Page 2 The West Craven HIGHLIGHTS, February 22, 1979
Senator
Joseph E.
Thomas
Legislative Report
Leave a real legacy: Conserve energy
Section 1. “Equality of rights under the law shall not be
denied or abridged by the United States or by any State
on account of sex.”
Section 2. “The Congress shall have the, power to
enforce by appropriate legislation the provisions of this
article.”
Section 3. “This Amendment shall take effect two years
after the date of ratification.”
Probably no other single piece of legislation has caused
more outpouring of sentiment and emotion than the
controversial Equal Rights Amendment. A short, simple,
and direct amendment to our U.S. Constitution designed
to guarantee equal rights for women in this country.
As most of you are aware by now, last week I decided
to oppose this amendment should it come to the floor of
the State Senate. I made this decision after much serious
consideration and concern.
The concern was and is a result of my full support for
the stated principles of the first section of the amendment.
Too often in the past, our women have been discriminated
against in job placement, job advancement, and of course,
salary. And job environment is only one area of many in
which our women have suffered blatant discrimination.
Problems still exist in areas such as mortgage lending and
education.
My decision to oppose the Equal Rights Amendment
should not be interpreted to mean that I am turning my
back on such serious problems.
Rather, my decision means that I will be even more
diligent in addressing these same problems. Fortunately,
legislation already exists which can help us to combat the
various areas where discrimination still lives, but we must
work harder to see that this legislation is followed.
I made my decision to oppose the Equal Rights
Amendment partly because of this existing legislation and
for several other reasons.
The basic flaw in this amendment (and its attractiveness
to many) is its short simplicity. Because of this simplicity,
it is by definition vague and open to various interpreta
tions. Interpretations which would come, not from the
state or local level, but from the federal government in
Washington.
However, enforcement of these in*^arpretations is not
vague. Section 2 of the amendment expressly gives this
power to the federal government.
I do not believe the bureaucrats in Washington should
be given even greater opportunities for interpretation,
influence, control, enforcement, or interference in our
personal lives.
Further, I do not believe the Constitution should be
altered until we have some idea of the possible results.
With this in mind, I will be studying closely the state
equal rights legislation now on the books in Colorado and
Pennsylvania since the ERA issue is almost certain to
return to North Carolina m the future.
But the most practical reason for my opposition is the
overwhelming sentiment expressed by the voters of the
Second Senatorial District. Seventy-two percent of the
people who expressed their feelings to me on ERA were
against the proposed amendment.
Because a majority of my colleagues in the State Senate
had feelings and constituents similar to mine about ERA,
the amendment died in Committee last week. All of us
realized that a vote either way would alienate a large
number of constituents.
Certainly, the Equal Rights Amendment is an issue
where there are no absolutes. No one can be absolutely
sure whether he or she is right or wrong when there are
so many legitimate arguments for both sides.
We can only hope that a mutual respect can be
maintained by opponents and supports of this historical
issue.
Registration Extended
What better legacy to
leave future generations,
than the resources to build
a better world?
Even though it felt like
spring for a few days last
week, the weatherman tells
usthatwestill have several
weeks of cold weather
ahead. And then, all too
soon, comes the long, hot
months of summer. By now
everybody is aware of the
problems with depleting
supplies of energy resour
ces. We all must learn to
conserve, whenever possi
ble. However, with the ris
ing cost of heating and
cooling our homes, conserv
ing energy becomes not
only an environmental
problem but an economic
one as well.
Jim Holton, Agricultural
Extension Agent, presented
a program on “How to Save
Raleigh-North Carolina
motor vehicle owners will
have additional time to
purchase 1979 license plates
and stickers as a result of
legislation passed by the
General Assembly last
week. The legislature
extended the deadline from
February 15 to February
28.
Elbert L. Peters, Jr.,
Commissioner of ! Motor
Vehicles, noted at a news
conference on February 14
that over a million vehicles
in the state were not regis
tered as of Tuesday
February 13. The recent
snow and ice storms were
cited as reasons for the
extension.
Connie Bryan
Energy and $$$. . .at
Home” to the Vance Home
Extension Club at their
meeting on February 12. I
thought our readers would
be interested in some of his
helpful hints.
To protect your home
from outside heat and cold -
find out if your hothe needs
insulation; caulk and
weatherstrip doors and
windows; install storm
windows; and keep your
fireplace damper closed
unless you have a fire
going.
To save heating energy -
lower your thermostat to
65° during the day and 55°
at night; have your oil
furnace serviced at least
once a year; clean or
replace the filter in your
forced-air heating system
each month; and wear
warmer clothing.
To save cooling energy -
select the smallest and
least powerful air-condition
ing system that will cool
your home adequately;
make sure the ducts in
your central air-condition
ing system are propertly
insulated; install a whole
house ventilating fan in
your attic or in an upstairs
window, even if you have
central air-conditioning; set
your thermostat at 78°;
clean or replace filters at
least once a month; use
heat-generating appliances
(ovens, dishwashers,
dryers, etc) in the early
morning and late evening
hours whenever possible.
