed when so-me one ventures -to criticize the recent decision of the Supreme Court on the matter of racial segregation in public schools. i The claim' to infallibility on the part of any group of men or of any human institution, is a myth. The effect of this claim on any organization that makes such a claim and on those who would support such, leads to a false loy alty and to servile adherence that are barriers to independent reasoning, clear thinking and the honest search alter the truth. It is a form of idolatry which in the end breaks down a sincere re spect for the Supreme Court. Now we come to the decision of the present/Court on the mat ter of racial segregation in public education and ask what does this decree signify as to the mind of the tribunal itself? There are some who charge that the mem bers of the Court are lacking in judicial training and ability. There are others who charge that the members of the Court were motivated by political considera tions. However this may be, this Court has only approved what all good Americans profess to stand for on the matter of racial equal ity and has added nothing to what is already stated in the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments to the Constitution. The hesitation, aye failure, of the Court to implement its decision on segregation in public schools and to spell out the practical de tails so as to apply the new prin ciple of integration to the task indicates their own frustration over the vital core of the prob lem and leaves the question just where it was when the Court took it up for adjudication. One of the most serious faults of this recent action of the Su preme Court was its repudiation of the very fair and practical judgement of a former Court that approved the plan of separate but equal, facilities for all races in public schools. The “equal but separate” decision was workable and was making progress toward a fair solution of this most diffi cult and complicated problem Now the nation’s judgment is in suspense and educational prog ress for both whites and Negroes in the field of secondary schools is close to a standstill. 'The “equal and separate” plan has worked II. While the Supreme Court in Washington is the highest legal tribunal in the nation, it like every other department of our Government, derives its authority from the people and the execu tion of its conclusions can be ef- • fective only through the consent of the governed. Instead of being a dictatorial body selected to rule it as an agency by which the peo ple rule. HI. The unavoidable over-lap ping of duties and responsibilities of the three departments of the Federal Government should not lead to encroachments of one de partment over the field of an other department. The never- ending problem of rival authority between the centralized Federal power and diversified states rights must always be provided for and jealously guarded. This is a fundamental provision o-r the Constitution which must never be forgotten if we would be truly Americans in our ideals and prac tice. The conclusion then of the whole matter is that the United States Supreme Court’s great re sponsibility is not to teU the na tion and the people what they ought to think and to do but to find out what the people think and then interpret o-ur laws and institutions and Constitution in the light of their knowledge. If this were done, then Lord Bryce’s tribute to John Marshall could be applied to the Suprenie Court in every succeeding gener ation. In “The American Com monwealth” he expressed this es timate of the work of John Mar shall: “The, Constitution seemed not so much to rise under his hands to its full stature as to- be gradually unveiled by him till it stood revealed in the harmonious perfection of form in which its designers had framed it.” FRANCIS M. OSBORNE Pinehurst, N. C. The PILOT Published Every Friday by THE PILOT. Incorporated Southern Pines. North Carolina 1941—JAMES BOYD—1944 Katharine Boyd Editor C. Benedict News Edrbjr Dan S. Ray Gen. Mgr. G. G. Council Advrrt;:-Ji!.r Mary Scott Newton Business Bessie Cameron Smith Society Composing Room Lochamy McLean, Dixie B. Ray, Michael Valen, Jasper Swearingen Subscription Rates: One Year $4. 6 mos. $2; 3 mos. $1 Entered at the PostofRee at South ern Pines. N. C» as second class mail matter Member National Editorial Assn, and N. C. Press Assn.
The Pilot (Southern Pines, N.C.)
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Sept. 10, 1954, edition 1
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