m
i ' ' The
Week in
Washington
A KF.Sl'ME OK GOVERNMKNJ1ENT.VL
HAPPENINGS EN
THE NATIONAL, CAPITAL
Washington, Dec. i). - - Possible
changes in the social security act is
one of the principal subjects being
discussed by administration officials
and members of congress preliminary
to the opening of the first session of
the 75th congress, which will begin
on January 5.
The feeling is quite general that
the act is not sufficiently comprehensive,
in that it does not take in
5 ??.. 1 ,1 ?A1M.
agdUUfkUtfU WW* I\V r o, uv?ivu .it> ovt v
ants and employees of educational,
charitable and scientific institutions
and of "instrumentalities of state
and federal governments."
The treasury's ruling that all
banks which arc members of the
Federal Deposit Insurance corporation
nre instrumentalities of the government
removes all bank employees
from the provisions of the act as it
now stands.
There is also some talk about the
possibility of eliminating the individual
lax on employees' pay envelopes
and providing for old age retirement.
benefits out of general taxation.
It is not considered probable
that, this wiil be done.
It is certain, however, that the
whole subject of old age pensions,
either- by means of individual contributions
or provisions for old age assistance
to those in need will be one
of the most actively debated questions
to which the new congress will
have to find a satisfactory answer.
S.S.B. To Baltimore
And in the meantime, nothing
Miuni i'i uviia' a neucr aoinonstration
of the way in which government
offices have made Waliington
the most crowded city in America
than the fact that the social security
board had to go to Baltimore to find
a suitable building to house its departments.
The board found that it was going
to require, at the very beginning
of its work in connection with the
old age benefit insurance part of its
work, at least 120,000 square feet of
floor space. Not that much space
could be found in the District of Columbia.
One hundred and twenty thousand
square feet is as much as it included
in a ten-story building, 100x120 feet
in urea. Moreover, besides needing
floor space, the board found that it
would have to fill that floor space
with aueh a heavy load that nothing
short of factory construction would
carry It.
There will be more than 50,0fK),000
individual filing cards for ready
reference This includes the original
registration cards filled out by workers,
and the official copies of them
which will constitute the working
file. The cards alone will weigh
about 250,000 pounds.
The board found a factory building
in Baltimore with three acres of
floor space; is moving into it and
hopes to he ready on January 1 to
begin keeping the records of the
earnings of the estimated 25,000.000
workers who come under the old age
benefits provisions of the social security
act. Also, a record of the payment
of the income tax of one per
cent of each worker's wages and the
additional payroll tax of one per cent
paid by his employer.
The decision of the supreme court
by a tie vote of four to four that the
New York state unemployment com
ptiLiauuu law IS CUIISLUUIJOIIIU IS :it'l' 1
here to indicate that the unemployment
insurance provisions of the social
security act may also be held
constitutional.
Trade Situation Improves
The international trade situation is
reported by the state department to
have been greatly improved since
France joined with England and the
United States on an agreement to
maintain the parity of their respective
currencies by a stabilization
agreement. Last week the remaining
nations which are still on the gold
atandard joined the international
agreement. They are Switzerland,
Belgium and The Netherlands, which
is Holland.
One effect of this agreement in regard
to currency is expected to be
the working out of a means of checking
excessive exports of gold from
one country to another.
President Roosevelt not long ago
expressed concern over what he called
'hot money" coming into the United
States from Europe. What he
referred to was investments in
American securities against gold
credits in the United States, resulting
in the holding by foreign investors
of billions of dollars worth of
stocks and bonds which they might
saddenly take a notion to dump ori
the market and so depress prices
abnormally.
Therft is. Of Pnnrao riA urow rvf
? ?I ?' "?J ?
pre venting anybody anywhere from
buying shares in American corporations.
