North Carolina Newspapers

I! The Week in . Washington j A KKSl'ME OF GOVEKNMENMKNTAL HAIH'KNINIJS IN TUB NATIONAL CAPITAL Washington, Jan. A?The Toth congress, which has just begun its firs! session, has plenty of real work nhea<l for it. Like its two predecessors it will lake its iniitlanee from the White House. There will be much talk about "congressional In, dependence," but it is a safe assumption that no measures of vital importance wiii be initiated or enacted by congress without the approval of the administration. Also, most of the new legislation will be v?:i the initiative of the president. That U quite since the or.lv pattern or plan for the future is in the presidents keeping. And while the plan is not yet fully disclosed, the general understanding here is that it will move along substantially the same lines as during the past four years. Probably fewer new ;.deas will be put into law. Attention 110 doubt will be chiefly centered on consolidating the changes 1 already made and revising the enact- j meiits of the past, two congresses to ! make the laws more workable. The Big Job Ahead One of the unimportant jobs to be done is the reorganization of the executive bureaus and departments | Almost every president has tried to , do this, hut their efforts have been generally blocked by congress. Just before President Hoover went out of office he said that either "congress must keep its hands off now. or they must give to my successor much larger powers of independent action than have been giver, to any president." The response of congress was to enact a law, before Mr. Roosevelt's ir.augniration, vesting in the president broad and sweeping authority to consolidate, eliminate and rearrange executive bureaus. Last March the president named a committee to study and report to him which of the new agencies should be scrapped or reduced and j liow the survivors could be consoli- j dated. Committees of the house and j senate also began to study the sub- | ject. The outlook now is for a pretty J general rearrangement of govern- i mental departments, with greater ef1 ficiency and simplification as the main objective. The main obstacle to a logical regrouping of administrative functions may be found in congress itself, for ttio" element of political patronage cannot be overlooked. Moreover, most of the government departments ^ and bureaus have well-organized methods cf putting "pressure" on congress to increase, rather titan cut down, their powers and prerequisites. Mr Roosevelt stands a better chance of getting congressional support its the- face of these powerful "pressure blocks" than any previous president ever had. Snuff Boxes Filled Preparations for the opening of congress were completed by the filling of tae two snuff boxes which I stand on either side of the door to j th senate- chamber. This is an an- ; cient custom, dating from George | Washington's time. There are still four or five senators who are regular snuff takc-rs an,d many more who lake, an occasional pinch from the senatorial snuff boxes on the theory that a good sneeze helps to ward off an impending cold and clears the i senatorial head for debate. N, The "baby" of the senate. 30-yearf old Rush D. Holt of West Virginia, i is being disciplined by his elder col\ leagues for the insurgency which he i displayed fast year. Mr. Holt was outspoken in his criticism of Harry Hopkins, federal relief administrator, ar.d during the political campaign he also opposed the re-election of Senator if. M. Neeley. his Democratic colleague from West Virginia. > Mr. Holt has now been formally ^ notified by the chairman of the senate patronage committee. Senator Hayden. Lhat iie wili not be ai- | lowed to name any persons for jobs j in the capitol. TV A Has Troubles There is an explosion in prospect ; :ns;dc the TV A, which may have I widesnroa/l v.nr^u*nut*r\r^ti Tt nr? I secret that Arthur W. Morgan. TVA administrator, and Jiis assistant, j David Dillier.thal, are at swords' [ points. Their differences are on fundamental issues of policy. Dr. Morgan wants to carry out the Tennessee Valley improvements along sound engineering lines and sell the power developed to power companies for distribution. Mr. Lillientha! would encourage and aid the establishment of publicly-owned distribution systems, to put the power