re The Independent i "eir8
W^^Tsn IJ*? s ' ^U/.ABEf^Clix~N/C.rFKU)AY;iUNEXi?3t *ri SJ^ATiSnSS^" SiMgEECOPY 5 CENTS
l^ve Threat to Law and !
Ijrder by Police Indifference I
K Transient Labor Problem!;
Ta'k "/ ?w imfiending conflict between local
?. idhnrcrs ami transient laborers from Florida I
Wu?thee Southern states was heard on the streets \
HJ'l, fliis week a* the annual influx of transient]
who come here to compete with local labor <
the Mag pea and Irish potato seasons pot j<
rThe local labor has stood this competition
I ?: <i as it can, and resentment against the <
Kir* J* ' < >7/ kiflh )"st ?ou\ L
- . j
irs now tne same,
happened each year.
^ G-v:-> a!ld South Caro-i|
|Bf.r .? ;r'.xr growing seasons j
section. finish the mar
*.. ? M.iv !>????? -??nd Iri^h l>:>*
'"before this section is ready
"n:n-::ij its crop. White;
' ? xne cases unscrupulous |
Uiwenerate. then round up.
of ignorant, poverty-1
Sr Negro laborers from those |
contacts with them
JJL -bev guarantee to pay all
^ cxt-n-.s for a trip to
t and to find employ- |
Jrf3: :;>tf workers, in return for'.
t- workers mu?t pay them a |
--'per ecu: cf their wages. The I
<referr.t"g to take a trip ,
'J re meagerly rather than re- t
t. ': .;<>:???? ar.d live raeageriy.
agree :o '-he :erm?.
laborers reach
Ji- -he heigh* of the pea-pick- (?
jolir. ,r.d :v contractors im- .
y v v.c various growers and t
v o'furtus:: :hem with pickers .
t-:: cents le<s per ,
tekr. run '?'? prtce then bring (
rJ:, ? ; :> ca " of |>0- .
at*; agree :: furnish labor ;
;> < u ? . burr. : po.a es an i
n local ?
aoor :;u:;c- to: picking up alone, j
Nvira.y. a; rn ?. ..?*?>. tney get .
?> j-.iis :?r " v vgnpl. reason that .
:o? ;rov:> y making very lit- ,
tie anvihinz ^n the crop and are ,
extremely ar.xt>u> t > cut expenses;
wherever tit ne local
labor ... *8" j
Tl;.:- i v a nnrib* bc*(
by 1 .1. artt.es for lack j
...... . \i.g au.der the ,
c: Itx-tl ?:!. Tne City or,,
to? C>of .? family',
a;:*.:. .. wh'Ui mem'tors
cf : im.l;. :?. ..? :r first chance
to work ? ? .. m aey t > ? nab.
?-a :> jown food and
r imp >r: .; la
bor .r. ? .. .... 1 cats th an out
c: .r and leaves them
. :?.? ::t anon local
a- ?:: . ? i way .. ;> that
-. ; ?: ?! ? :. . :n th wage.'
.. ....':. . T:.v an ? .
*'-? .-.as:)! Tn- - transients have .
-? u.? ::d d.m cx:h-:i
? I.. lay thctr tra
T:;"Y sleep on the'
g . :>?v or unvwhere'
"? little shel
ls. T... .? oa" practically nothing.
* v c'-" chicken^
i:-'; > vat from farm-1
' ?' M )>t ot tiicm1
* ?- ?? ji j to make money
:? a :. w place
3!"t ? r abode, or perhaps
- - ?>.? i.r. ) "hot for them
:i ni-o ana tney
-'2.r . ... . ;aitC this method |
A ? . ,???. tiuy arc an1
: .paOsiblc lot
a:":; . ;ac contractors
*' - '> .s satisfactory
1 I . l.to.r cannot and
r- aot w. ,,u?n competition.
u% ,s:ood this sort I
- enough. Seeing;
V rid of this com- i
' ?ay, local No-1
~ ? ? ? .'.km* of organiz
. arming than
> :. :l pitchforks and
- mtractors and
.1 i.y Vyro slaves out of the,
have indicated ;
.... look with dis
\ . .. ion. provided it!
