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Entered at Post Office, Franklin, N. C.. as second clus matter
Published erery Thursday by The Franklin Press
Franklin, N. C. Telephone 24
WmfAft JONES Editor
BOB 8. SLOAN Business Manager
J. P. BRADY News Editor
lOSS BETTY LOU FOUT8 Office Manager
CARL P. CABE Mechanical Superintendent
PRANK A. STARR ETTE Shop Superintendent
DAVID H. SUTTON 8tereotyper
CHARLES E. WHITTINOTON Pressman
SUBSCRIPTION RATES
Outside Macon County Inside Macon County ^
One Year $3.00 One Year 7 $?5>
Six Months . 1.79 Six Months 1.7S
Three Months 1.00 Three Months 1.00
SEPTEMBER 9, 1954
What The Court Said
There's been a lot of balderdash about the Su
preme Court's decision on segregation.
The latest illustration is the argument, advanped
by people and newspapers all over the South, as to
why the Southern States should file briefs with the
court next month on how and when segregation
shall be outlawed in the public schools.
The court has graciously "invited" those states
requiring or permitting segregation to participate
in the discussion, runs the argument ; therefore it is
reasonable to assume the court will listen to the
arguments of those states ? probably accept the
suggestions they offer.
Well, maybe. But let's keep the record straight
on this:
The court has issued no such "invitation" to the
states that practice segregation.
The court used a very different word. The court's
own language, in the May 17 decision, was:
"The attorney general of the United States is
again invited to participate. The attorneys general
of the states requiring or permitting segregation in
public education will also be permitted to appear as
amici curiae upon request to do so by September
15 ... ."
There is a vast difference between being "invited"
to appear and being "permitted" to do so, "upon
request", bv a fixed date. The latter suggests the
attorneys general of the states will be present on
sufferance.
It probably is wise for the Southern states to
file briefs with the court, for the reason that the
states have little to lose, and possibly may gain a
point here and a point there.
To assume anything more than that is to close
?ones eyes to plain facts.
Why The Tax List?
II
In this space last week, some questions were
raised about the list of delinquent taxpayers pub
lished in The Press each year. Following the ques
tions, certain facts bearing on the situation were
cited.
Below is an attempt to answer ? or at least
discuss ? those questions, in the light of the facts
set forth. (W hile towns also levey taxes and ad
vertise property on which the taxes are unpaid,
this discussion will be confined to the county.)
Why is the delinquent tax list ? some ten news
paper columns long, this year ? published in the
paper?
It is required by state law.
The law sets October 1 as the date on which the
year's taxes are due. (That is, 1953 taxes were due
October 1, 1953; 1954 taxes will be due the first
day of next month.)
Under the law, according to County Attorney R.
S. Jones, the county is required to advertise real
estate on which taxes have not been paid. The ad
vertisement must appear in four successive issues of
a newspaper of general circulation in the county ?
if there is such a newspaper.
The property may be advertised as early as April,
May, June, or July; it may not be postponed later
than the last four issues of the newspaper prior to
the first Monday in September. That is the practice
in this county.
What happens after the list is published?
If, after four publications, the taxes still remain
_anaaiUiJhc_county tax collector (who, in this coun
ty, also is sheriff) is required to offer, at public
auction, tax liens on the property.
Any person may buy one or more of these tax
liens, at the auction. If he doefc, he may, after a
wait of a year, sue in court and get a judgment
against the property. If no individual buys the liens
? and usually no one does ? the county always
does ; and it may, after a fixed period of time, fore
close on the property on which taxes remain unpaid.
The fact that, in recent years, the county has not
done this does not mean it cannot, or that it may
not do so again, as it sometimes has in the past.
Is there any advantage ? or disadvantage ? to
the taxpayer in postponing the payment of his
taxes until after they are advertised?
The only possible advantage is it enables him to
hold on to the money a little longer. (See further
comments on this in next week's issue.)
The disadvantages are added costs ? and pos
sibly embarrassment at being publicly labeled one
who is slow to pay his taxes.
The added costs are not great, in dollars and
cents ? but may be very large, in proportion. The
county charges the taxpayer 15 cents per line for
each insertion of the taxpayer's name, etc., in the
paper. For four insertions, that is 60 cents. And the
law gives the tax collector a fee of 50 cents per
name for the public outcry of the tax liens. That's
a total of $1.10, which is added to the amount of
the taxes.
That is a high proportionate cost for a large
number of taxpayers. Of those whose property was
advertised this year, for example, more than a third
owed less than $5 in taxes. Adding costs of $1.10
means the taxpayer is paying about 20 per cent in
terest to keep his $5 or less a little longer.
And if he still waits, there are more costs : a
charge of six per cent interest on the taxes, plus
the advertising and auction costs. That interest con
tinues until payment is made. And ultimately the
taxes must be paid. Sometime the owner, or his
heirs, will want to sell the property. Usually, a
purchaser will not buy property on which taxes are
unpaid; and if he does, he is sure to deduct the
amount of taxes from the purchase price, so that
the owner pays them, directly or indirectly.
Why do so many Macon County people fail to
pay their taxes when they are due?
Is it because they can't ? because they just don't
have the money?
