North Carolina Newspapers

m$ rnnmu Washington—From any point of view, the most important happen ing in Washington since the Roose velt Administration took office, is the decision by the Supreme Court that the crop control-features of the Agricultural Administration Act both in the original law and the amendments passed last Sum mer, are unconstitutional. The Federal Government, the high court held in its six-to-three decision, has no power to regulate agriculture. That is one of the rights never delegated to the Cong ress and therefore specifically re served to the States by the 10th Amendment. It was a far more sweeping de cision that most Washington ob servers had expected. The Admin istration was prepared for'a ruling that the processing taxes and their distribution in benefit payment to farmers for crop reduction were not Constitutional. Indeed, the main purpose of the AAA amendments of 1935 was to get around such a possible verdidt by the Supreme Court. SWEEPING DECISION After declaring that the process ing taxes and their distribution in benefit payments were beyond the power of Congress, because th<"’ were not applied to the "general welfare” but to a limited class,” and that Congress had improperly dele gated to the Executive the appro priation of public funds, the de cision, read by Justice Roberts, went farther still. The heart of the matter he pointed out, lay in the purpose of the AAA, and that purpose, the regulation of agricul ture, is clearly unconstitutional, be cause it is an attempt on the part of the Federal Government to exer cise rights reserved to the States. Justices Brandeis, Cardozo and Stone dissented from the majority opinion. The case before the Supreme Court was that of the Hoosac Mills, in protest against the process-1 ing tax on cotton. But so broad | was the Court’s decision that it is/ regarded here as applying to the Bankhead cotton control act, the potato control amendment as well as to the wheat, corn-hog, tobacco and other Federal efforts to control agricultural production. The de-| cision prohibits any attempt to en force any part of the AAA pro gram. processors neea not pay any more processing taxes; the farmers cannot receive any more benefit payments. It is doubtful that those v/ho have paid the processing taxes can recover them from the Government, or that the Govern ment can collect back from farmers benefit payments already made. BUDGET, WAR, PROBE The Supreme Court decision threw into the shade the President’s budget message, which was handed to Congress at the same hour that Justice Roberts began to read the Court’s decree. Mr. Roosevelt’s estimates were divided into two sections, "regular” expenses of Gov ernment and relief expenditures. The President estimated the Fed eral income from all sources at $5,654,000,000 for the next fiscal year, which amount he figured, would leave $5,00,000 surplus. Bu he declined to put a figure on the (Continued on page 4) I Townsend Threat Alarms 1 WASHINGTON . . . Political leaders of both big parties gathered i here agreed privately that the start ling growth of the ‘ ‘ Townsend $200 . per-month pension plan and the ; threat of Francis E. Townsend (above), to organise a Third Party ; next year, might be occasion for > veal alarm. The Carolina Watchman Lr^: __A NEWSPAPER DEVOTED TO THE UPBUILDING OF ROWAN COUNTY FOUNDED 1832—104TH YEAR SALISBURY, N. C., FRIDAY MORNING, JANUARY 17, 1936. VOL. 104 NO. 25. PRICE 2 CENTS. Textile Mills Will Observe Code _ * Motor Failure Is Blamed For Nation’s Worst Air Tragedy Goodwin, Ark.—Engine failure, due to clogged gas lines or some other vital trouble, is believed to have sent the American Airlines transcontinental luxury lines, the Southerner, into a plunge which carried 17 passengers to death in 'the Arkansas swamps Wednesday. Department of Commerce offi cials, here in the aftermath of the worst- tragedy in American com mercial air history, heard two farm ers who saw the brightly-lighted ship struggling for life over the cypress bogs declare the ship’s en gines were faltering. The engines were sputtering and choking just before the ship went into its death glide, the eyewit nesses stated. In haltering swamp country dia lect their eyes bleary and bloodshot, their clothing caked with mud from a night of slopping through muck and water to bring out the cruelly mangled bodies of the vic tims, they told their dramatic, death-laden stories. To these accounts of a stutter ing, faltering engine investigators added the statement of John T. Shea, promirtent Memffhis attor ney, who flew in the doomed Cali fornia-bound ship from Nashville to Memphis. One engine seemed faulty when the plane left Mem phis, he said. House Passes Bonus Bill By Big Majority Vote On Passage Is An nounced As 355 to 58 Washington—A crushing house majority passed and sent to the sen