Newspapers / The Charlotte Labor Journal … / Feb. 15, 1951, edition 1 / Page 1
Part of The Charlotte Labor Journal and Dixie Farm News (Charlotte, N.C.) / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
.CAPITAL REPORTER RALEIGH, N. C.—The so-call ed Powell Bill—designed to hand cities and towns $5,000,000 for use on their streets — has been railroaded through Senate com mittees faster than any piece of major legislation in many a year. Its introduction and committe clearance has been accompanied by more deals and mis-statements, to say the least, than any pro motion since Esau sold his birth right to Jacob for a mess of pot tage. Senator Junius Powell of Co lumbus, chairman of the Senate Roads Committee, tossed the bill In the hopper Tuesday, January 30. His name headed a list of 39 co-signers. Eight days later the Roads Committee gave the bill a favor able report, and the following day —last Thursday—the Appropria tions Committee added its ap proval. Senator Powell told news men when the bill was introduced that it was his own idea, that he bad not talked to anyone about it. However, it was common knowledge around Raleigh more than two months ago that such a bill would be introduced. The League of Municipalities told Governor Scott that it want ed and asked his backing for a bill putting city streets under the State Highway Commission, ask ing an extra one-half cent gas tax and an extra $5 per automo-1 bile license tag to finance the changeover. At a press confer ence some two weeks ago, Mayor' Ban Edwards of Durham heard j Governor Scott tell newsman that such an agreement had been made. Edwards, the representa ble of the League, told reporters that the governor’s statement was correct. Then, suddenly, when the Pow ell bill was up for a public hear ing—and without the League’s own bill even being introduced— League officials appeared in be half of the Powell bill. This brought a charge from the gov ernor that the League had “brok-! en faith,” that it had "run out on its agreement” with Kerr Scott. The bulldozing tactics of the Powell bill’s backers brought, condemnation from the governor, as well as a number of legisla tors. "It almost looks as though; they don’t want either us or the public to find out what’s in the bill,” one senator said. And—although the bill probab ly will pass the Senate—opposi tion to it is growing in the upper chamber as the senators study the measure. Pour of five of the co-signers have asked oldtimers how they could get their names withdrawn as sponsors. One had his name withdrawn because of the rail roading tactics of the backers. In getting signers of the bill, its backers told one and all that it merely gave cities and towns *5.000,000 from a 916,000.000 highway fund "surplus.” In the first place, that 916,000,000 is not a surplus, it is a reserve. It is { used to match Federal highway, ■dnnds. when they amount to more than the matching amount set aside under the budget. It is used for emergency rebuilding or re pair, such as a bridge collapsing or being washed away in a flash flood. It is used to build needed by-passes, and in the current emergency would be used to match federal money in building military roads. And it is used for needed work on primary high-' ways, other than that specified under the budget. used to build needed by-passes, and in the current emergency j would be used to match federal ^ money in buildinr military roads. | And it is used for needed work on primary highways, other than that specified under tse budget, j In other words, that 16 million is an emergency reserve—with out which no big business would be caught, and highway building is big business. On* question being ashed is: “If this $5,000,000 is taken away, what will it mean to the primary roads in my district ox county.” Well, it means simply that this $5,000,000 a year—and it is five million dollars for each year will not be available for primary road use. In ten years that amounts to $50,000,000—a lot of money in anybody's league. There’s a little section at the beginning of the measure which puts all city and town streets that are a connecting part of the highway system under the High way Commission. Backers of the bill say that it merely adds $5, 000,000 a year to the $2,500,000 already earmarked for city and town street-building. But the bill says that the Highway Com mission shall assume all respon ibiiity for these connecting links and continuations of the State’s highways, with the money to come from the Highway Fund. I In other words, the bill makes the State liable to pave every city and town street that is a part of, or connecting link to, the highway system no matter what the cost—even if it's $10, 000,000 a year or more. It’s in addition to this, that the cities and towns get $5,000,- j 000 a year to spend as they see fit on streets. That’s another thing. If a city or town saw fit it could pave a 60-foot boulevard through an un developed sub-division. There are no strings attached to the city’s share of that $5,000,000, except that it shall be spent on streets. The opportunities for graft by city, officials are limited only by the amount of money the city or tow* receives. Meantime, oyer in the House, Rep. Fred Royster of Vance and twenty other signers introduced j a little bill that would call for a State referendum on whether or not the Highway Commission should take over construction and maintenance of city and town streets. It is in much the same fashion j as the $200,000,000 bond issue voted some two years ago. If voters go for the idea an additional one-eent gasoline