But if the other nations in
this currency agreement co-operate
in checking shipments of gold to th.s
country it will be much more difficult
for foreign speculators to acquire
such large holdings in the
American security markets as to
constitute a danger to the stability
(Continued on Page 5)
i wlMHHWWr? ' 1 A f 'n 1 ' "
! WA1
An
i VOL. XLVIII. NO. 23
GOVERNOR CALLS
SPECIAL SESSION
OF LEGISLATURE
Security Act to Be Voted On
By North Carolina Solons;
Ehringhaus Acts to Satisfy
Federal Requirements
Governor J. C. B. Ehringhaus
called the newly elected North Carolina
legislature Friday to meet at 11
a. m., on December 10, "to consider
j the enactment of an unemployment
I insurance act."
! The council of state met in special
| session with the governor and adont
! ed a resolution approving the nail
i and advising' an extra legislative scsj
sion to deal "with the extraordinary
maittcr3 suggested by the governor."
Governor Ehringhaus made it plain
he thought the "Cherry" act would
quality North Carolina under the federal
social security act but wished to
remove any question.
The extra session will bo North
Carolina's first since 1924. when
Governor Cameron Morrison convened
the lawmakers to enact laws
permitting the state to establish and
operate port terminals.
The call lists only unemployment
compensation insurance legislation
for consideration but the legislators
are not bound to consider only that
subject. In North Carolina the governor
lias no veto, this being the only
state where the executive does not
have such power.
It has been variously estimated
that employers in North Carolina
stand to lose $2,500,000 or more if
the state cannot comply with the
federal unemployment insurance act
by December 31.
The next regular biennial session
!<_u uie legislature is to start on January
6, and the next governor, Clyde
K Hoey of Shelby, will be Inaugurated
on January 7.
A proposed act, the governor said.
Is being drawn and will be ready for
the legislature. lie expressed hope
that the session would end before
Christmas.
In a statement accompanying the
proclamation for the special session,
the governor said in part:
'The governor made it plain that,
in agreement with the attorney general
of North Carolina, he still
thought the Cherry act sufficient and
pointed out that only by construing
; the word 'contributions' (which derivation
is exactly the opposite of
'tribute') as satisfied only by a 'tax'
could the contention of the insufficiency
be sustained.
"The governor stated he did not
j wish to place any additional burden
j upon our senators and congressmen
j or leave the question of state comj
pliance open to the slightest possi;
bility of question.
"An act conforming to federal
rulings has been practically completed
and will be ready for presentation
on the opening day of the session and
can be quickly and fully considered
either by special committee of the
whole and enacted in time for
Christmas adjournment."
The proclamation says the session
shall "continue until the proper business
of the session has been disposed
of or until such session has been adjourned
in accordance with the constitution
and law of the state."
POWER CO. SPONSORS
CHRISTMAS DECORATION
The New River Light and Power
company today makes announcement
I of a list of valuable appliances which
will be given to those who succeed
most tastily decorating a Christmas
tree, either outside or inside the
home.
In past years this contest has beer
extremely popular in the community
and has resulted in the placing of a
carefully lighted tree in most every
window along the streets, while some
string the vari-colored lights or
lawn shrubbery. The contest is one
of the most valuable forces in instilling
the Christmas spirit into the citizenship.
All customers of the company
are invited to enter.
Litten Resigns as
Local Police Chiel
Mr. F. E. Litten, who for the pasl
seven months has been connecter
with the local police department an<
recently the chief of the organization,
has resigned his position, anc
with his family will leave Sunday foi
Porterdale, Ga., where he has beer
tendered a lucrative position as cot
ton mill superintendent.
Mr. Litten has been a faithful
efficient and courteous officer, an<
has made a large number of friendi
in this community on account of hi
uniform and diligent endeavors
There are many regrets that hi
should have decided to sever his con
nection locally.
rAUG.
Independent Weekly New:
- BQONE, WATAUGA CPUS
Obey c&hat Irr
K&b.y ?|jg
SHERIFF SEIZES
74 DISTILLERIES
Administration o f Outgoing
Sheriff Marked by Strict
Enforcement of Law
Daring Die las! week of the administration
of Sheriff A. T. Howe!!,
the capable Jaw enforcement officer
instituted a raid into Beaver Dam
township, resulting in the seizure of
a large copper still, two still worms,
and the destruction of a hundred gallons
of beer. Ar. alleged operator of
the illicit plant was taken into custody
and was bound for his appearance
at the April term of superior
court.