ate the bill authorizing immediate cash payment of the bonus to nearly 3,500,000 World War vet erans. Its immediate cost was estimated variously from $1,000,000,000 to $2,000,000,000. The vote on passage was an nounced by Speaker Byrns as 3 5 5 to 5 8, more than the two-thirds re quired to pass legislation over a presidential veto. The ballot was taken before packed galleries. Prompt consideration of the issue by the senate finance committee was promised by Chairman Harri son, Democrat, Mississippi. Unless pressure for the house bill is too great the committee was con sidered likely to amend the meas ure or vote out a less liberal one of its own, realizing President Roose-j velt is opposed to full payment at this time. Democratic Leader Robinson has conferred with the President and was believed to have conveyed the executive’s attitude to all bonus camps whose representtatives have been conferring in secret for several days. Robinson was hopeful a bill can be passed that will meet executive approval. Just before final passage the house defeated 319 to 89 a mo tion by Representative Treadway, Republican, Massachusetts, to re turn the bill to committee under instructoins to requre payment with unexpected relief funds. On the floor members were so unconcerned about the outcome of the balloting that the chatted nois ly or read newspapers. Speaker Byrns had to crack down with his gavel repeatedly so those who had not yet voted could hear the clerk call their names. N. C. Veterans to Get $34,622,162 Representative Patman, Demo crat, Texas, estimated there were 63,926 World War veterans in North Carolina holding bonus cer tificates aggregating $34,622,162 and 3 5,747 in South Carolina with Certificates valued at $1931,6831 which would be paid under the house cash plan. SEED LOANS APPROVED Washington—Legislation to pro vide $40,000,000 for seed and feed loans to farmers in the 1936 crop year was approved by the House agriculture committee. Bloody Fight Ends In Death Spencer Railway Officer Held on Charge of Slay ing Lexington Man •Lexington.—H. C. Rogers, rail way officer of Spencer and former Lexington policeman, is in David son County, jail on a charge of murder growing out of the death of Ernest Michael 36, of this city, whose body was recovered from High Rock lake near Southmont after the two men had staged a bloody fight on a fill, early Sunday afternoon. Rogers said they both fell into the water at the point where the fight began and blood splotches in dicated a struggle there. Michael’s body was recovered several hun dred feet from this spot, about 20 feet from the edge of the rip rapped fill. His account before a coroner’s jury was an apparently confused story. Seabo Wilson, who had been rid ing in the cjr with Rogers and Michael, driven by Mrs. Rogers, said he left the group when the car had been stopped and trouble was brewing and did not turn back until later summoned by cries from Mrs. Rogers. Other witnesses told of seeing the mep in the edge of the water fighting desperately, after having apparently tumbled over a guard fence and a 15-foot bank. Evidence showed Rogers and Michael were both drinking. Michael leaves a widow and eight children. Jackson Dinners Attracted 5,000 Incomplete reports indicate that more than 5,000 Democrats attend ed the Jackson Day dinners held over the state Wednesday night, Mrs. Bessie B. Phoenix, state presi dent of the Young Democrats who sponsored the affairs, announced. Mrs. Phoenix estimated that her organization would be able to send about $6,000 to the Democratic National committee, to be used in retiring the party’s debt. The Salisbury dinner was attend ed by three hundred young and old Democratic men and women. Woodson Again Heads First Nat. Walter H. Woodson, local at torney, was re-elected president of the First National bank here at the annual meeting and the rest of the officer's and all of the old directors were also re-elected. The year-end statement of the bank showed resources of $1,146, 000 with deposits of $9$9,000 The stock and bond account was $$67,000; cash of $202,000 and loans and discounts of $288,000. J Sick Mobster ‘ - - CHICAGO . . . Tommy Tonhy (above), last of the mobster “Tonhy Gang” is> now in the hands of the G-Men, who have trailed him since 1933, He was cap tured in bed, a tuberculosis invalid. Two Kidnapers Get Life Terms First To Get Maximuir Penalty Under N. C. Law Winston-Salem—The first to re ceive maximum penalty unde North Carolina’s 1933 kidnappinj law, William Barham and Fre( i Stevens, sentenced to life imprison ment for the abduction of W jW. Pollock, Winstpn-Salem drafts j man, were taken tp state prison a ! Raleigh. j A jury in Forsyth county su | perior court fouikd Barham an< | Stevens guilty after deliberatinj less than half an hour. _ The state relied. solely upon th testimony of Pollock to obtain con viction in the case. Pollock testi fied Barham and Stevens accostei him as he entered his automobile oi a street here the night of Octobe ! 