North Carolina Newspapers

aa Xa 1 THE ENTERPRISE VOLUME XL?NUMBER 10 Williamston. Martin County. North Carolina. Tuesday. February 2. 1937 ESTABLISHED 1899 COUNTY UNABLE1 TO GET MENTAL CASE IN HOSPITAL Appeal To Legislature Now Being Considered by County Officials County officers, including the sheriff, clerk of court, welfare and health department heads, after re peated efforts to enter a mental pa tient in a state institution, were con siderably upset and bewildered when they were a day or two ago again notified by the State Hospital authorities that there eras no room for the unforate one there Flabbergasted by the injustice .if the whole situation and the condi Gbn of the patient fomuust m their minds, the courthouse group freely disrn?d the caae yesterday, the* conversation automatically turning i to the lavish expenditures that are' being made by the state while un - j fortunate humanity pleads far at tention at the crossroads of life lie! Albemarle Bridge project, a sore sub - ject in the strictly rural centers, crept into the conversation time and again. Appropriations for this and that were also mentioned in com parison with the shameful and downright disgraceful absence of action when it comes to the proper care of the institutions for the less fortunate. Recent reports indicate there are 100 or more cases in the state sun - ilai but probably not as bad as the one in this county, that are refused admittance to state institutions. Resolutions, pleading for a remedy of the Situation, are to be placed before the legislators this week, lo cal officers actually praying that the problem may receive serious consid eration. About 65 years old. the patient in question in this county requires the constant attention of several people. At times it is necessary to tie her with ropes to protect the lives and property of others, it is understood It is just one of those extremely pa thetic cases where the state shirks its duty by failing or refusing to meet its responsibilities. Security Life Co. Re|x>rts Big Year Holding iU annual stockholders" meeting in Winston-Salem this week, the Security Life Insurance Company reported an unusually sue cessful business during the past year. Leslie T. Fowden. general agent, and J. Paul Simpson, special agent, with headquarters here, said today. Messrs Fowden ai pointed out that their 1936 increased iU by more than 16 per cent over the previous year, or more than 14 per cent above the average gain report ed by all insurance companies. The company increased its assets by half million dollars last year, and the funds now available for protection of policyholders, in addition to the amount required by law. total 000. In his annual message. Egbert L Davis, president, said. "IXinng the past year the general trend in the affairs of the Security Life and Trust Company has been distinctly encouraging, and prospects for the future are exceedingly favorable." The Security Life & Trust Com pany is one of the mam operators in this section, its business in the district showing marked gams year in and year out under the direc tion of its general and special agents, Messrs. Fowden and Simp Legion Auxiliary To Meet In Williamston Saturday The American Ltfi of the John Walton will hold its regular Saturday, February ?, at J p. m. in the home at Mrs, Dean Speight, of Williamston, it day by Mrs. R. H. dent of the auxiliary. Preparing Papers lor the Return of Olrrer Grimes Papeis for the return at Oliver Grimes, colored i county Jpr the Birhsnl Smith, prepared in Raleigh fore last far the 14-year-old stated he Several days will be handle the papers, but it is lieved Pennsylvania's G) liarle win C B. the < Not Single Freeze in January; Rainfall Heaviest on Record This section had its heaviest rain fall last month since July. 1935. ac cordin (to records kept by Hugh Spruill on the Roanoke River here. The total precipitation was 7 91 inches, the heaviest rainfall reported in January since the weather sta tion was established here mere than six years ago. Rains fell on 27 of the 31 days during the period, and only on one or two of the other days did the sun shine from morning until evening. The Roanoke, despite heavy local rains, did not reach the high point recorded a year ago. Reaching a crest of 14 feet last Wednesday, the river today stands at 11 1-2 feet, or about 12 inches out of its banks. No additional rises are predicted just now, but the stream is falling very slowly. Temperature readings were far above normal during the month, old timers admitting that it was the first January in their memory that there wasn't even a slight freeze. Hospital for County Under Consideration 1^ DOUBLE TROUBLE Married in Williamston last month. Mrs. C. K Abernathy. formerly Miss Katy Ka Uterine rkelps daughter of Mrs J. A. Mam. of this county, is bar ing (rankle and more (rookie. Fanni a killing charge in Hope well. Va., (he 18-year-old girl