Newspapers / The News-Journal (Raeford, N.C.) / Dec. 5, 1985, edition 1 / Page 13
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Opinions Washington's death hastened by early medical practices A questionable practice happen ed in the passing of George Washington on December 14, 1799. George Washington, only recently retired from serving two terms as president, rode over his rolling farm in Virginia through snow and bitter cold on December 12. He suffered an acute attack of laryngitis, and perhaps flu. His doctors almost surely helped along his death for thev bled him several limes ? the custom at the time. Thus weakened, Washington pass ed away on the 14th. A good indication of the esteem Cliff Blue People and Issues in which Washington was held abroad can be seen in the response of London and Paris to the famous general's death. The commander of the British fleet ordered the flags of every British warship to be flown at half mast. DECEMBER 7 ... We know to day, 44 years after the surprise Japanese aerial attack on Pearl Harbor, more about the dilema then confronting Japan. The United States, Britain and Holland had applied such economic pressure Japan had either to fight or to end its expan sion. The Japanese, a proud peo ple, chose to fight. That doesn't make the sneak at tack on Pearl Harbor, without a declaration of war, any less dastardly. But then Japan was tak ing on the two greatest naval powers in history, plus the Dutch. i> SiSK NURSERY FRESH CUT ' ^ FRASER FIR | CHRISTMAS FjrM $1 ]00 SUWWUU (SI />' ? Trees ?Shrubs ?Custom Landscaping ? Hwy. 401 Business 875-2383 A (across from BErB Cashmart) >? = V NORFOLK ISLAND >INDOOR PINES Fully Decorated $9? GUMBALL WREATHS Ideal For Window $325 Decorated Potted AMARYLLIS BULBS ;?* Great Christmas Gifts $8?s ? i N Foil Wrapped With Bow 5-7 Blooms 6" pots We Will Take Orders For Large Poinsettias For Clubs, Churches, ate. LIVE WHITE PINE & CEDAR WREATHS .* $1200??!?, GRAPEVINE fi WREATHS I *5##? I Decorated For Christmas ? 'Public purpose' funding key RALEIGH -- When Gov. Jim Martin launched his crusade against the 198S General Assembly's pork barrel bill, he said he wouldn't release any state funds until he had determined whether the money would be spent for a "public purpose." But if Martin thought history, the courts or anyone else would provide him with a clear cut defini tion of the constitutional provision of "public purpose," he was wrong. It is one legal phrase which goes undefined, by purpose. Article II of the state Constitu tion says tax money can be spent "for public purposes only." Over the years, the courts have ruled, repeatedly, on what constitutes public purpose and on what, therefore, tax money can be spent. But the courts have refused to put down a hard and fast rule. In fact, the North Carolina Supreme Court has said it will not do so. "The concept (of public purpose) ex pands with the population, economy, scientific knowledge and changing conditions," the court has written. In preparing a legal brief to a Senate committee studying the ap propriations process, legislative at Watching By Paul T. O 'Connor torney Sabra Faires wrote, "What was once considered a public pur pose may no longer be one and, likewise, what was previously not a public purpose may become one." In a sense, the history of the public purpose debate is pretty much the history of domestic public policy in the United States. What costs does the government assume and which should be left for private concerns? Remember that in the early days of the Republic, roads were not always considered a public respon sibility. They often were built by private companies and tolls were charged. Canals were generally private, as were railroads. That's all changed and those functions are considered part of the governmen tal infrastructure. Faires said that in the early 20th century North Carolina courts had ruled that tax money could not be spent for a public hospital because it did not meet a public purpose. Tax funds could be spent for water and sewers, but only in restricted fashion, the courts said, because water and sewer lines were not a "necessary" public function. Since 1928, the courts have fail ed to find a public purpose in ap propriations only four times. In three cases, where tax exempt bonds were to be issued for private air pollution devices, for a private hospital and for industrial facilities, the court's decisions were ultimately overturned by con stitutional amendments. A fourth case said the Town of Tarboro could not construct a hotel. It has not been overturned but remember that there are state-owned hotels at UNC-Chapel Hill and Ap palachian State. The doctrine of public purpose often turns on the beneficiary of an expenditure. Some are clearly private: Student loans, for exam ple. But, in these cases, the courts say there is a larger public benefit in having educated citizens. Another question is whether the appropriation takes the govern ment into activity which is im proper for it. TftJEM fMMEll AKD INHERE IN THE PftlLIPPmES To GET A BETTER UTOTJ* OF THE PROBLEM BESETTING TREMAPCOS GOVERNMENT BASOWUR1GWSA? mi m> open elections. WW DO YOU PEOPLE V1ANTP BE A STARK Example of THE C0JM18T THREAT. CHRISTMAS yimj. CONVALESCENT COMFORT For the person who needs a gradual, comfortable way to mobility. The Penox Lift Chair offers: ? Finger-tip control to raise or lower chair from sitting to standing position. ? Reclining position for a nap. ? Rich selection of fabric coverings. ? Access flap conceals motor. ? Medicare-approved with doctor's prescription. New mobility ? sitting to standing! enox LIFT CHAIR ORDERS PLACED BY DEC. 10TH ASSURES DELIVERY BY XMAS. REGULAR PRICE $105400 NOW THRU DEC. 31 SPECIAL CHRISTMAS $QQQ95 PRICE-ONLY OOU : / HOME \ HEALTH STORE 205 Pinehurst Avenue Toll Free 1 -800 672-5557 692-2043 Southern Pines. N C. 28837 H?*arlqunr'er?<H #jlhin T><*? H >m?> Hoi:1' St i< thv " S' k h Hotpllai Homo M?<i!th Ag?ni y
The News-Journal (Raeford, N.C.)
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Dec. 5, 1985, edition 1
13
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