Advertisers Will Find Our Col umns a Latchkey to over 1,600 II Homes of Martin County. II 1 [?HE ENTERPRISE Watch the Label on Your Paper, As It Carries the Date Your Subscription Expires. VOLUME XLII?NUMBER 33 Willjamston, Martin County, North Carolina, Tuesday. April 25, 1939. ESTABLISHED 1899 Secretary Of State School Commission To Speak Thursday Forty-Two Seniors To Get Diplomas From Local School -?? The class day exercises on Wed nesday night and the graduation ex erciaes scheduled for Thursday night will mark the close of the school term for the eight hundred students enrolled In the local schools. Last Sunday morning, Rev Z. T. Piep howw delivered the commencement sermon to the forty-two graduates and a congregation of seven hundred people. Tomorrow evening at eight o'clock the graduating class wi/T present a playentitled the^-Time w.gnn written by Mrs. S. R. Edwards^ The' play brings into use a modern ma chine which reveals the past history of the senior class. Miss Rebecca Harrison and a group of first grade children, Miss Nancy Glover, junior home room teacher, and Mrs. C. B.' Hassell contribute parts of the pro gram. Seniors playing leading parts include Dorris Moore, class presi dent; Sallie Grey Gurkin, valedic torian; Reld White, salutalorian and Susie Whitley, poet and prophet. Thursday night at eight o'clock the formal graduation exercises will be held with Mr. Lloyd Griffin, secretary of the State school com mission making the principal ad dress. R. L. Coburn, chairman of the local school committee, will intro duce Mr. Griffin, and Elbert S. Peel will present the diplomas to the for ty-two members of the graduating class Fifty-seven members of the seventh grade will receive their grammar grade certificates. Mem bers of the graduating class are as follows: William Ballard, Herbert Mason Clark, Jr., W. E. Dunn, Jr., Pete Egan, James Robert Everett, Jr. Jo seph J. Edmondson, James Julian Jackson. Samuel Alfred Mobley, Gordon Manning. Elbert S. Peel, Jr., Rudolphe Peel, Doris Andrews, Min nie Rogers Chesson, Ellen Coburn, Dorothy Coltraine, Dixie Elizabeth Daniel, Delsie Faye Godard, Doleta Belle Gardner, Elsie l.arkin Gnrgan us, Eva Earnestine Gurganus, Nettie i Mae Gurganus, Sallie Grey Gurkin, Slachel Aldine Keel, Helen Marguei - ite Lindsley, Lowreader Modlin, Dorothy Britton Manning, Julia Louise Melson, Monteria Hardison, Dorris Marie Moore, Mary E. Rani ey, Elizabeth Irene Perry, Mary Vir ginia Revels, Dorothy Caroline Stalls, Eleanor Taylor, Martha R Ward, Susie Pearl Ward. Virgil Ward, Reid White, Susie Whitley, Nancy Whitehurst, Margaret Jones and Marjorie Fleming. Members of the seventh grade to receive certificates follow: Betsy Anderson, Hewett Andrews, Nina Bennett, John Bland, Jasper Bfbwder, Bernice Bullock, Russell Bullock, Dora Cherry, Daryl Clay ton, Marie Crisp, George Cunning ham, Evelyn Daniel, Donald Dixon, Evelyn Edmondson, Delsie Gardner, Elsie Mae Gardner, William Gard ner, Conrad Getsinger, Helen God ard, John Goff, Reginald Griffin, Elizabeth Gurganus, Hazel Gurgan us, Fred Hardison, Harold Hargett, Virginia Hines, Carl Leroy Ivey, Ed na Ruth Ivey, Courtney Jenkins, Anne Lindsley, Daisy Manning, Richard Margolis, Lenora Melson, Nancy Mercer, Delia Jane Mobley, Russell Mobley, Berkley Nicholson, Noah Nicholson, Warren Nicholson, (Continued on page six) Build Foundation For A Band Here Professor Enloe is laying the foundation for a strong band here next season, the director announcing this week that considerable interest is being shown in its reorganization and that a sizeable unit is assured for next season. At the present time, the band in cludes the following musicians: Trombones: Thad Harrison, E. G. Wynne, J. B. Taylor; Baritones: Eli Gurganus, Bennie Daniels; Bass: Jimmie Leggett; Trumpets: Jerry Clark, Horace Ray, Frank Weaver, Billy Mercer, Junie Peele; Clarinets: Frdd Hardison, Jack Bailey, John Whitley, Richard Mar golis, Ben Hardison; Drums: Jim Manning, Pete Egan, James Carrow, Bennie Weaver, Sam my Taylor; Saxophones: Vernon Godwin, Marvin Roberson, Rudolph Peele; Alto: Buddy Wier; Drum majors: Mary Osborne, Martha Rhodes Ward, Margaret Patrolmen to Arrest All Speeders After May 1st Instructions have been received I law at the last session of the legis nere Dy Patrolman w. b. Hunt to proceed to arrest motorists who op erate their cars on public highways at a greyer rate of speed than 60 miles an hour after May 1. The new speed limit was provided in a law recently ratified in the legislature and is effective at