companies out of busi! ness. President ftoosevc!' arranged a truce between the two points of view I v at a White House conference last fall, but it now seems that lie will be force., to take sides with either Mr. ' I Morgan or Mr. Lillienthal. The! j president's decision will no doubt ' give a key to the administration's at- j J tude toward public utilities. For a hundred years or so there has i , / "' been much talk of limiting presidents ! (Continued on page 8.) I WA1 An I VOL. XL VIII, NO. 26 LEGISLATURE IS FACED BY VARIED, . DIFFICULT TASKS; Revenue. Liquor, Sales Tax. La-j bor a?d Security Problems | Vex Assemb'y Which Prom-' ises Fireworks Galore; Mara- i llion Sitting Predicted Raleigh, Jan. S Apparently intent upon enacting revenue producing legislation and taking definite action on the mooted liquor, labor and social security problems Ui the shortest time possible, legislators poured into the city today for the biennial session of the general assembly. Noon tomorrow will see the first 1937 gathering of the legislature, but active work will not get under way until next week in deference to the inauguration of Governor-elect Clyde R. Hoey and his delivery of a budget message to the joint session. Dignity will mark the inauguration Thursday morning at 11 o'clock in -Memorial auditorium, when u a number of state officers, including Lieut. Gov. \V. P. Horton, of Pittsboro. will be inducted into office along with the new governor. Record appropriations are recommended to the assembly in the report of the advisory budget commis aiun, now ocing printcu. iccquesis lor $70,000,000 during: each year of the bienhium, up some $7,000,000 over current spending, are asked. Possible reduction by $2,000,0000 annually of revenue from the sales tax may add another problem to the law-makers In their attempt to meet recommended appropriations. The state Democratic party is pledged to remove the levy from "all necessities of life." Strife over state control of liquor or the county option plan is certain to be intense, wiui drys insisting upon a state-wide referendum ami the 17 counties now operating liquor stores opposing any change. The majority of the state liquor-study commission has recommended county option, with the slate getting onefifth of the- proffls from sales. Senators and representatives are divided in their opinion as to the probable length of the IP,>7 session Lieutenant Governor-elect Horton said today the legislature still would be In session by May 1, but his chief | colleague ill the senate. President ] I'ro-Tem A. H. Johnston, of Asheville, slated that i>0 days would be sufficient to transact the necessary business. Horton and peaker Cherry conferred this afternoon concerning com mi t tee appointments but stated they I would not announce them before Frl- j liny. It is understood they have ill | ready agreed on the chairmanships. William Baker of Raleigh, and Ray Byerly of Sanford. both unopposed, are scheduled to be elected principal clerks of the house and senate, respectively, at tomorrow's perfunctory I session. Tobacco crop control, free school textbooks, labor legislation, possible reorganization of the state highway and public works commission, possible "auionoinizing" of the three units of the University of North Carolina, ar.d a possible amendment to prohibit diversion of highwayfunds are among other matters expected to be discussed in the legislature. Death Claims Miss Nannie Banner, 86 Banner Kik, Jan. 2 ?Funeral services for Miss Nannie Banner, who died yesterday at the home of her nephew, Lewis Banner, wore conducted this morning by Rev. Mr. Fry. pastor of the Banner Elk Methodist church, assisted by Rev M: 1. Murray. pastor of Banner Elk Presbyterian church. Miss Banner, who was born May 16. 