18, 1935, ordered him to the bad i seat of his car and took him t< ! Rowan county. j Pollock told the jury the met questioned him as to whether h could raise ransom of $4,000 t< $5,000. Informed he could no raise that amount of money, th: two took from him a wallet con j'taining $38, some small change two pencils and a watch and afte I tying his hands and feet to a tre: 1 drove away in his car, he said. I Barham and Stevens were ar rested later at Raleigh, where thei were sentenced to serve 15 year each for robbery of stores in tha city. Isenhour Renamed Head Of Realtor! H. E. Isenhour, local realtor, wa re-elected president of the Salis bury Real Estate board at the an nual meeting. Other officers re elected included R. E. Ramsey, vie president; F. S. Cline, secretary treasurer; J. P. Mattox and Ross M Sigmon, directors. Rentals advanced about 15 pe cent during the past year, it wa reported, as well as less than 1 pe cent of the local residential prop j erty being vacant. David Ovens To Speak Here Jan. 3C David Ovens of Charlotte, pro minent business man, will mak the principal address here at thi annual meeting of the Chamber oi Commerce January 30. The Rotary, Kiwanis, Civitai and Lions clubs will meet with th< Chamber of Commerce and othei citizens, and an interesting occa sion is anticipated. URGES COURSE IN MARXISM Athens, Ga.—Speaking at tht University of Georgia despite a protest of two American Legion leaders, George Soule, and editor oi the New Republic, said college stu dents should have a course in Marx ism '*»• be really prepared.” Democrats To Meet In Philadelphia Quaker City Wins ‘Poker Game’ With Combined Offer Nearly $300,000 After spirited and almost unprec edented "poker game”, with table stakes so high as to all but wipe out the party’s deficit, the Democratic national committee picked Philadel phia for its 1936 national conven tion. The Pennsylvania city, never be fore the scene of a Democratic con vention won out over San Francisco and Chicago when its representa tives finally waved a certified check ( for $200,000. Then, to meet higher bids Philadelphia concessions esti mated to raise the total to between $2$0,000 and $300,000 were of 1 fered. Party Chairman James A Farley announced the national conclave, intended to renomiate President Roosevelt, would start June 23. The . Republican party will meet in , Cleveland beginning June 9. j Before the bidding started, Farley in opening the national committee’s meeting, predicted a "campaign of defamation” financed by the ,"larg . est slush fund on record.” (Spanish War Vets Install Officers Officers of the" James L. Watson camp No. 20 of the United Span I ish War Veterans were installed Fri t day night at the regular meeting . here. J. M. Mabry of Charlotte, . representative of the Department , of North Carolina, installed the fol lowing. Commander, Albert S. Arndt; , senior vice commander, Henry W. , Miller; junior vice commander, Ben F. Lee; service officer and chaplain, William White; adjutant and quar termaster, H. M. Armistead. G. Brooks Turner is the retiring com . mander. Better Homes Be Sought For Low Wage Earners Washington—An early confer ence to determine means of aiding the small-income group in the prob 5 lem of constructing new homes is planned by President Roosevelt, s He estimated at his press confer - ence that at least 90 per cent of ■ the people who need better housing ■ are within the group earning $2, - 500 a year or less and unable to pay ■ for houses costing upwards of $5, • 000. ’ Mrs. Margaret Parker Of Landis Dies At 62 Miss Margaret Parker, 62, of Landis, died in a Salisbury hospital January 10. Funeral services were | held at the Landis Methodist church Sunday at 2 p. m. Burial was in the Greenlawn cemetery at China Grove. Two sisters and six brothers : Mrs. W. L. Davidson of Landis, Mrs. Pink Ervin of near Concord, Henry Parker of Charlotte; Chall, 1 Bill and Charles Parker of Moores [ ville, Julius Parker of Yadkin ville, and Percy Parker of near Landis. DEMAND NEW CONTRACT New York—Delegates to the forthcoming convention of the In ternational Seamen’s union have been sent postcards by the rank and file members group demanding a new contract on the East and Gulf coasts similar to that in effect on the Pacific coast. Race Is On For Postmaster* Place; 0 Enter Peacock’s Term Expires Next Month; Candi dates Are Active ROSS MAY SEEK JOB P. N. Peacock, postmaster, whose term expires February 24 of this year announces that he is not a candidate for another trem. Those who have applied for the position are said to be the follow ing: Mrs. Maggie E. Galvin. Henry L. Mangum, James H. Mc Kenzie, W. F. Rattz, H. A. Rouzei