-? -v r?v;' n bloodshed.
r/;:- ? tiM mdifl rence
.* .. foregoing sit-:
E..yCity has been'
^ ' . .in labor distur-1
. I''disorders of any
*?'j uu'.' r how just their I
i Negroes are encour- ?
<? .nd.notion to deal'
>>' wr.i. the interlopers wlio|
i '.*11 iK-ir bread and
?ftt>r ? ? < ? . , , r
% ? ? mun- do no rnci of,
r>r ? -.ae mob spirit is a-.
not eadiy subdued. j
K'u Prices llettcr,
Quality Improved
i.i'v improved as a
:i<i coil weather.
? May ;x>a crop has been
iy better prices this
??? ::oin; up to Silo
-A 5s Tuesday. Mors than
?a have be?n shipped
from here to date this season, and
thousands of baskets have been
shipitrd by truck. The bulk of the
crop will have been moved by the
end of this week.
The Irish potato crop will begin
I to move around June 10 .according
to local dealers. This crop, too. has
been materially benefitted by the
recent rains and cool weather, and
; much 'better quality is now expected
[than had previously been hoped for.
Company to;
Develop Beach
Tract700Acres
The Kitty Iluwk Develop-!
11ii'iit C.ur|).. with oll'hvs in
111?- Hankers t rust 1 il<in
Norfolk. is |)Iannnij4 a tlwo
lopau'ut of a tract of 70!)
uris more or less adjoining
he I". S. tjovc rninent's Wright
Memorial reservation.
A pavillicn was started this week!
md this week it is planned to si irt
i sand clay oil treated road from'
he o an fiont to the sound, south!
>f K;:l Devil Hills. The company!
? ntemplates the early constr iction
>f a few cottages with fire places|
md log cabins with fire plates oaj
he sound side.
Arrangements hav ? been made to
ran port a hundred bus loads of ;
icople from Norfolk to the property
his summer as a part of an mien-1
ive selling campaign. As the money!
:om?s in more streets, lights and
avater are promised.
Trie company is composed of F
G. M Pherson. C. H. Bruce and J.!
B. Fogal. "idle .property Jct,J>e dyvcl- (5
jped was purchased of Chas. AI.
Baker and Miss S. S. Sutton of A -
oury Park. N. J. Mr. McPherson ist
rrcdited with several successful cie-,
irelopments on the New Jersey coast.'
Mr. Bruce was a close business a
ociate o: the late Alien Hueth. He
has had considerable experience 1
with developments 0:1 the California
coast. Mr. Fogal has had 15 years!
banking experience as a bank of
fie:al and has had real estate and
advertising training.
An entire block cf the ocean front;
~ >:>os:te the Wright Memorial has
o- tn reserved for a hotel site and
he company has opened negotiations
w.th a northern party interested 111
erecting a 50 room fireproof hotel
:>:i the property. A strip along the)
ntire ocean front has ben reserved'
for .? proposed board walk and bath- ?
hig beach lor tiie benefit of lot own-;
ers.
The tract in question is part of
the acreage which lh" U. S. govern-;
men: seeks to acquire for the t x- j
paitsion of its Kill Devil Hills reser
vation.
What's News In
Elizabeth City's !
Best Stores
E. S. Chcsson ?Vc Son arc featuring!
a lot of some 200 men's suits of ex
ceptional quality at $15 this week.
Another demonstration of Che.s
son's ability to comman<l conces
sions from manufacturers by reason
of their ability to pay cash down and
take all discounts.
Sawyer Co.. the Main St. men's
wear store, is featuring Eclipse
shirts this week at $1.35 each, 3
for $4 00. A good buy.
Rticker & Sheely Co. are featur
ing a large line of boy's golf knick
ers and shorts at 79c to $1.50 and a
snappy showing of wash dresses
priced at 79c to $2.98.
Sawyer Harris. South Poin
dexter St., living up to its slogan.
"The Friendly Store." 'is giving
tickets for free ice cream cones to
youngsters whose parents trade at
their store. See their ad for parti
culars.
yuinn Furniture Co. is m-uking the
first announcement of New Perfec
tion Oil Stoves. Their new 1934
line is on their floors.
Share Planters!