tax would be levied to take care of the cost. This would bring in an estimated pine to ten, million or more dollars annually. This is the amount estimated by a study as necesary to take over the streets. The Royster bill was almost killed three hours after its intro duction by the House Finance Committee, but a motion to ad journ staved that off. This action brought a blast from Royster against the "un fair tactics” of the "no new tax” boys. He cornered Rep. Bob Las siter of Mecklenburg, who made the motion to kill the bill, and told the Charlotte man how he felt. The bill, however is expected to die in committee. The pre-campaign jockeying fop, the 1952 gubernatorial race is taking some funny twists. Once beaten Charley Johnson, a Char lotte resident less than a year and seeking nomination as a “westerner," is gaining favor with the Old Guard. Capua Waynick, Governor Scott’s campaign manager and a cat with nine lives, politically speaking, reportedly is trying to make up his mind which way to jump. He’s made no secret of the fact that he would like to be governor. But he’s been hearing stories about Scott losing favor and may decide to cut away from the Scott camp, completely. In the past, he has always landed on his feet when he jumped the traces—and he waa in town last week testing the wind to sea which way to juop. Another opinion sampler, Sec retary of State Thad Eure, re portedly getting ambitious, too, no longer is riding the bridge on the ship of state. He’s out pad dling his own canoe. Meanwhile,’ State Treasurer Brandon Hodges is sitting on the ASHEVILLE, N. C.-I951 m. ,^7 <ra> . •: (Courtesy Asheville Chamber of Commerce) UNION LABEL IS LAUDED BY MOTION PICTURE HEAD t ' The “symbol of democratic idealism alid democratic ideolo gy,” is how Eric Johnston, presi dent of the Motion Picture As sociation of America, Inc., (Mr. Big of the Movies”) described the union label in a message to Matthew Woll, president of the Union Label Trades Dept. Mr. Johnston says that the clash be tween democratic and communist i ideologies demands that the im-l porta nee oC the, individual be cm- J phasised as never before. “In this, the union plays its silent but powerful role,” he said. “SEAGRAM” SERVES U. S. FOREIGN RELATIONS JOB New York—A program in in ternational good - will building that proved most successful after nine years of trial, is being ex panded by the “Seagram” Com pany. The company extends in vitations to qualified young sci-j entists from all parts of the world to study, observe and do research at the Seagram plant in Louisville. Ky. sidelines watching it all. He ain’t mad at nobody, and seems to have the faculty to keep both sides happy. Some of the politi cal experts in these parts seem to think that Hodges fs in the beat position of the bunch. You probably heard about Gov ernor Scott recently fulfilling a childhood dream when he bought a bunch of Shetland ponies. They're down at his Haw River farm and he’s planning to raise them. One little nine-year-old girl— Gwendolyn Burgess of Bailey — heard about it, too. Last week! she wrote the governor and want- j ed to know how long it would i take her to buy a pony from him 1 at the rate of 90 cents a week. She said she got a dollar a week allowance, but gave a tenth of it to her church so 90 cents a week was all she could spare. “I thought,” she wrote, “by the time you had some ponies to sell,. | I might have enough money saved up to get one.” The governor was out of town, but the pony-cost question was waiting his return. The State Highway Commis sion wont start any new road paving come cold weather. There are two reasons: One is the need to keep all roads rviHt, jmd the second is the good chance of a hard winter—the last two hav ing been extremefy mild. Main reason the Highway Com mission okayed the uniform mail box plan was a recent visit to Haywood county. Folks up there already have put up the uniform mailboxes, and it's plumb purty to ride along the highways there Fayetteville, N. C. (See picture on Page 3) Fayetteville, “The Friendly City,” where yesterday’s romance and tomorrow’! progress meet today in unique charm and dis tinction, was the first town in the United States to be named for the Marquis de LaFayette. The village was first called Campbellton, then Cross Creek, but in 1783 the name was changed to Fayetteville in honor of the French General who aided the American cause so valuably during the Rev olutionary War. Forty-two years later, on March 4 and 5, 1832, J> Fayette was a special guest of this city. Cumberland County was named for William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland, called the “Bloody Duke,” who commanded the Eng lish forces at the Battle of Cul Center of Fayetteville’s historic life, the State House, was origin ally built about 1780. The General Assembly met there in 1788, 1789, 1790 and 1793. There the Federal Constitution was adopted and the University of North Carolina was chartered in 1789. The great fire of 1831 destroyed the building, and the present structure was erected about 1838. It has also been called the Town House or Town Hall. After the War Between the States it came to be known as the Market House, because meat and produce were sold there under its Moorish arches. Slaves were also sold there “incidental to the disposal of es tates for taxes and indebtedness. On the first of each year household slaves were hired.” The historic landmark has been leased for ninety-nine yean by the City to the Woman’s Club and is now used as a public library._ Many other outstanding his toric spots in and