The evidence suggests that is not the reason;
because last year the office of Tax Collector J. Har
ry Thomas collected a record 98 per cent of the
1952 taxes. That is to say, all but a tiny 2 per cent
of Macon County property owners did pay their
taxes; so they must have had the money. In fact,
about one out of five paid his taxss, plus added
costs.
Why, then, do so many takpayers wait?
There may be as many answers as there are de
linquent taxpayers, but it probably is a good guess
that, in most cases, it is nothing but a matter of
neglect ? and habit.
Correction
In last week's editorial, "Why The Tax/List?", it
was incorrectly said that the county taxes due on
the real estate advertised for sale amounted to
"only about one per cent" of the total 1953 county
levy. It should have read, "only about ten per
cent". Stating the same thing in other words, the
editorial said that, though one-fifth of the taxpay
ers were delinquent, their taxes represented "only
one one-hundredth" of the taxes. It should have
said "only one-tenth" of the taxes.
The courage of the American Legion, it would
seem, knows no bounds. Last week, in national
convention assembled, the Legion boldly attacked
the Girl Scouts.
The people of Western North Carolina call the
season just ahead "Nature's Colorama", says an
Asheville Chamber of Commerce release.
Well, now . . . A few of 'em call it "autumn", a
good many "Indian Summer", and most just plain
"fall". But "Nature's Colorama"? Name one who
calls it that !
That man Is a success who has lived well, laughed often,
and loved much; who has gained the respect of Intelligent
men and the love of children; who has filled his niche and
accomplished his task; who leaves the world better than he
found It, whether by an Improved poppy,], a perfect poem, or a
rescued soul; who never lacked appreciation of earth's beauty
or failed to express It; who looked for the best In others and
gave the best he had.? Robert Louis Stevenson.
? Letters
SAYS ANIMAL SHELTER NEEDED
Dear Mr. Jones:
The report of my trial U gratefully appreciated, and I thank
you for giving It prominence, for It emphasizes the great need
for an animal shelter In Macon County. I have restored a
number of hounds to owners. One, discovered when I went to
ring the Sunday school bell, had been horribly clawed by a
wild animal. He was the children's pet and they had searched
for him three weeks.
Unvaccinated, starving strays, especially the females, are a
menace to everyone. Dr. Burnslde has put so many to sleep for
me, he and I have lost track of the number. Dr. and Mrs.
Burnside have cooperated in every way and their absence de
prived me of essential witnesses. I have always observed the
vaccination law and the rabies quarantine whenever imposed.
The dogs never run during the night hours. Apparently the law
prohibiting that is known to very few people, though It is very
old and covers every square foot of North Carolina:
"No one who owns, boards or harbors a dog over six months
old shall permit it to run between dark and daylight, unless
accompanied by owner, or by some one designated by owner to
accompany dog." The fine Is twenty-five dollars or thirty days
for each offence.
i
Only I know the extent of my husband's dependence on
the companionship of the dogs he has had so many years. To
deprive him of that comfort, or to let one whisper of this af
fair reach him, would, I am sure, be the final disaster for his
afflicted heart.
I feel that The Press is the only medium through which
those who wish to establish a local unit of the Society for the
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals can locate other residents
of the county who are aware of the great need for this service.
I am. sure your cooperation will receive grateful acknowledg
ment from many readers.
Let us all remember these lines:
"The bleat, the bark, the bellow, the roar,
Are waves that beat on Heaven's shore."
Sincerely yours,
Franklin, N. C.
MARGARET ORDWAY.
Others' Opinions
CANINE QUIETER
(Chapel Hill News Leader)
Two recent visitors to the Monogram Club's dining-room in
cluded a portly English gentleman and his taciturn American
companion. The repast concluded, the two made their way to
the dining-room's boniface, the genial and dapper Frank West.
"Aw, I would be delighted, old chap," the hearty Briton con
fided to Mr. West and the four corners of the dining-room, "If
you would be so kind as to provide me with the recipe for
those delectable, aw, dog-silencers. Eh? What?"
It was now Mr. West's turn to say, "Eh? What?"
"Dog-silencers," the Englishman repeated. "Simply ripping,
I must say! Dog-silencers, what? Doncher know, eh?"
Mr. West did not know. But the Englishman's companion
knew, and became untaclturn long enough to explain:
"He means hush-puppies."
STRICTLY
PERSONAL
By WEIMAR JONES
Why, I often wonder, do so
many of us promise to do
things, and then never do them
?or, at least, fall to do them
when we say we will?
There are occaslons,"of course)
when unforeseen circumstances
make It Impossible for us to
keep a promise. But those are
the rare exceptions. And It Isn't
unforeseen circumstances that
make us promise to do things
we know at the time we cannot
do, or that we have no inten
tion of even trying to do.
All of us experience this fail
ure of folks to keep their prom
ises. We want a piece of work
done; nlpe times out of ten the
person who agrees to do it
doesn't start it until he's brok
en at least a couple of promises
about when he will start It. We
ask somebody to serve as an of
ficer or as a committee chair
man of a community organiza
tion; they agree? and a lot of
times that's ALL they ever do.