K ill Irish P ot at o
Vlarket Plan
I
I
The hold the share-planters
luive upon the Karlv Irish j
potato crop of North Cairo-j
Una and Tidewater Virginia
nice more was.demonstrated
>n Monday of this week when
ihsolutely nothing was ac-j
L'omplished at a hearing held?
it Norfolk on the proposed]
marketing agreement f o r,
Irbh potatoes because share-plant
ers objected to so many provisions
of the agreement that no agreement'
could be reached.
County Agent Grover \V. Falls,
who attended the hearing, described
it as "-a day wasted."
The agreement is designed to
control the production and mark
eting of potatoes, to so regulate
marketing of potatoes as to coor
dinate with the demand, and to pre
vent surpluses from being dumped
cn the market and depressing prices.
As provision after provision was i
read, share-planters rose to offer
numerous amendments. They ob
jected to this and they objected to
that. In fact, they objected to any-1
thing that loked like government, in- I
tcrference with their virtual mono
poly and piratical practices. The
result was that the sum total of the
accomplishments of the hearing was
nil.
The one event of the meeting
which stood out as being noteworthy
was the admission by a representa
tive of a share-planting concern
that the system is unfair to the
growers. J. B. Champion of the
Davison Chemical Company, speak
ing for his company's affiliate in
this section, the Albemarle Produce
Company of Elizabeth City and W.
S. Carawan cf Columbia, asserted
that share-planting now embraces
75 per cent of the total potato crop
in North Carolina and that the sys
tem followed is designed to give
ihQ gl'trtver ^caching Ihan
"pocket change", if anything at all.
in return for his crop. Mr. Cham
pion described the system general
ly in vogue in this section as being
one of "give all and take all" from
the share-planters' viewpoint. The
share-planters furnish the farmers
with seed potatoes, fertilizer, barrels
and -all other supplies in return for
which the farmer agrees to deliver
his potatoes to them for shipment.
The representatives of the share
planters make a certain charge for
shipping each carload of potatoes.
After this Is deducted, the cost of
the .'ccds. fertilizer, etc.. arc de
ducted. What is left Is divided be
(Continued 011 Page Five)
$10,000 Bid for Property!
Valued by Late E. F. Aydlett!
At $130,000 in Disrepair!
In 1926 the Elizabeth City Hotel Corporation ;
was prepared to offer the late E. V. Aydlett $90,000 1
for the Southern Hotel real estate, for a site for the <
Virginia Dare Hotel. A feeling out offer of $60,000 i
was actually made for the property. Mr. Aydlett i
wanted $130,000. The Southern Hotel was knocked s
down at the courthouse door this week to L. S. Gordon,
high bidder, for $10,000. ]
The Virginia Dare Hotel wanton -
the Southern Hotel property for a .
site for the new community hotel,
because it was an established hotel J
site and because there would not
?be room for two hotels in the town 1
for years to come. But Mr. Aydlett I
refused to deal.
The Southern Hotel at that time ?
was a rat and roach infested firetrap |
sadly in need of extensive repairs. I
After the completion and opening,
of the Virginia Dare, Mr. Aydlett
spent upwards of $100,000 in rehab
ilitating the Southern and acldcd a 1
fireproof garage and a store build
ing on the rear. j .
And the reconditioned structure J
brought only $10,000 when offered |
at auction this week. The sale was <
made by John H. Hall and J. Henry: ^
LcRoy, Jr., Commissioners, incid-ij
ent to a partition proceeding brought, (
by the heirs of the Aydlett estate.I,
It is inconceivable that- the heirs!'
will let the bid stand. They have 20 I
days in which to raise it. I
The personal property in the hotel'.
was solo to Miles Jennings for $100.,1
The Southern hotel garage, two; I
stores and filling station were sold
to Mrs. Helen A Kendrick for $1,000.1]
The Cooi>er cleaning works build- 1
ing was sold to Mrs. Kendrick for I <
$500, the personal property in the I
hotel grille and kitchen to Miles <
Jennings for $50, and the personal j <
property in the hotel barber shop to, ]
Mr. Jennings for $25. I ]
All real and personal property'
was then offered for sale in one lot I
but there were no bidders. I ]
The refusal of the late E. F. Aycl-' (
tie -lualie-^errus-wiUt, the'^ro-''
moters of the Virginia Dare Hotel j'
and his subsequent expenditure of j j
a small fortune in remodeling the i i
property in hopes of creating em- j<
barrassing competition for the new <
hotel, turned out to be a colossal 11
blunder. The property has been a! i
white elephant on the hands of his 1
heirs ever since his death in 1930. j:
The Pacific Ocean is larger in I
area than the total land surface ofji
the earth. i
1
More than 8.000 foreign students, i.
representing 100 different counties,
arc enrolled in colleges and uni
versities of the United States.
irf Anr\
oJheSANK CLtQK TUE SODA JU2KE.R
AND WHAT THEN OF THE PRESS?