around Fayette ville will appeal to visitors, as well as numerous sites of modern progress. Myrtle Hill on which the new Veterans’ Hoe pita! is located was once the estate of Judge Rob ert Strange. Remnants of the old Confederate breastworks thrown up during the War Between the States are still visible on the grounds, and also a part of the old canal running along the Cape Fear River. Besides its military, religious, in dustrial, political, civic and social priorities, Fayetteville has long ranked high in the educational world. One of the first graded schools in North Carolina was staited here by Dr. Alexander Graham, father of Dr. Frank P. Graham, and for whom the Junior High School is now named. The handsome new -high school build ing is one of the finest in the State. The oldest.State Normal School for Negroes in the United States is still located at Fayetteville. Founded in 1877, it has seen phe nomenal growth. It is now called the State Teachers College. Thus blending past achievement with passant progreaaivenese, the historic Valley City ot the Cape Fear looks with confidence to an even greater community of ex panding usefulness and leadership. Fort Bragg—Located nine miles northwest of Fayetteville, on State Highway No. 87, is Fort Bragg, the largest artillery range in the world, embracing approximately 130.000 acres of land. The Govern ment has spent recently an enor mous sum for new buildings and other improvements. A total of 2,650 new buildings have been built, including three hospitals— one of 250 beds, one of 1,000 beds and one of 2,000 beds; four large cold storage plants; and two huge water tanks—one of 300,000-gallon capacity and one of 1,000,000-gallon capacity. The personnel reached 66.000 on July 1, 1941. This insti tution is a very valuable asset to Fayetteville and to the State of North Carolina, and its personnel is especially appreciated since it is of the highest type and most in operative in every way. While Israel’s agriculture has always been more variegated than that of ether countries of compar able site, a special effort ia now being made to increase that va riety, and at the same time to in crease mechanisation. Funds rea lised through the 1600,000,000 Israel Government bond issue will help achieve this purpose. Crops planted during the past year in clude peanuts and sunflowers, which are used mainly for the pro duction of edible oils, and tobacco. Based on a Turkish blend with a small quantity of Virginia tobacco. There has also been a large in crease in the production of non citrus fruits. ROMMEL AND CHIVALRY “Rommel, The Desert Fox" is a biography of the Nazi commander of the “Africa Corps,” and later of the “Fortress Europa.” The book was written by the British Brigadier Desmond Young, and published by Harper & Bros. ($3.50). Brigadier Young tries to make out a case for General Rom mel, as a great general and as an anti-Nazi, but the author does not stay too long on the fact that Rommeli’s distaste for Hitler came ajt a time when it appeared even to a dolt that the Nazi jig was up. All of this is written in the interest of “chivalry,” and in a foreword, another British general be moans the fact that “chivalry” seems to be dying out. A good book on any German general of the Hitlerian period would be on the “chivalry” of pulling gold fillings out of the mouths of men, women, and children, before taking thqm to the incinerators, or having thousands of human beings dig their own graves and then shoot them in such a way at Rust they’d fall right into the opening, and save the time m German burial squads. I expect that one day some chiral roas Brigadier will kidnap the testimony taken at the Mar—hsrg trials where all of this is recorded with photographs. Brief History Of Asheville Asheville was founded by John Burton in the year 1794. It was called Morristown for a while. John Burton was, in fact, a city planner. He laid out a part of the grant which he secured from the State into forty-two (42) lots of one-half acre each, established streets thrity-three feet wide, and sold many of these lots for $2.60 each. (On the 2nd day of June, 1922, one of Asheville’s streets was named for John Burton, and is known as Burton Street). This new town was sometimes called Buncombe Courthouse. In the year 1797, it was incorporated, and called Asheville, named for Samuel Ashe, an eminent jurist. For the next fifty years the: growth of Asheville was exceed ingly slow, and but little is known of the activities of the little mu nicipality. From the time Asheville was incorporated up and until the year 1849, the town was governed by Commissioners elected from time to time, probably at irregular intervals. The Legislature in 184U passed an Act extending the corporate limits of Asheville. At this time, there were not more than twenty five residences and five brick buildings in Asheville. In 1850, the white population of Asheville did not exceed three hun dred, with probably one hundred seventy-five Negro slaves. In 1861, the Legislature incorp orated the Asheville and Greenville Plark Road Company. This plank road was between Asheville and. Greenville, S. C., and contributed much toward Asheville’s growth. At the close of the war between the States, this plank road was in very bad condition, and in the year 1866 the Charter of the Plank Road Company was repealed. After the building of this turn pike, Asheville became a health resort, and people came to Ashe ville . from all parts of the South. At about the same lima the town begun to attract visitors who were charmed by the scenery and the climate. In 