1850. was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lewis M. Banner, who were among the first families to settle the Banner Ellc community. The passing of "Aunt Nannie," as she was affectionately knov. .1 by the whole town, represents the passing of another generation as she was one of the few remaining who remember almost pioneer days in this section. For many years she has lived with Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Banner at one of the old Banner homesteads. She is mourned by a large family connection and by a host of friends in Avery and Watauga counties. MAJUOKIE SOUTH ILL Little Miss Marjorie South, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. A. E. South, is seriously ill at a Statcsville hospital, where she was taken for treatment the lest of the week. Mrs. South is with her daughter, and word Wednesday was to the effect that tliero was little improvement in the condition of the popular child. AUG ndependent Weekly News BOONE, WATAUG^. COffNT .Klti SOI ASSEMBLY SESSION _____ I W. F. Miller and Ruby T. Greer: Present Today as Gavel Falls in Legislature W. F. Miller, Watauga county's representative in the lower house of the general assembly, and Hohy T. Greer, elected to represent Watauga, Ashe and Alleghany in the state senate, loft their respective homes Wednesday morning in time to be in Raleigh for the opening of the legislature at noon today. Mr. Miller goes for nis first term, while Mr. Greer has twice represented his county. With the sales tax fight, liquor control, and other equally Important issues to come before, the preaqj^ assembly, the iooal sotoiEfcthlnklt quftfS likely that they will remain in Raleigh until late spring or early summer, but frequent week-end visits will be made with their constituencies. Neither of Uic gentlemen have committed themselves publicly on any of the issues which will combine to make a lively legislative calendar, but on the other hand, they appear to have open minds, and will he guided by the wishes of their people when voting time comes. i Mrs. Collis Greene Is Claimed by Death Mrs. Collis Greene, aged 14 years. | \veil-Rnown Blowing Rock lady. >.lieO I at her home Sunday morning after an illness which hail lasted for about a year. Her condition, however, had not appeared critical bul for a few days. Funeral services wen conducted at 11 o'clock from the Presbyterian church by the pastor, Rev. Sexton Buchanan, who was assisted in the rites by Rev. Robert Shore of the Baptist church. Interment was in the Reform church cemetery. Surviving are the husband and five children: Oma, Alberta, Rudoiph, Genevieve and Bruce. There are two sisters ana one brother: Mesdunies Ira Bolick. Claude Shore and John Lentz. Mrs. Greene was a daughter of Mr. and lire. W. C. Lentz and was a consecrated and active member of the Blowing Rock Presbyterian church, with which she became affiliated more than fifteen years ago She was a good Christian woman and had attracted a wide circle of frli :ais. New Junior Officers To Be Installed 18th A new ETouTj of officers havi* 'elected by the Daniel Boone chapter; [Junior Order, and will be installed January 38th, at 7:30, in ceremonies at the Junior hall. Those elected are: Junior Past Councilor, Councill Cooke; Councillor, A. D. Wilson; Vice-councilor, T. M. Greer: Recording secretary, Richard E. Kelly; Funeral secretary, R. D. Hodges; Treasurer, Clyde R. Greene: Warden, T. A. Weaver; Inside sentinel, Raymond Eller; Outside sentinel. G. E, Miller; Chaplain, W, W. Williams; Trustee for six months. Van Teague; Trustee for 12 months, Charles Rogers; trustee for 18 months, D. L. Wilcox. Regular classroom duties will begin at the Valle Cruris School for Girls today, the students having been dismissed for their Christmas vacation period on December 17th. ; ~ji - - ' - j?giS8Bft}? PfgEj' isfifjBfe4 t ys? fXs, - ' _ m '. >paper?E.stablished in the X, IIUHXJtt^&KOklKA, THUK8L L WASHINGTON . . . Fully aware tha Cmarred the Presidential Inauguration c driving'ahead and making ready for Pre: r..?? _i i * ??idi, jail, fci'ui. iiisvn eiuu? v, sunns * frfitruction of stands. Center: Stands in Upvv.?tton. Below, the District of Colunii House Leader .* ? Representative Sam Ray burn of Texas, elected leader of the majority party in the house of representatives Tuesday on the openi ins: of Conirrc-ss. iRAYBURN ELECTED! I MAJORITY LEADER ; . I Texan Wins Easily Over AntiNew Dealer: Victory May Affect President's Power Congressman San: Rayburn of Texas, unofficial candidate of the Roosevelt administration, was elected floor leader of the- overwhelmingly Democratic majority in the lower house of congress Monday, winning j an easy victory over John O'Connor of New York, chairman of the house rules committee and outstanding anti-New Dealer. Rayburn's majority was 57. the vole being, Rayburn 18-t, O'Connor 127. The congressional