and S. A. Russell all well-knowr Salisbury citizens of high standing in the community. It is reported that the present assistant postmaster, W. L. Rosi may also seek the position dependint upon the action congress takes on s bill now pending which will extenc the civil service to include first secand and third class postmasters, i Under the bill, the postmastei will be appointed by the postmastei general without cerm, and by pro motion or transfer from the posta! ranks, unless the postmaster gener al certifies to the civil service com mission that no one in the office ii capable of holding the job. Unles this bill is passed, Mr. Ross will no take part in an active fight for th job. If the bill is not passed, the post master willl be chosen by the usu: procedure. Those who have appl: ed will be examined by the Civ: Service Commission and the thre ranking highest will be the eligibles From these three, Congressman R L. Doughton and the local Demo cratic executive committee wil choose the man to govern the Sal isbury office. Date for filing ap plications expired January 14. Screen Actress Killed In Crash Santa Monica, Calif.—Margarei Ehrlich, 18, motion picture actres; known on the screen as Margo Early, was killed Sunday in a moto; car crash as she was returning fron a party at the home of Marion Da vies, actress. Mary Grace, also 18, an actres I under contract to Warner Brother studio, who was driving the car suffered a possible skull fractur; and internal injuries. She was stil unconscious late yesterday. The car in which the girls wer riding struck an abutment oi Roosevelt highway . Witnesses tol< , the police an approaching car ap parently forced them from the road Miss Ehrlich a graduate of Sant; Monica high school, appeared ii "Operator 13”, and "Naught; Marietta.” She recently was placei under contract by Metro-Goldwyn Myer Studios. Plumbing Concern Moving This Wee! C. J. .W Fisher, plumber, wh; has been located at 113 East Inne Street, for the past several years i; tips week moving to 107 West Tisher Street, where he states he is better prepared than ever to serv< his customers. He will also carry an up-to-date line of plumbing anc heating fixtures. INCOME TAX LAW VIOLATED Olympia, Wash.—T^he 1933 Ore gon personal net income tax law was declared unconstitutional by the State Supreme court. The in validation means the loss of more than $1,300,000 annually in reve nue during 1936, the State tax commission said. ''4 Continue NRA Principles Majority of Industry to Volutarily Observe Provisions 40 HOUR WORK WEEK Southern cotton-textile manu facturers had in their offices Tues day copies of the pledge they are being asked to sign in the Cotton Textile Institute’s program for con tinuation of the major principles of the former NRA code. The pledge, when signed, is the manufacturer’s promise that he will: 1. Observe a work week of not more than 40 hours in any one cal endar week for employes engaged in operating textile machinery in side the mill or engaged within the mill in handling material in process. 2. Pay a minimum rate on wages for such employes of 30 cents an hour in the southern branch and 32 1-2 cents an hour in thte north ern branch, with the exception of learners and workers partly inca pacitated by reason of age or dis ability. 3. Will not employ minors under 16 years of age. 4. Will not operate productive machinery, defined as spinning spindles and looms, more than 80 ; hours in any one calendar week, ' such limitation to aplpy to each in • dividual spindle and loom. : Leaders in the industry explained that the Institute is just completing - distribution of the pledges and that I it will be some time before an -J nouncement of the percentage of II the industry signed up can be made. “I They were definite in their belief, • however, that the big majority of ■ the industry will co-operate in this ■ effort. Representatives of the greater portion of the carded and combed yarn groups of the industry went on record in a meeting in Charlotte Monday as in favor of the plan, and leaders declared that they have no (Continued on page eight) Sees Delay In Restoring Roads To Good Condition Raleigh — Vance Baise, State highway engineer, expressed the op inion it would be spring before sur face-treated highways of the State ’ can be restored to first-class shape. ’ "We plan to patch the roads ’ where ever possible but it will be : necessary to completely rebuild most of the highways,” said Baise. The recent severe freezes, snow, ' sleet and rain did more than $1, 1 000,000 worth of damage to the 1 highway system Baise has estimat ■ ed. t Richest Woman, Bride | NEW YOBK . . . Mrs. Marjorie Post Close Hutton (above), heiress to a health food fortune and one of the nation's richest women, is now on honeymoon with her third hus band, Joseph B. Davies, Washington attorney.