"Til? Nil A seems to be having
I hard sledding the.se days and I'm
afraid it rant stand up under the
j Arc that it is being subjected to be
I foes both within and without the
administration." Thus spoke the
Bank Clerk.
"And I'm asking vcu if you ever
expected anything else?" replied the
Soda Jerker. "As I see it, the NRA
never was anything but a makeshift
measure to save th:: country from a
revolution. Business had gone to
i the devil, business men were in a
i panic and all industry demoralized
| after four years of Heibcrt Hoover.
J President Roasevclt stepi>ed into of
I fico, called the business leaders of
I the country together and proposed
j that tiie government enter into a
sort of partnership with them, to
abolish the anti-trust laws, to pro
tect them from unfair competition
land to enable them to put their
[businesses on a profit making basis
again. In return for this govern
m' nt protection, the business lead
ers agreed to a shorter work week
and higher wages for their hell), to
the end that employment would be
spread and the purchasing power of
the working classes improved.
"It all worked beautifully for a
time, but it was inevitable that busi
ness would dominate the partner
ship and get the long end of it.
i Business always docs, bccau.se or
ganized business is more j>owerful
than government. And business, in
I the very nature of things, can not
j live by fair practices because of its
j paucity of brains and moral fibre.
For every big. broad-minded, honor
able. humane business executive
there axe six or a dozen unmoral
ones, many cf whom are unsocial
'crooks and brigands whose .sole
objective is profit-making. And
the only way you're ever going to
get rid of crookedness and brigand
age in business is to abolish the
profit system."
"And that would mean that the
government would take over all
?business!" replied the Bank Clerk.
"Exactly!" said the Soda Jerker.
"Including the newspaper, maga
zine and book publishing business?"
?asked the Bank Clerk slyly.
"Yes." replied the Soda Jcrkcr.
"And what do you think would
' become of our cherished freedom of
I the press if the government con
trolled our sources of news, com
ment and criticism?"
"That's a fair question," said the
Soda Jcrkcr. "and it should be the
most serious concern' of the ]>coplc
at this time; for we are right now
but a step removed from socialism
in America and these attacks on the
NllA are hastening the final collapse
'of capitalism and a plunge into col
lective ownership and management
of industry. In the change from
capitalism to socialism, the freedom
of the press must not be destroyed
or the nation will be imperiled by
the possibilities of a dictatorship as
hateful and ruthless as anything in
Russia, Italy or Germany."
"Well. I'm darn glad to hear you
concede that much." said the Bunk
Clerk, who finished his morning
glass of coca cola and ammonia and
went across the street to his job.
There is no form of nerve disorder
that may not be caused or aggra
vated by Eye Strain. For a thorough
Eye examination see. DR. J. D.
'HATHAWAY. adv.
j,
Farmers to Get
Big Money For
No Hogs-Corn
That the corn-hog mine-,!
ion program that is sponsor-.
(I by the Agricultural Acl-Jj
ustmcnt Administration will!;
n-ing sl7o,(KlO to if2(K>,0(?? to
armors of eight Northeastern .
S'orth Carolina counties was
he estimate made 1 uesclay
ifler the formation of the
.'usquotunk Corn-Hog l.on
rol Association at a meeting
n the county courthouse
lere.
lhis Association, tho bearing the,,
tame of only one county, will em-j
jrancc eight counties, with a total
>f 765 members. Bach signer of a
corn-|.og reduction agreement or|
contract is a member of the Assso-,
nation. The membership of the j
ocal Association is divided as fol-(
ic ws:
Btrtie, 20; Camden, 7'; Chowan,
113; Currituck, 110; Gates, 203;
Hertford. 40; Pasquotank, 144; Per
juimans, 57. ,
It is.- estimated that4 each.,of
765 members will receive at least;
5250 from the Triple A as his share |
n the benefit payments to contract
signers. Tiic government will pay
each signer SI5 per hog, less ad
ministrative expenses, for a 25 per
cent reduction from their average
hog production in 1932-33. For
reducing their corn acreage from
20 to 30 per cent they will receive
30 cents per bushel for corn not
grown on the land rented to the gov
ernment. If each of the 765 mcm
of the local Corn-Hog Control
Association should receive $250 un
der those terms, and it is likely that
they will receive at least this much,
the total amount of money that the
government will pay to members of
this Association will be $191,000.