this time, although Revenue Commissioner A. J. Max well, under whose department the patrol is operated, said that patrol men were being ordered to begin strict enforcement of the law after the first of next month. Prior to the passage of the new lature, mere was no maximum speed limit on the statute books. The old law simply provided that motorists must exercise due caution when driving more than 45 miles an hour ! For the remainder of this month. I speeders will be cautioned about the new speed law and will be urged to J hold their automobiles down to the 60-mile maximum, but no arrests will be mode except for "flagrant vi olations." it was said. Patrolman Hunt also advises that trucks, loaded or unloaded, should rot be operated at a speed in excess of 30 miles an hour. County's Tax Listing Is Far From Complete I ANOTHER RECORD v 1 A unique record almost par aileling that established b,v Ben Manning in the local schools, is being chalked up by Miss Sally Grey Gurkin as the term draws to a close here this week. For eleven years, Miss Gur kin, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Johnnie Gurkin, of near here, has neither been absent nor tardy. To climax the record, Miss Gurkin earned the place of class valedictorian. Young Manning, completing his record three years ago, was neither absent nor tardy dur ing his eleven years in school, had his name appear on the honor roll every month except one or two and was class vale dictorian. Both records are deserving of warm commendation. Settle Quarrel Over The Cotton Exjiorl Subsidy Last Week Bounty of About 2 Cents Is Finally Agreed Upon President Roosevelt and S?ulh?rnl Senators patched up their quarri over cotton export subsidy ^ *ee* by agreeing on a bounty of about 2 cents a pound on both raw cotton and manufactured cotton goods sold 8^Senator Bankhead, Democrat Ala^ bama. who served as peacemaker in the dispute that threatened to dead ?k'?nate action onfall farm leg liiatiom announceff The cbmpromB^ Srlnent after a seeret conference of the Senate cotton hloc He said the subsidy would be used ...11 fire* thlS in an endeavor to sell first this in an enuc?*?* ? - years cotton crop and cotton out side the government's loan stocks. President Roosevelt had sugges - ed a subsidy to reduce the more-'than 11 000,0U0 bale of staple piled up under government loans, but South ern Senators contended this might lower the market for this years I Cr?The revised program is a practi | cal operation of the cotton export subsidy announced by the I dent." Bankhead said. ? Our present plan will leave al new crop cotton in free channels of trade," Bankhead said. 1 feel <*r tain that the domestic price for this "Ln will be stabilized at around ? cc p*.r?'. s.? - cause growers to market their new crop instead of putting it up as co lateral for government loans about 8 cents a pound. Being directed primarily at mov ing the new crop into world chan nels, the compromise plan would leave unsolved the question of what to do with the huge quantities of cotton piled up under government '"senator Byrnes, Democrat, has suggested trading part of it to Great Britain and other nations for tin rubber and other products this Tnde^hf pUn. the trade, would be accompanied by an to hold the stocks as war ?se?? unless the world price climbed to figure to be agreed on before ^Administration circles heard with interest a report published in the London Sunday Dispatch that Great Britain had opened negotiations for purchase of the bulk of the W plus. It was said at the state depart (Continued on page six) Only Four iVlore Days To Complete The Annual Task Small Reduction in County Values Is Generally Predicted Dragging since the books were opened the early part of this month, tax listing in the county was report ed today to be far from complete., reliable reports coming from author ative sources stating that several hundred property owners were sub jecting themselves to court actiun or the double listing of their hold ings. Under the law, the time for listing property expires on Saturday of this week, and no provision for an extension has been made It has been reported that the authorities are not willing to extend the time for listing, that each year an exten sion is granted the property owners wait that much longer before handl ing the annual project It is possible for the list-takers to complete the work by late Saturday but Ihe property owners will find it necessary to wait in line should the task be completed in its entire ty. Time extensions allowed