will go an trial there this month. The husband was taken tram her nde last Thursday to face a felony charge in Blackstonr. Va. The bride of three weeks will face trial alone, the court in Hopewell having released her hnshand on condition that be stays away from there. Town Board Holds Regular Meeting D C Here Last Night Favors Diverting Highway Money To Towns and Cities of State Meeting in regular session last evening, the local town commission ers did little more than talk about the weather, the minutes of the con fabulation showing the commission ers in favor of a proposed bill to allocate $2,500,000 to the mainte nee of highways in cities and rns The North Carolina League of Muncipalities is sponsoring the proposed legislation, but there is ne doubt if the sponsors will get far unless they amend their wants and include building a roof over Albemarle Sound. The board struck an economy note, about the first sounded in | months, when it ordered one cf its up-town police telephones discon Their attention called to the "dis graceful" alley leading oft Church Street, the commissioners ordered a carload of rock ordered and the mud holes in the half-block drive filled ?L The remainder of the rock, or a greater part of it, will be stored few use in repairing paved streets. Several Schools Reopen In County Tomorrow All but three Martin County hools?Oak City, Hamilton and llamell will return to regular oper ? - a . m a flf. 1 , ? .. . -* - n| scneauies weanesaay. tne board of county education office an amced today. Oak City. Hami! next Monday after a holiday of eight days. Robersonville. Events Gold Point rloaed last week and Farm Life called off its opera tion yesterday, but clam work will in all but three of the in the county tomorrow. Williamston and Bear to kivesti"ating Need,' ~ C 7* Costs and Sources ot Outside Assistance; Property Revaluation Gets Consideration at Meet Held Monday Discussing the possibility of estab lishing a hospital in Martin County, the board of commissioners in reg ular meeting Monday took no defi nite action in the matter at that time. Chairman J. E. Pope stating later that the appointment of a com mittee to make an investigation as to the need aid costs was being con sidered. Any action will be subject to approval of the full board at the next meeting, the chairman ex plained. The board at its meeting this week regarded the proposed un dertaking as being too extensive, but the members were said to be willing to aid the movement. In other words, should an organization undertake to promote a hospital the county would possibly render some aid It is understood that a prelim inary and unofficial investigation is being considered with the view of determining the exact need, costs, and the extent the Federal govern ment and other agencies would par ticipate in the undertaking Revaluation of property was again considered and discussed by the board, but no action was taken. It is the opinion of the board that a revaluation is badly needed, and the members are proceeding on the theory that one will be made. How ever. it is possible that a horizontal increase or decrease will be ordered as a substitute. Definite action is expected at the next regular meet ing Routine duties required consider able time of the commissioners, who mere late in the evening getting a way from their work The monthly report of the county welfare de , |Partment. hied by Miss Mary Tay | lor, superintendent, received very favorable comment, the commission ers mentioning the reduced cost of the work since the department was reorganized. During the past month, the department reported expendi tures in the sum of $1,255.64, as fol | lows Salaries and travel, $120.83: [office ?xpense. $1206; county poor ! relief (small sums paid direcdy to 'the less fortunate) $259; drugs, ?72735. county borne, $33265 hoi pitalixatH-n. $438: miscellaneous. ? 55875: mothers' aid. $38: and pau ' per bunals $17. A portion of the j money spent for hospitalization has been repaid by patients, it .was ex plained. ~ The commissioners filed recom mendations urging the highway commission to take over several loads, including the one beginning at the intersection of the Peel road, near Jesse Keel farm in Bear Grass Township, extending via Lewis Taylor's farm to the "Five-Cent Road." a distance of about 700 yards. The construction of a bridge over Reedy Swamp, near Roberaon'sj ChapeL was also recommended. And the board would have the commis sion take over the road known as Gus's Lane in Cross Roads. On motion of R L Perry, second ed by C. A. Roberson. the board went on record as favoring the con | struction of hard-surface roads in ! Griffins Township before another foot of concrete in poured anywhere else in the county. Gnffins is the may marten a?the roomy now without a foot of hard-surface on its roads. A resold' ion was passed for refl $15,000 past-due school of the county. AMENDMENT ON