To save energy around
the house - repair leaky
faucets promptly; do as
much household cleaning as
possible with cold water;
check the temperature on
your water heater (a set
ting of 120° can provide
adequate hot water for
most families); use small
electric pans or ovens for
small meals; let your dishes
in your dishwasher air dry;
wash clothes in warm or
cold water, rinse in cold; fill
clothes dryer, but do not
overload them; use the old-
fashioned clothesline; ta^^
showers rather than tSP
baths; use one large bulb
instead of several small
ones in areas where bright
light is needed; turn three-
way bulb to the lowest
level when watching
television; and use fluores
cent lights whenever you
Sm ConMrve, Pag* 11
The
Washington Report
by
Rep. Walter B. Jones
Recently the USDA announced that for the coming
season the tobacco warehouse sales would be extended
from the present four-day to a five-day week. This
tentative decision would reduce from 66 to 56 the total
number of sets of graders. I know of no decision regarding
tobacco which has brought about such solid, adamant
opposition from farmers, warehousemen, farm organi
zations and the manufacturers themselves. As a result, the
House Subcommittee on Tobacco, of which I serve as
Chairman, held hearing in Thursday, February 15, and we
believe that we created a recod which might convince the
Administration that this is indeed an unwise decision.
Some ten years ago when the flve-day week selling period
was in effect, it caused multiple holidays in order to allow
the purchaser of the tobacco to remove their product from
the warehouse floor. And so, after going to a four-day
selling period, the fifth day which is, of course, Friday, is
used for clearing out purposes. And since this has been in
effect, there have been few if any, so-called “holidays”,
and for ten years the warehouse system has worked
efficiently and most satisfactorily for all concerned. One
detrimental feature of the “holiday” is that invariably
after the sales are resumed, the farmer receives a much
Circulation
increasing
The West Craven Highlights is now well into its second
year of publication. This means that several subscriptions
are up for renewal. As publisher, I am pleased to report
that almost all who subscribed to the Highlights back last
January when it was a fledgling, little eight page tabloid
trying to get on its feet, have renewed their subscriptions
for another year. In addition, a great many new
subscribers have joined the Highlights family.
During its first year, the Highlights has grown from
eight to twelve pages. It offers more coverage of local
news, not only from Vanceboro but also from surrounding
communities of Ernul, Askin, Epworth, Jasper, Cove City,
Ft. Barnwell, New Bern, Spring Garden, Dover, Clay
Roots, and Wilmar. Through the pages of the Highlights,
readers have been acquainted and re-acquainted with
interesting citizens in the area. Recent improvements
include the addition of a full-time news editor, Connie
Bryan, and the addition of a family page which each week
carries puzzles, cartoons, and family articles. Many
citizens have welcomed the inclusion of the editorial page.
The editorial page offers readers information about topics
of concern in nation, state, and local government. It also
offers readers an opportunity to give their views on issues
affecting them.
The staff of the Highlights is pleased to be in the
business of serving such a large group of families in
Craven County and beyond. We appreciate your support
and pledge to do our best to give you quality news and
feature coverage in your area. We are proud to be your
local newspaper.
lower price per pound than he was receiving prior to the
holiday.
Most important, this entire reduction in personnel would
amount to $215,000 per year. One of the major tobacco
companies submitted testimony that this fifth day, as well
as weekend overtime, that estimates show this would cost
them in excess of $260,000 per year, and for all domestic
tobacco companies, the increased cost is estimated to be
$1,040,000. These costs, when deducted as operating
expense for income tax purposes, would result in a federal
tax loss of $478,400 in 1979. At the conclusion of the
Subcommittee hearing, by a unanimous vote, the Commit
tee passed a resolution urging the USDA to reconsider
their position, and for the 1979 selling season to retain the
four-day selling week.
Actual legislative action continues to move slowly, with
House sessions almost non-existent. This, of course, is due
to the Committees not being able to report out bills this
early in the session. This does not mean the Congressional
officers are idle, for the personal service and legislative
inquiries seem to increase each and every day.
Also, as mentioned last week, the House Committee on
Agriculture met each morning to take testimony from the
American Agricultural Movement members. These Ses
sions were very orderly and the whole question to be
decided is whether it is in the best interest of the total
economy to provide 90% of parity for certain crops which
is permissible under the present law subject to the
decision of the Secretary of Agriculture. One of the
witnesses was a lady from South Carolina who testified
that the farm that they owned has been in their family for
four generations and for the first time in history, there is
now a mortgage on said property. She, of course,
attributed this to the below cost of production they are
receiving for certain commodities. For an example, she
said that the cost of producing corn is approximately $3
per bushel, while the present price for corn is $2.50. As
stated before, I am sure that most Members of Congress
will do whatever is reasonable to try to save the American
farm families.
The West Craven
highlights
(USPS 412-110)
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SfJNNIE BRYAN NEWS EDITOR
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Vanceboro, N.C. 28586
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