for list ing property delays the preparation of the tax books, and each fall quite a few property owners cause confu sion by advancing tax payments to get the maximum discounts. In Williamston Township List laker H. M. Burras said today that not more than 50 per cent of the "big" property owners had listed their holdings, that possibly 75 per cent or more of the "little fellows" had given their earthly belongings He added that it would be a big rush, but he could handle the work between now and Saturday if the property owners reported His of fice is maintained in the Roanoke Dixie warehouse each day from nine to five o'clock. In the county, not more than 70 per cent of the property owners have listed their holdings, but in one or two districts the work will I be virtually completed a day or two before the final date. Reports .from the list-takers are not very encouraging. Some of them report that values will about hold their own, others say that decreases are to be expected, but none has said an increase is likely. The local list-taker pointed out that William ston might show a gam, but that the decreased number of new auto mobiles and smaller stocks of pro j visions, on farms would run into a sizeable total. The loss in those brackets may be offset by increases in new properties which will ap proximate $100,000 possibly. Last year the Williamston books showed an increase of more than 100 new cars as compared with less than 25 to date. Merchandise stocks are about the same with a few a lit tle higher in value than last season. Sheriff Uninjured In Wreck Early Yesterday Turning sharply to avoid a wreck with another car, Sheriff C. B. Roe buck crashed his car into a small bridge abutement below Jamcsville yesterday morning. The officer es caped injury, but damage to his car approximated $100. Representative Social Security Board Here Old-age insurance provisions of the Social Security Act will be ax plained by a representative of the Security Board every other Friday beginning on Friday of next week between the hours of 11:30 and 1 p. ro. . "T, Court Nearing End Oi Two Weeks Term J" ? V ' ' ? ' - ? ; ? ' Here This Afternoon Number of Cases Cleared From Docket by Com promise or Trial A two-weeks' term of Martin County Superior court convening here on Monday of last week is nearing a close this afternoon, re-1 ports from the bar of justice stating that a number of cases had been set tled by agreement, compromise oi by trial. Judge Henry A. Grady, the silver-haired jurist of New Bern, is presiding. Few cases of any great importance have been placed before the court for action during the term, and small crowds have witnessed the proceedings Today thn the Roan oke had their most successful day of the season yesterday when her rings were taken from the stream by the hundreds of thousands The plant at Jamesville, casting its seine fourteen times during the day. trap ped approximately 100,000 of the fish and other plants along the stream reported catches equally as large. Through yesterday, the Flem ing fis^ry at Jamesville had raught well in excess of half a million The catch is considerably below normal, but it is far larger than the season total last year. Despite unfavorable days, the Jamesville plant is almost certain to experience its most successful sea son in several years. Martin County Farmers Offered $211,000.00 to Comply With the New Soil Conservation Program PROMISING MUSICIANS Gathering together a unique as sortment of instruments last fall the first grade rhythm band, under the direction of Miss Rebecca -Har rison, completes a successful year Tin- group, appearing in concerts before various meetings, hoists some promising musicians. They will feature the parade for the bal1 game here Thursday afternoon The names of the hand members are Leader: Martha MacKen/ie, Ruby ' Savage, June* Bowen, Helen Ches-J sun, Rachel Chesson, Madaline Ches- J son, Nancy Robertson, Betty Lou Elaine Burroughs, Marjorir Hopkins, Clarn Whitfield, Jessie Mae Melson. Ann Woodard, Ann Lamm, Elizabeth. Whitley, Frank Wynne, Asa Manning, Warren Golf, Charles Carner, Jack Gray, Billy Spruill, Bobby Davis, Leslie Culli pher, Cecil Savage, Hush Bondur ant. I RE-ELECTED V Re-elected last week by the ? Oak City schlicy -oi tnis department to issue court orders until actual contacts by the public health nursivi have been made, the patient informed and given an am ple time to cooperate. The school examinations of color ed children in tin- first, third and sixth grades were finished during this