CHILD LABOR IS KILLED, 58 TO 47 Tobacco Compact Measure, Stripped of Amendments, Passed by the House The lower house cf North Caro lina's General Assembly last evening voted 58 to 47 to continue the state's youth in bondage by killing the res olution to ratify the Federal child labor amendment Refusing for the third time to ratify the amendment, the legislature makes history as it enters the fifth week of the 193? session. Action by the House was contrary to the police of the Fed eral administration, and was based on state's lights. While it is possible for the state assembly to pass certain labor laws, any such action will meet with al most certain failure if similar law; are net enacted in a major it> of all the oti.cr states Representative H G. Hoi ton voted for the adoption of the amendment, but the opposition 'polled *ti strength from eaVt and j west to kill the measure The tobacco compact bill, dripped of all amendments, passed the house Monday night and sent it to | the Senate. There was little con certed action against the bill, bui 'a few legislators were outspoken iii their opinions rating the measure us undemocratic, unfair, and unreason able. Pressing along in its work, the legislature is now lining up to tackle the sales tax and liquor problems, reports stating that at least two liquor bills will reach the law makers some time this week Christianity Great Need of China. Savs Missionary Here Dr. Lula Disosway Tells of Rapid Material Gains China Is Making "The greatest need of China and its 400.000,000 people today is re ligion. not denominational religion but Christianity." Dr. Lula Disosway returned Episcopal missionary said in an interesting lecture delivered in the Church of the Advent here Material progress is advancing rapidly, great strides after a modem j fashion having followed in the pas*| four or five years, giving rise to a ? greater and more urgent need for Christianity and missionary work in that great country. Dr. Disosway interestingly re viewed her experience gained during 10 years of service as a medical missionary in St Elizabeth's Hospi tal. Shanghai." Untold suffering stands out in the history* of China and its millions, but China is mak ing progress. Dr. Disosway stating that preventive medicine was being carried to the masses, that the gov ernment at last was cooperating with the movement and had required all mid wives V register and quali - fy for their work. The missionary explained in detail; the operation of a hospital in that, great city of millions and pointed! out the obstacles and disadvantages j that have to be met and overcome daily. The continuance of the work is dependent upon the support giv en by the churches in this country. Two Bertie Men Hurt in Accident Two men. Moses Rascoe ?nd M. C. Matthews. Bertie colored men. were badly but believed not seriously hurt internally and a property loss conservatively estimated at $2,000 : exulted when two trucks crashed on U. S Highway #4. between Rob ersonvilie and Everetts. last Satur day morning at 9 30 o'clock- Rascoe' and Matthews are in a Windsor hospital. Driving his lather's 1933 empty truck. Rascoe was said to have turned into the side of a Martin County Transfer Company truck and trailer driven by J. D. Bullock, of Robrrsonville Tearing into the truck and trailer With tremendous force, the Rascoe truck tore away part nf the cab and tplmimJ the trailer. The machine driven by Rascoe was torn to pieces, and work men removed the pieces with scoops Bullock was not hurt, and a third man in the Rascoe truck es caped injury. Rascoe stated he saw a car park ed on the shoulder to his right, that he turned to him left when he lUjfii the car was moving to the concrete Road Claims Commission Submits Report; Favors Referring County Claims To Highway Commission Red Cross Collection for Flood Relief Totals $700 in County Bolstered by 3 $30.17 donation from Williamstnn school children and a $25 contribution by Mr. J Mckinimun Saunders, of the Saun ders & Cox lumber plant, and in- j creased sums from the Bear Uras> j school and other thoughtful i ltiren.; j the Martin County chapter of the. American Reu Cross today had sub- j scribed nearly six times Its original j quota for relict of flood victims in the Ohio and Mississippi River Yal leys Chairman Harry A. biggs1 stated thai $426.40 had been con-' iributcd and turwarued to the iteo Cro.