Subsequently, it is revealed that
the seizure brings to 74 the number j
of liquor manufactories which have
been destroyed by the vigilant officer
during the four years c? his tenure.
Forty men were taken In connection
with their operation, and there is no
gainsaying but that Sheriff Howell
has taken more 3tiils and more of
the operators thereof, than have fal'
leu into the hands of the law for a
period of perhaps more than 15
[ years.
| The record also shows that Mr.
Howell has taken more than a hundred
escaped convicts?robbers, murderers,
etc.-, wanted by other states
and counties. No capital crime of
any kind has been committed in the
countv but that the Deroetiator has
been brought to the bar of Justice.
The hey to the county jai! has been
turned on 2,500 men since Sheriff
Howell has been holding forth, and
' 5,000 arrests have been effected. Automobiles
without number have been
seized and the whiskey they carried
; destroyed by the hundreds of gal.
Ions.
I
i LEAVE FOR RALEIGH
' Mr. W. F. Miller, recently-elected
member of the house of representai
tives from Watauga county, and
, Mr. Roby T. Greer, who sits in the
i. senate at the behest of the citizens
' of Watauga, Ashe and Alleghany,
s will be in Raleigh today for the
i opening of the special session of the
s legislature called by Governor J. C.
B. Ehringhaus. They were notified
of the gathering by telegraph Satur
day afternoon.
LINNEY FELLS BIG BUCK
IN PISGAH FOREST
Attorney Baxter M. Linney, of Lenoir,
was one of the successful huntt
ers in the Pisgah Forest area last
I week, and returned to Boone with a
I 150-pound buck, one of the largest to
' be killed during the annual hunt.
' Sunday evening, Mr. Linney, Kenf
neth Linney and Paul Coffev were
i hosts at a dinner held at the Daniel
Boone hotel, and about forty residents
of the city participated in the
, sumptuous repast at which the piece
i de resistance was venison. The hos5
pit&lity of the gentlemen was greatly
J appreciated.
5 Mr. W. H. Proffit, of Zionville,
- was a business visitor in town last
Saturday.
A TAr
spaper?F ^ blished in th
ITY. K( )K' ' ' OLINA, THUR!
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I St. Nicholas !
jWithlThouss
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OUR ADVERTISERS
I The Democrat today is filled j
With advertising of local * merchants,
each one. a clear-cut and
truthful message, giving in detail j
concrete reasons for ru a king
Boone the shopping center of this
region. We list the* names of !
those who have inaugurated an
extensive publicity program, designed
to make of this city the
most progressive and prosperous
of all towns of similar sire. These
gentlemen have asked for your
patronage. Head their messages,
and fill your gift list completely
and economically:
Belk's, Hodges Tire Co., Bermar
Jewelry Co., Bell Telephone
Co., Boone Drug Co., Boone Motor
Sales, Walker's Jewelry Store,
New River Light & Power Co.,
Harrison Chevrolet Co., Watauga
Building & Loan, Reins-Sturdivant,
Watauga County Bank, Farmers
Hardware & Supply Co.,
Town of Boone, Watauga Coal
Co., Sniithey's, Quails Furniture
Store, Highland -Furniture Store.
M. & M. Motors, Miller's Moral
Shop, Spainhour's.
RED CROSS QUOTA
HERE IS EXCEEDED
Local Chapter is Singled Out
by National Headquarters
for Excellent Work
The Watauga chapter of the American
Red Cross, ably headed by Mrs.
James H. Counciil, has been felicltat
ed by national headquarters for having
exceeded its quota during the
Roll Call campaign by more than
25 pet cent. Watauga was to have
raised 200 dollar memberships, but
the final tabulation revealed that 255
had enrolled from this section in the
national humanitarian organization.