And that- is no small amount of
money in these days.
Tuesday's meeting was called by
Com.ty Agent Grover W. Falls and
by W \V. Shade, swine extension j
specialist of the State Department.
of Agriculture. Each county to be
included in the Association wasl
represented at the meting. The fol
lowing directors were elected:
Camden County, W. N. Davenport,:
Shiloh; Chowan. Julien Wood of,
Edenton and W. II. Winborne; Gates
County. Martin Kellogg. Sr., Sun
bury: Hertford County. J- H. Barnes;
Pasquotank County, W. T.. Jackson;
Perquimans County, E. M. Perry;
Currituck County, R. H. Forbes,
and Bertie County, unnamed.
The following officers were elected
by the directors:
' Martin Kellogg. Sr., President;
E. M. Perry, vice president; Mary
Casey, secretary, and W. H. Prit
chard, treasurer.
The allotment committee, which
studies all contracts and is em
powered to make either specific or
horizontal reductions in the allot
ments .is composed of Messrs.
Forbes, Kellogg and Winborne.
The" time limit for the signing of
corn-hog reduction contracts was set
for May 15, but county agents and
Association officials arc empowered
to accept contracts up to the time
'the tabulations are to be made.
Tabulations arc now being made
and will probably be completed
within a forthnight.
M. (,. Morrisette To
Build Cottage at
Kitty Hawk Beach j
M. cj. Morrisctte cxjiccts to let a!
contract for a five room cottage atI
Kitty Hawk Beach this week. Aj
feature of the cottage will be a liv-J
iiitt room 14x19 feet with eastern,
southern and western exposures sur
rounded by a porch with overhang
ing caves. The living room will be
fully gazed and screened, giving out
door comtort with protection from
ram., storms and mosquitoes.
LEGAL BANKER
KILLS USUROUS
MONEY LENDER
All bankers have a pet
aversion for misers and pri- j
vate usurers. R. M. Riddiek,
?asliier of the Hertford Rank-'
mg Company never dreamedj
it would fall to his lot to kill!
such a character, but he did.;
Cashier Riddiek struck and killed
E. V. Bagley, an eccentric Gates
County citizen, with his automobile
last Thursday night. The accident
?for it was an accident?occurred
about 8:30 o'clock on what i.s known
as the Mitchell Swamp Road, about
four miles from Gatesville.
When Deputy Sheriff C. W. Hin-|
ton examined the body of the dead
man shortly after the accident, he
found $3,357.13 on his person, mosti'
of which was sewed up in his un- h
derwear. $150 of the money was in
gold coin and the balance in old
bills of large denomination.
Bagley, who lived alone in the
neighbourhood where the accident
occurred, was a miser and a money
lender. His loan business was con
fined largely among colored people
who stood in great terror of him. ,
They believed he carried a gun and
that any Negro who failed to repay
him a loan would surely die. Bor- !
rowers who received $10 from him, |
paid back $15, and he had the repu
tation of getting his money.
Bagley was about 55 years old and
his hearing was defective. Witness- i
es testified that he was walking in
the middle of the road when he |
sensed the approach of the Riddiek j
car. Frightened, he jumped in front,
of the car instead of In the direction;
of safety. He was dragged six feet I
on the pavement before the car'
could be stopped. His skull and left
shoulder were fractured and both
legs broken. Mr. Riddiek stood by
until Sheriff Hinton arrived and.
took charge of the situation. Several |
witnesses testified to the una void- t
ability of the accident and at aj
coroner's inquest Friday afternoon
Mr. Riddiek was absolved ??' of all
blame for it.
It was neighbourhood knowledge!
that Bagley carried thousands of!
dollars hidden away in his wearing 1
apparel and his life had been fear-j
cd for. Many friends and relatives'
thought that he would ultimately
fall a victim of burglars or high-1
waymcn. But a banker removed j
him.