1883, the town of Asheville expanded and made the City of Asheville. The circle boundary was discarded, additional territory be ing annexed at the northeast and west. At the same time, a strip of territory in the shape of a half moon, lying east of Beaucatcher Mountain was dropped from the corDorate limits. In 1886, the City of Asheville scoured its water supply from the old pumping station on the Swan nanoa River, near where the pres ent Asheville Recreation Park is located. In the year 1902, the pres ent North Fork sixteen inch main was built and in 1920-21 the Bee Tree line was built. The city owns a water-shed of 19,000 virgin acres. Reservoirs and standpipe capacity 685,000,000,000 gallons. The supply main extends 38 miles, with gravity flow. The water is exceptionally soft and pure. In 1905 the corporate limits of Asheville were again extended, making the city’s area 5.60 square miles, or the same as the city’s present area lying on the east side of the French Broad River. In the year 1915, the Commis sion form of government was adopt ed and in 1917, West Asheville was included in the corporate limits. West Asheville at that time was incorporated, so the move in 1917 people, the city limits were again extended giving a total area to the City of Asheville of 17.2 square miles. In the 1935 session of the Legislature, by special bills, a por tion of the annexed area was re moved from the city limits, giving the city in 1935 a total area of 14.7 square miles. Industrially, Asheville has been particularly cautious in its de velopment and has not over reached itself. The result is that the in dustries here have grown steadily and all on a solid footing. In 1928, Asheville obtained the finest indus trial plant that had been located in the South in a decade, involving an investment in the community of nearly fifteen million dollar*. In 1933, the industrial plans in the Asheville area, according to the United Statec report, numbered 45. SEEK 5,000 LOCALS Washington.—The AFL Nation al Federation of Post Office Clerks began its annual Bring-a-Brother Campaign January IS with a goal of 126,000 new members and §, 000 locals by May 15. The clerks now have 4,790 locals. AFLers Urged With Raises WASHINGTON.— Wages mutt be raised to compensate for high er cost of living and increased productivity. , The AFL Labor’s Monthly Sur vey says “union members, how ever, have immediate personal re sponsibilities in fighting infla tion” by not rushing to buy scarce consumer goods and by putting higher wages in U.S , Savings Bonds. The survey said: Millions of workers will have more money to spend in 1951. Overtime pay will increase, more will be employed, and wages are rising. Business income will in crease. too, but more of this will be taken in taxes and much of the rest must be spent for plant expansion. This new income, earned by workers and management in man ufacturing military equipment for Uncle Sam, will cost at least $20 billion per year under the pres ent program, even after today’s higher taxes have been paid out of it. Most of the new income will be paid to workers. This mean* that workers will have more money to spend for consumer goods, at a time when there will be fewer goods on the market to buy with it. For production of many consumer items, especially metal goods, is being cut back to save materials and plant capacity for defense work. So when workers’ families go out to buy in 1951, they will find many kinds of goods scarcer—ap pliances, furniture, autos, etc. All of us" must meet this new scarc ity in a sane and sewdlde way « if we want to avoid serious leases. We must recognise that if people rush to buy scarce goods regard less of cost, they will bid up prices to exorbitant new peaks, robbing themselves and everyone else. Bonds The best policy for union mem bers is to: watch prices. If they have risen unreasonably, save your money and buy U. S. Sav ings Bonds. This will help your country and you, because (1) You will help to prevent price rises; (2) You will not waste your own money but save it at interest for future use; (S) Your savings will help Uncle Sam to pay military costs without causing inflation. Wage increases are the work er's only means of advancing his living standards. When higher pay is earned by economies in production, cuts in costs, im provements in the work process, wage increases - cannot cause in flation by forcing employers to raise prices. Those who would link wages and prices without considering increased productivity only bring confusion and do in justice to workers. During the early postwar years and again in 1960, prices have often risen without relation to wages or other, costs, bringing huge profits to American corpor ations. In 1947 a new all-time profit peak was reached, only to be exceeded in 1948, and in 1960 profits have even surpassed the 1948 high. The sacrifices necessary to combat our present inflationary danger must be equally shared by all. The federation proposes first the establishment of volun tary control measures, with agreement by all to share sacri fices jointly and equitably. Until this is done we have no choiee but to protect ourselves by se curing the largest possible wage increases. Business men have advanced their prices rapidly since the Korean war; the index for basic commodities has risen 36 per cent from June 3 to De cember 16, wholesale prices 10 per cent.
The Charlotte Labor Journal and Dixie Farm News (Charlotte, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Feb. 15, 1951, edition 1
1
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75