Mrs. Cour.cill is being congratulated
on having made this outstanding record
of achievement.
Following are the names of a few
members who have not been reported
previously: Mary Lee Bingham,
Marshal Ward, Don Hagaman, E. N.
Hahn, Nell Trivette, John W. Hodges,
Ralph G. Greene, Mrs. Baxter Linney,
J. C. Canipc, Mrs. Cora Councill, Mrs.
Ruth B. Mast, and Miss Annie Mae
Sherwood.
CAUDILL INFANT
Jessie Caudiil, infant son of Mr.
and Mrs. George Caudiil, of Valle
Crucis, died Friday and interment
was in the neighborhood cemetery.
Messrs. Ab Mullins, Arthur Hamby
and Pat McGuire left Sunday foi
Morehead City to engage in a deei
hunt. They expect to return Friday
MOC1
e Year Eighteen Eighty-Ei|
5DAY, DECEMBER 10. 1936 _
_ ?? j j
by A. B. Chapin ;
? _ J
JOIN 1
* THE.
SHftSE-A-SMILE-ClUB* ||
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^CTPBB ^
SHARE SOfAE. OF YOUR jK
HRSTMAS WITH THAT LITTLE ?
FORGOTTEN ToT ==
iuST AROUMD Wuft COftVER^
-"JiTWlLL
Joy to vou Both ffi]
*?? - '
E=SED_
Showers City
oids of Gifts
j Throngs ot" Buyers Expw'cd to
Converge on City as Shopping
| Period Gets Into Full Swing;
j*" Record Business Predictcd
.Toily Saint Nicholas, the rotund
personification of Christj
mas benevolences and the patron
saint of childhood, recently
passed through Boone and
opening wide the drawstrings
of his mammoth pack, filled the
shops of the city to overflowing
with the most gorgeous array of
gift items ever to be displayed
in the community.
From cigarettes to sedans, from
radios to kiddie cars, the stores are
crowded with gift items. The merchants
are priding themselves on the
quality and quantity of their offerings,
and have inaugurated an inI
tensive advertising campaign in an
effort to convince the people of the
! mountain counties that Boone is the
retailing hub of the northwest. A
cordial welcome is being extended
to the people roundabout to visit
Boone frequently during the ensuing
days, and the most skeptical will
be convinced that this is the logical
shopping center for a community of
countfes with a population of around
forty thousand.
With economic prognosticators
betting on the holiday business this
year bettering the receipts of the
boom days of 1929, the merchants of
the town have doubled their previous
orders, and believe that with the
coming of Christmas day, an alltime
record for holiday sales will
have been established
On behalf of the enterprising merchants,
The Democrat would call attention
to the wisdom of home buying.
Money spent at home yields a
high rate of interest in communltv'
betterment and social well-being, j
Give the home town folks the first!
chalice. Thereafter, you will not
think of going elsewhere.
JACK SMITH SUCCUMBS
AT BANNER ELK TUES.
Mr. Jack Smith, prominent citizen
of the Vilas community, died at the
Banner Elk hospital Tuesday evening
at the age of 54 years.
Funeral services are to be conducted
from the Willowdale Baptist
church Thursday afternoon and
burial will be in that locality. As this
is written it was not known who
would conduct the rites.
Surviving are the widow and five
daughters: Mrs. Erin Billings, Sugar
Grove; Misses Grace, Forrest, Alma
and Jean, of Vilas, ar.d one sister,
Mrs. Jennie Jenkins, of Bristol.
Mr. Smith was the son of Mr. and
Mrs. John C. Smith, of Vilas, and was
a substantial and popular citizen.
More complete details will be pub.
lished in the next issue.