race between the two powerful leaders was watched with eagerness as indicative of the president's hold over congress in the coining session. Although the president had announced a hands-off policy in the race, the interest and activity of Vice President John N Garner was taken as being indicative of the president's position. Kayburn is considered us one of 1 the leading New Dealers in the lower j branch m congress and ill!! election ; is expected to aid greatly the speedy I enactment of legislation vitally af) fectlng the president's liberal policies. Rayburn is remembered as leading the fight for the death clause In the ] utility holding company bill, while j O'Connor wan regarded as hostile to | the measure. The fight between the two men j had the aspects of a sectional battle, as house Democrats lined up in southern and northern blocs. Southerners as a rule were expected to support the Texan, while the majority of the northern representatives were regarded as favorable to O'Connor's candidacy. Although the North Carolina vote was unknown in earliest reports, it was known that Representatives Clark and Hancock intended supporting O'Connor, while. Representatives Coolcy, Doughton and Warren had refused to indicate whom they preferred. Representatives Weaver, Bulwinkie, Barden, Umstead, Kerr and Lambeth were expected to support Rayburn, with Bulwinkie as one of the leaders of his campaign. MOC] Year Eighteen Eighty-Eig >AY, JANUARY 7, 1937 mauguration it cold, ram or snow has often cremonics, Capitol officials arc sident Roosevelt's second inaugL'apitol officials inspecting con* front of Capitol ncaring conijia "1937-Inaugurai" auto-plate. OA\irr>i7CO Aorro lAJnulUjoo HI l?> TO AVERT WARS | Banklicad Chosen Speaker of i the House; Neutrality Legislation Comes First , Washington, Jan, 5? Congress convened today and, combining traditional ceremony with the easy informality of a family reunion, prepared , to tackle its first task of 1937?legislation slapping a swift embargo on arms shipments for Spain's savage civil war. With brief sessions, conducted between crescendoes of conversation, both houses today perfected the machinery for rushing the measure ta enactment, for receiving President Rvosevidt's annual message in ioirit session tomorrow, and pursuing the years iegta'aktive program. Organization Task is Short Promptly at noon, Vice President Garner called the senate- to order, while simultaneously South Trimble, eicrk of the house, convened that branch of congress. Organii-ation tasks were completed with dispatch. Rut even before tapping gavels signified the beginning of the session, members were milling about their respective chambers, greeting old friends, welcoming new colleagues. and creating a conversationit! din that only persistency could quell. r i'vniK COi&M WC I'C uOtiCCtiuiy UcW and seemed in greater abundance among the new members than with the old timers. Such familiar ser.aiorial figures as Senator Robinson, the Democratic leader; AlcNary, the Republican leader, and Vice President Garner scorned them. Robir.son entered the chamber in laughing conversation with Senator Vandenberg, prominent Republican Senator Giass of Virginia, and Senator Nye of North Dakota, who figured in one of last session's most pointed personal exchanges, created a flurry by cordially shaking hands. Vice President Garner had hi3 choice of six gavels and he managed to use three of them before the day was over. flattie Kscorts Joe First business was the administration of the oath of of/ice to re-electr.d or newly elected senators. The galleries chuckled as tiny Hattic Caraway, the senate's only woman member, firmly grasped the elbow of j her bulky colleague. Senator Robin! 