month, with a monthly total ol 1106 colored sehooT children exam ined, and 1129 school children vac cinated against smallpox. This con stitutes a peak month for both school examinatiohs and vaccinations. A dental program was started in the white schools on March 6th with Drs. Evans and Underwood of the State Board of Health conducting the dental work. In addition to many classroom talks, demonstrations and distribution of literature, they have treated a total of 342 children, and ^inspected a total of 704, or a month ly total of 1046. Their work has been greatly appreciated in every com munity, and they have endeared themselves to both the children and (Continued on page six) Small Majority Of Farmers Show Some Interest In Program p Indications Are That the Program Will Almost Be Abandoned Martin County farmers will re ceive approximately $211,000 in soil onservanon payments next spring if they comply with the new soil conservation program this spring, i; was learned from the office of the county agent this week. The figui-? represents the maximum aggregate payment that farmers of the county are promised if they comply with the 19110 soil conservation program in its entirety, but it does not in elude approximately $35,000 that can be expected in the form ot a cotton price adjustment payment. Briefly stated, if Martin County farmers farm in Cooperation with the pro gram. they are assured of receiving approximately one-quarter of a million dollars. In addition to that cash income they can save thousands of dollars that would ordinarily be spent for producing "surplus" crops. With the uncertainty of prices staring them in the face next fall farmers, it is the honest opinion of recognized farm leadersj state and national, will find it advisable to seriously consider the soil program benefits from every angle before losing them in an expanded produc tion program. Preparing special information sheets for every individual farm in the county, the office of the agent states that less than two-thirds of the growers showed enough interest in the program to call by and learn the facts about the program as it re lates to maximum benefit payments, allotments and so on. It is quite evident then Hint Mar lin County farmers are planning to ignore the soil program either par lially or in its entirety With favor able weather conditions existing from now until the harvesting sea son gets underway, it is certainly reasonable to assume that a bumpei production will materialize and low prices will follow, everything else being equal. There is the possioility that the grower who expands his production program will pront, but all the facts indicate that the farm er who participates 100 per cent in the soil program will profit to an even greuter extent. The office of tlie farm agent is n??t offering anv suggestions. it_idL_ nierely placing the facts before the iarmers. Any glower who wishes to increase his production, plant his en tire larm to tobacco, or to peanuts, or any other crop can do so, and he can sell all he raises without tax. Increased acreages to tobacco will noi build up the grower's hase lor use in the future if another program is placed into effect. Under the 1939 soil conservation program, Martin County farmers have been allotted 11,248 acres of tobacco, 6,777 acres of cotton, 305 acres of Irish potatoes and 18,260 acres of peanuts. These allotments represent approximately one-half the crop land in the county. When one considers that approximately 30,000 acres of land is planted to torn,-he can readily see that little ground is left for various other crops not to mention those of a soil huilding nature. Those farmers who have not call ed for their informational sheets prepared in connection with the soil conservation program are urged to do so. There is no obligation to the program this year, and the farmer can take or leave the benefits offer ed in connection with the pro gram. # More Soil Conservation Checks Received Locally ?0 Soil conservation payments, de layed during the past two weeks, are again, being made to Martin farm ers, the office of the county agent reporting that $5,534.71 received last Saturday is being distributed to farmers representing twenty appli cations. To date, more than $100,000 has been paid to farmers in this county, applications are awaiting attention and approximately $00 additional in Washington City. It is estimated that the total pay ments to farmers in this county will approximate $160,000, not Including cotton price adjustment payments.