Five daughters, Mrs. W. E. Pearce'
of Raleigh. Mrs. Lloyd Carter of j
Hobbsville, Mrs. Earl Carter of Sun- ?
bury, Mr.->. Lautlier Wright of Trot- j
viile and another married daughter!
in Norfolk; and one son, R. E. Bag-1
ley of Hobbsville, survive.
An "Off Year" In Politics,
Candidates Must Haul Many
Voters in Saturday's Primary,
I
With no Gubernatorial or Congressional contests\
to arouse widespread interest, and with a number of\
important offices uncontested in each county, pros-j
pects are for a comparatively slim vote in Saturday's?
Democratic primary in Northeastern North Carolina,
depending upon the last minute activities of candi
dates in stirring up votes. This is simply what is
known in political lingo as an "off-year."
During 10 LUG divergence ui ujjin
ion on the Ehringhaus sales tax and
a keener interest in school and
highway legislation, the office of
Representative is more in demand
in this section than perhaps any
ether one office, and the contests for
General Assembly seats have aroused
interest in some counties where in
terest otherwise would be some
what lacking.
Of major interest thruout the sec
tion. however, are the two district
races?those for the First District,
Solicitorship and for the District's
two seats in the State Senate.
The Solicitorship race is a three
cornered affair which probably will
result in a second primary run-off.
The candidates are: Herbert Learv,
blundering and incompetent incum
bent: Hallet S. Ward, Beaufoit
County "old line" politician who has
seen his best days, and Chester R.
Morris, fearless and conscientious
young Currituck attorney. Leary
has the advantage of having many
supporters and 'being already in of
fice. Mr. Ward was a brilliant
orator and an able prosecutor a
generation back, and many people
in the district will vote for him on
his past reputation. Mr. Morris was
previously known personally to a
very small percentage of the voters
in the district, but he has always
had a pretty strong following com-.
I
posed of those who know him -and
know his capabilities, of those who
think a younger man should be
given a try at this office, of those
who are tired of Leary's incessant
bungling and of those who regard
Mr .Ward as being some vu t senile
and having outlived his usefulness.
Any two of these may have to enter
a second primary.
For the State Senate, there are
four candidates. The two incum
bents. Dudley Bagley of Moyock and
Lloyd GrifTin of Edcnton, who were
swept into office by a big major
ity in 1932, are opposed this year
by R. C .Holland .prominent Edcn
tonion, and W. I. Haistead of South
Mills and Elizabeth City. The in
cumbents are regarded as having
the edge in this race, but the
strength of the two others cannot
be too easily discounted and either
or both of them may upset some-!
body's apple can.
Congressman Lindsay C. Warren
is without opposition, for which he
and his constituents aje duly thank
ful.
In this county, the offices of
Register of Deeds. Clerk of Court. ,
County Auditor and Prosecuting At
torney ire sought only by the in
cumbents. Sheriff Charles Carm:ne
(.Continued on Page Two) j
i
Bill Culpepper :
Will Support
Webb Williams <
\V. T. Culpepper, whose 11
appointment as postmaster at r
Elizabeth City was announced jt
last week, was confirmed by l
[lie U. S. Senate Tuesday after-1
noon. Immediately upon ad- h
vice of his confirmation ^r- r
Culpepper announced his (
wtihdrawal from the race for s
the (ieneral Assembly.
Mr. Culpepper had witheld such (
announcement previously, consider
ing it an act of' impertience to anti-}
cipate the action of the Senate. Mr.
Culpepper served Pasquotank Coun- (
ty with distinction in the last |
General Assembly and inaugurated ,
many projects for his county and t
district that would have made his
return to the General Assiembly in
1935 eminently desirable. "I regret *
that I can not serve two masters," ,
said Mr. Culpepper.
In a brief talk at the Chamber '
of Commerce-Merchants Associ-!'
ation dinner at the Virginia Dare,1'
Hotel Tuesday night, Mr. Culpepper j'
said that he had discussed his meas
ures and ]>olicies with F. Webb Wil- j
liams and had been pledged Mr.
Williams's support in furthering; ?
those measures. He threw his sup-1
port then and there to Mr. Wil- j J
liams. i j
i1
Tonga is the only native kingdom !j
left in the Pacific; these tiny South',
Sea islands have no army nor navy i,
yot they declared war on Germany, '
aJong with the other nations.