'er,, and escorted him to the dias. In the house, Trimble directed 1 :hat the roll he called and then withdrew for that half hour process. With no presiding officer, the members fell to talking in ever louder tones until it became impossible to hear the names called. Little groups here and there tried vainly to keep the conversation under control with shouted "shooshes." Nominations for the speakership were made without oratorical em bellishments. Bankhead, of Ala-1 bama, was named for the Democrats and Sncll of New York for the Republicans. Bankhead. of course, was re-elected 323 to 84. Ten votes were cast for Representative Schneider, named for the progressive and farmer-Iabo rites. With a cordial tribute, Snell introduced Bankhead and the latter turned to praise Snell as an able legislator and worthy opponent. Fifteen minutes later he was calling Snell to order and refusing him the floor in the session's first brisk debate?a tangle between the Republican leader and Representative O'Connor, (D) New York. The neutrality legislation will be introduced by Chairman Pittman, of 1AT [ht Zi D'j ran x c^rtrv, >1!ILIJ7NG&L0AN FINDS YEAR 1936 MOST SUCCESSFUL jocal Home ISt'.ilding Institution Meets 1937 With Optimism; Expect Sale of 3(10 Shares in New Scries: Past Accomplishments The thirty-second series of stock n the Watauga Building & Loan Vssocialion opened January 1, and nore than 150 shares of stock have ilrcady been subscribed. W. H. Jragg, secretary of the institution, iredicts the sale of 500 installment iharcs by the end of the month, to nark a new record in local building ind loan history. The Watauga Building ar.d Loan tas completed Ifi years of service to lie people of Watauga county, and he year 1930 is described as one of he most successful during its exist;nce. During 193C the association assisted in the erection and purchase of nore than 50 homes and business properties in the town of Boone and Lhe county. It is further revealed that during the same period cf time more than forty thousand dollars ivere loaned to home-owners within Lhe confines of the county. Mortgages were lifted from residential properties to the amount of more than six thousand dollars and stockholders received cash dividends of aver seven thousana dollars. A. check-up of the structures in the town of Boone reveals that should every building- which the Building & Lean has helped to buy or construct should be removed, the town would be nothing more than a struggling village. Of interest is the fact that the Building & Loan is essentially a local institution?its funds arc proviced by local people and loaned to local people?no loans are permitted outside the confines of Watauga county. According to Mr. Gragg, people of thin section arc learning more and more of the wisdom of owning building and loan shares, and many who own their own properties are taking advantage of the institution as a means of saving sun is of money against, some, future contingency. IT A mm A mi IT rrw/i VfUiirjt AinLtiit PROGRAM BEGINS Basketball, Boxing and Wrestling Commands Sports Spotlight at Appalachian A large anil varied program of athletic activity will command the spotlight for Appalachian this week anil the first of next. The girl's basketball team opens fire first, playing Leaoir-Rhyne Thursday night in Hickory. What is probably the feature of the early season program is Friday night's fight with the Universitj' of Tennessee boxing team. The Tennesseeans were last year's champs of the Southeastern conference, and are quoted as having one of the finest aggregations anywhere, in the south. The boys' basketball team swings into schedule action Monday night with High Point at Boone. Another pre-season tilt with the Unique Furniture team will er.d the preiiminary workouts. This game will be played Friday night as an added feature to the Appalachian-University of Tennessee affair. The schedule for the first of next week falls to find the wrestling team showing its wares at home, although they go to Newj>ort News, Va., Saturday night to face lite Vnvnl Artnrp'rt^rr urhftfi1 tlwwv* TVtp girls' cagers go to Wingutc iiv.tl Wednesday to play Wlngato in the only other ever.t to that date. All of Appalachian's eluhs are very strong, and all four show great promise of successful seasons. Snow Lodge Installs New Group of Officers The newly-elected officers for Snow Lodge No. 363 A. F tv A. M., were installed January 2, as follows: A. D. Wilson, Worshipful Master; G. G. Farthing, Senior Warden; J. C. Mast. Junior Warden; Clyde Greene, Treasurer; Richard E. Kelley, Secretary; O. J. Harman, Senior Deacon; Lee Stout. Junior Deacon: R. W. McGuirc, R. D. Hodges. Stewards; H. A. Greer, Tiler; D. C. Mast, Chaplain. It has been estimated that only one of every 166 persons lives long enough to die of old age. the senate foreign relations committee, and Chairman McRcynolds, of the house foreign affairs committee.