And so It goes, in almost every
department of life.
If some reader is asking him
self, "Is he talking about me?",
the answer Is, "If the shoe fits,
wear It"! t
I am not, however, thinking
of any one person or any one
group. I am thinking of US; I
am compelled to say "us", be
cause I cannot discuss this sub
ject without remembering how
sometimes we at The Press have
promised a job of printing by a
certain time? and failed to get
It ready by that time.
Why do we do it? Why don't
we Just say, "No, I can't come
then": or "No. I can't tak? on
that club responsibility"; or
"No, I am not Interested In do
ing what you ask me to do, so
I know I won't do It, and I
might as well tell you so now"?
I suspect there are several
reasons.
I would guess that one of
them Is laziness. We are too
lazy to think through our sched
ule and really decide If we can
do a certain thing by a certain
time; or, If we've done that, we
are too lazy to so push our
work as to be able to do what
we've promised, when we've
promised.
A second reason, I suspect. Is
cowardice. We Just havent the
courage to say "no". So we go
through life saying "yes"? and
getting ourselves and everybody
else In trouble.
Finally, It probably Is a mis
guided politeness. We want to
be agreeable, to do what the
other fellow wants us to do; so
we agree to anything anybody
wants us to agree to, without
much thought about whether
we can or will do what we're
agreeing to do.
Most of us wouldn't call It
lying; we'd say it was thought
lessness or politeness or some
thing of that sort. We'd say we
"don't mean any harm by it".
And we don't. But we surely DO
a lot of harm by It.
If we'd Just be honest ? with
ourselves, as well as with oth
ers ? we'd save ourselves a lot
of unnecessary and embarrass
ing explaining; and we'd save
the other fellow a lot of wasted
time and disappointment and
Inconvenience ? and raised blood
:1
News Making
As ft Looks
To A Maconite
? Wr BOB 8LOU
few*. u * UC IUUCTIUC ViblOCU
which wanned me right down
to the soles of my shoes. It
really did me good, and I don*
think I have ever seen a car
toon which more concisely ex
pressed my feelings on an lssua
than this one did.
The drawing pictured Uncle
Sam handing out aid by the
basketfull to a somhreroed In
dividual (possibly from Texas)
who Is labeled Drought Aid Re
quests. Lying Immediately be
hind the aid requester Is a sign
which he has presumably
knocked down In rushing to
Uncle Sam with outstretched
hand. The sign reads, "State
Rights To Federal Offshore
Lands. Uncle Sam Go Home.
Old Uncle cant help but ask
as he gives assistance, "You are
sure this doesn't violate any
State Rights?"
I really liked that one.
By all means drought relief
should be given to the stricken
areas. But it should be made
very plain that the relief Is
coming from the federal gov
ernment and those politicians
who rode the state rights is
sue so hard should have to eat
a little crow.
After all, out in Texas Allan
Shivers won the Democratic
nomination for governor chief
ly because he proclaimed that
he kept all the revenue from
the offshore oil l?nds far the
schools in Texas rather than
let it help Improve the schools
throughout the United States.
An uncharitable person mlghW
say, "Let them get their drought^
relief from those funds rather
than take our tax money."
? ? *
There is strong evidence that
the realization that war on a
major scale will just about be
the end of our civilization.
Twenty years ago if United
States citizens were still impris
oned by another country, if two
of our officers had been killed
by enemy artillery fire, and one
of our planes shot down by en
emy planes, the cry for us to
go to war would be long and
loud. Today, people are inclined
to take more, but some day the
bully is going to have to be
stopped. When will it be?
? ? *
Reason number two ? Why
Trade at Home. Often times you
hear people say, "Well I would
buy here in Franklin, but I
can't find what I want." The
best way to get the local mer
chants to Increase their stock
of goods is to try to find every
thing here first. The more we
buy at home the more capital
the merchants have to Increase
their stock of goods with and
the better knowledge they have
of the demands of their con
sumers. Buy at home and help
build a bigger and better trad
ing center in your home town
Instead of the neighboring
towns.
Do You
Remember?
(Looking backward through
the fllea of The Preaa)
SO TEARS AGO THIS WEEK
Mr. T. C. Bryson was elected
moderator and Mr. H. D. Dean
clerk, at the meeting of the
Baptist Association for Macon
County here last week.
Just received at the Press Job
office ? fine typewriter Mani
folding paper. ? Advertisement.
Mr. J. D. Mallonee received
his license Monday to practice
law.
25 TEARS AGO
The Press Is Informed that
Mr. Jim Mann, who has been
state game and forestry warden
for Macon County, has given
up this post and that Mr. Fred
Slagle has been appointed his
successor.
Mr. and Mrs. Harry Thomas
left last week for Darrlngton,
Wash., to make It their future
home.
10 TEARS AGO
The town board, at a meet
ing Monday night, made an*
proprlatlons for rest benches W>
be placed along Phillips Street,
near the Square and the Jail,
J. O. Harrison, mayor, an
nounced this week.
Second Lieutenant Horace C.
Hurst, of Franklin, navigator on
a B-17 flying fortress, has
been awarded the third Oak
Leaf Cluster to the Air Medal.