Local Merchants Told State
Should Tax Church Property
And Curtail Higher Education
Gr. Leslie Hall Virginia Merchant and Civic
Leader Advocates Drastic Measures To
Get Away From General Sales Tax
Eliminate much of the wasteful cost of higher
education and put a tax on all church property were
two of several ivays to get away from a general sales
tax, suggested by G. Leslie Hall, of Norfolk, Va., in
a speech to the Elizabeth City Chamber of Commerce
Merchants Association at the Virginia Dare Hotel
Tuesday night.
Mr. Hal! is vice president of the
Jorfolk Association of Commerce,
'resident of the Tidewater Auto
mobile Association and a past presi
ent of the Virginia Retail Mcr
hants Association.
'?An effort was made, sponsored
iy Virginia real estate interests, to
evy a sales tax in Virginia. We
old our law-makers plainly that
f they would sj>end less tax money
here would be no need for addi
ional 'taxation. The hue and cry
or a sales tax comes from owners of
eal estate who want to shift the
>urden of taxation to the common
>eople. Now, there are three class
es of real estate: (1) the home own
d by the individual, (2) rental
property, (3) property bought and
told for speculative purposes. I
wouldn't impose a dollar of taxation
>n the small home owner, exempting
ill homes valued at $5,000. or even
>10.000 from all taxes. I would also
"avor tax relief for improved real
estate without tenants. But the
pwner of property for rental pur
poses and the owner of real estate
aeld for speculation deserve no
special favors. It is unfair to shift
:he burden of taxation from the
shoulders of property wealth to the
shoulders of the propertyless."
Pursuing the thought that the
states should effect great economies
n higher education, Mr. Hall said:
?The state owes the best possible _
elementary education to its boys and
jirls. Every boy and girl should
pe given primary, grammar school
ind high school education at the
expense of the state. The respon
sibiiity cf ihe state to the individual
should stop there. Hardly a fourth
:f the graduates of our high schools
.an avail themselves of a college or
miversity career. And yet wc per
sist in taxing all the people for the
jenefit cf a one fourth minority.
&nd. for one thing, we are turn
ing, at enormous expense, ten
imes as many teachers as we can
ibsoib. I can show you college
graduates running filling stations
and hot dog stands, or walking the
streets looking for white collar jobs
hat don't exist for them. It Is time
we stopped this silly and extravagant
pusiness. If we do our duty by our
,'ounger citizens up to the point of
heir graduation from high school,
hose who seriously desire more
education will get it, and you can't
stop them. Wc have just twice as
Many .state supported colleges and
iniversities as we need or can af
ford to support."
** TT_ii (itfu/vlti/taW hv W S.
Ml*, nun Wd3 iAi Wi WUVV.U Krj ... ? -
darney, secretary of the Norfolk
Chamber of Commerce Association,
md a former resident of Elizabeth
~i:y. who received a real ovation
[rom this former townsmen.
Candidates Spout
The occasion of Mr. Hall's s;>eech
was the annual dinner of the
Chamber of Commerce-Merchants
Association. To this dinner was
invited all candidates for seats in
he next General Assembly. The
candidates were instructed to make
;hree minute sj>eeches as a prelude
:o the main speech. Many of them
spouted for fifteen minutes or more,
delaying the principal speaker for
nearly two hours. Mr. Hall got to
>pcak not until 9:15 P. M., but his
iynamic personality, infections good
minor and, at times, brilliant
nandling of his subject kept his
ludience in their seats until he
finished.
W. I. Halstead, candidate for the
State Senate, took a dig at candi
iatcs who made rash promises in
advance of a legislative session, de
scribed the three ]>er cent sales tax
is a crude and iniquitous measure,
md said he would work and vote
or a one per cent sales tax with no
?xemptions and no exjiensive ad
ninistration. "The State now spends
me cent in collecting its three cents,
md it loses another cent from ex
emptions and lack of enforcement
A one per cent sales tax proiierly
tollectcd would yield as much reve
nic as the present three |>er cent
ax," he said.
R. C. Holland, of Edenton, can
iidate for the State Senate, declar
:i himself unalterably opposed to a
;ales tax. ,
Lloyd Grifftn .candidate for re
(Continued on Page Six;