RAT
ght
$1.50 PERYEAR^
HT SCHOOL GROUP
ATTENDS HARVEST
KWTIVAI MftMHAV
JL 1AJ11 1 JHLJU iflVHUn 1
Boone High School is Awarded
Cup by Carolina Pharmacy
for Best Play; Other Prizes
Given to Schools
With approximately 300 high
school students of Avery, Ashe and
Watauga counties in attendance, the
Appalachian Harvest Festival, featuring
music and dramatics, sponsored
by the Playcrafters organization,
and music departments of Appalachian
State Teachers College, wan held
here Monday, beginning at 10 a. m,
and running until 9 p. m. Over IS
contests were conducted, consisting
of music, both vocal and instrumental,
demonstrations and one-act
plays.
As an award for the best presentation
of one-act plays, the Carolina
Pharmacy gave a silver loving cup
to Boone high school, chosen by the
judges as the best of the festival
The winning production, "Rooting for
Ruth," has the following characters:
Burl Stone. Fred Gragg, Rodney
Adams, R. D. Hodges, Louise Cook,
Lucille Drvman, Jenna Greene and
Geraldine Fox. According to the
illdfres it WHQ Ilia cim.-n>?n ?
. -o ? ^
in which these local students characterized
their parts that enabled them
to receive this high rating.
Fleetwood rated second place in
the one-act play contest with the
production, "The First Dress Suit."
characterized by Richard Phillips,
Mable Owens, Rita Houek and Fields
Baker.
Third orj the list was Lansing high
school. Three representatives from
this school.. Ramon Moore, Shirley
GraybeaJ and Louts Child icy, did
commendable acting in the play, "A
Marriage Proposal".
In order to stimulate interest and
musical development through friendly
competition many contests were
featured in the musical program
aiong with the rest of the festivities.
Every school of the six represented
entered some phase of the activities,
and impiy of these gained recognition
through the talent of students.
Listed here are the results of the
program and the names of the winners
in the various contest .
ed In the trio number Lansing
high school rated first, Cranberry
second; ducts, Cranberry first; vocal
solos, Evelyn Brown, Blowing
Rock, first; lattice Hartley, Xewland,
second; Shell Hartley, Newland,
third. Piano solos, Sally Teague.
Newland, first; Marie Clarke, Bansing,
second, and Imogens Greene,
Boone, third. Piuno duets, Lansing
first and second; Boone third.
In addition to the piano and vocal
numbers participated ir. individually,
there was conducted a large and
small chorus contest in which Boone
won first place, Cove Creek second,
Cranberry third, and Lansing fourth
in the large chorus, and Lansing
first. Cranberry second in the small
choruses.
The school winning most points in
the scoring was Lansing, rating four
firsts, three seconds, and one third
position in the contests.
In connection with the regular exercises,
judges were chosen to select
the best individual participants, and
the following were picked; Geraldine
Fox, Boone high, best character; It
D. Hodges, Boone high, best costume;
Shelton Dugger, Cove Creek
high, best make-up. Honorable men
tion went to Richard Phillips, Fleetwood,
character; Fred Gragg, Boone,
Ramon Moore, Lansing; make-up;
Jenna Greene, Boone, Mary Alice
Moore, Cranberry; Ramon Moore,
Lansing, best costumes.
Judges for the events were: Mr.
and Mrs. Homer Compton, of Appalachian
music department; Miss Nelle
Trivette, Boone Demonstration
school; Dr. Abrams, English department;
Prof. Yoder, History department;
Mr. Leonard Eury, librarian;
Miss Katherine Harwell, art; and
Mrs. Hugh Hancock, of Boone.
Plans are pending whereby these
winners and others will participate
in a state contest which will be held
next year-. Boone is to be made the
district center for this type of work
and similar iestivals will be con
ducted on a wider scale by the college
and state.
FORD SALES ROOMS ARE
MOVED TO NEW LOCATION
The Boone Motor Sales, Inc., local
dealers for Ford automobiles, have
moved their showrooms from the
I building on Depot street to the Sej
bastiart building, and propose to have
a more modernly appointed establishment
than hitherto.
Incidentally, Messrs. Puj;h and
Cook announce that a new shipment
of the 1937 V-8 automobiles Is expected
to arrive this week. The new
car is being enthusiastically acclaimed
in this section.
- . 'nhflsSKI