-., headquarters, where credit will bo given the chapter. The Roberscnvillc chapter, an in dividual unit, is mooting with mark- | od success in its collection, last re ports state, and the contribution there addcu to donations made to oilier chapters outside the county will swell the total advanced by Martin people to'" approximately lieved. it,. | caple of this county have iajci v.uiingly and liberally to tt.i i all ol the hundreds of thous ands who are in need in tne Hood stricken areas in a uoacn states TO HOLD FARMED MEET AT COURT HOUSE SATURDAY Farmers Urged To Hear 1937 Soil Program Explained All Martin County farmers are in vited and urged to attend an educa tional meeting in the county court house Saturday afternoon of this week promptly at 2 o'clock. J. F. Criswell. of the State Extension Di vision. will attend and explain the 1937 soil conservation program, the meeting being considered of much importance, according to an an nouncement coming irom the office of the county agent. Every farmer, large or small, is ur^ed to be pres ent. Information having to do with al lotments. payments and other fea tures of the new 1937 soil -conserva tion program will be offered, i The soil conservation program 'county and township committees are! to meet that morning in the court house. it was also announced. Ilasscll People (?ive' S2T> To Flood Fund The citizens of Hassell went over lhe top with a strong support for needy humanity in the flood-strick en areas lr. Ih$? Ohm and Mississippi Valleys, the little community re porting through Mr John W Eu-! ranks >25 collected todate. The Hassell contributions, just re ceived here, swells the total for the Martin County Red Cross Chapter to $451 40 Donations were made as follows: J W Et.?banks, 52; P. C. Edmund son, $1.: Sc'ii Wealhei\ 50 < _*n's; Allen Weathc^shce, 25 cents; R. H. Salsbui >. $1. Elsie Crisp. 50 cents; J A. liar lip. $1. A K. Purvis, $1; ?>. W. Dunn, $1. J 11 Knox 50 cents; Grover Knox. 25 cents; II. L. Rives, $1. A F Weaver, M Seth Wil liams. 25 cent*; Mrs. H. J Haislip, SI. Mrs. J T Haislip, 25 cents; N B Bland. 50 cents; A. E Downs, $1; | J. T. llaislip. 50 Cents; R. A. Hai slip. $2; G S Haislip. $1; C. C. Ua\Vi 25 cents. Wiley Goodrich, 5o cents; J. D. Ether idge, 51; E. C. Edmondson. $1. C. H. Leggette, $1; [C. L. Nelson. $1, F. T. Burnette, $1.75 and a friend, $1. The fund raised so far in the na tion now stands slightly over the ten million dollar mark, hut the need continues. In 1927 the Red Cross spent 17 millions aiding vic tims along the Mississippi. 20,000 Pounds of Poultry Shipped Shipping 19.889 pounds of poultry cooperatively last week. Martin County fanners received $3,104.16, County Agent Brandon explaining that very unfavorable weather and bad roads held the offerings down Loading liW pounds ? James viUe. farmers in that section re ceived $232 50 At Williamston 10, 367 pounds were loaded and brought $1.61960; Robersonville. 4,090 pounds for $62555, and Oak City. 3.983 pounds for $626.51. Plans are now being considered for Uie operation of a second car < n the same schedule sometime during the latter part of this month, the agent's office said today. BIG PREPARATIONS I ? Martin County farmers, ur many of Uieni, are making prep arations in a big way for a big tobacco crop this coming sea son. according to reports from the office of the county agent this week. During January, Assistant County Agent L. T. Weeks slat ed. the office cleaned 327 pounds of tobacco seed for 274 farmers, a quantity sufficient to plant 54. 1*40 acres of tobacco. No such acreage is even an ticipated, but the growers are taking extensive action to fore *ta? any possible plant short age. The value of the seed probably averages around 50 cents an ounce, the 5,232 ounces cleaned representing at least $2,610 worth of seed. Some pedigreed satieties bring $1 an ounce. State Legion Officers To Attend District Meeting Hereon 8tli i ? Disabled Veterans Urged To Present Unsettled Claims to Officers Holding a district meeting in the Martin County courthouse next Mon day. American Legion officials will contact disabled veterans with un settled claims, and all veterans in the district are urged to be pres ent that necessary attention can be Riven tlieir claims. Bruce Stubble field. executive secretary of the nu lional rehabilitation committee of he American Legion, and State Serv ice Officer Jack P. Lang will accom pany Department Commander Wiley M Pickens on his tour of the dis tricts. following the conference for han dling claims, a meeting of all dis turt legion officials and heads or llie several legion auxiliaries and legionnaires 'a ill hold a meeting in the courthouse at 3:45 o'clock. Sup per will he served al 6 30 An in teresting program has been arrang ed. and some interesting topics in connection with legion legislation and other important matters will be d iscussed. Negro Wanted Here Is Jailed in Winston [ Wanted here for the theft of a j cow from Farmer M. D. Wilson, j Dave Melton, jr., 18 ypars old. was (arrested in Winston-Salem lasl i Week on a charge oif breaking and J entering, local police were notified yesterday. Melton will be returned here for trial, but hardly before he j P?y? his debt to the stete for the alleged crime in Forsyth County, i The boy is alleged to have stolen Farmer Wilson's cow here just be fore Christmas and sold her in Greenville. He pocketed the money and had not been heard from until the Winston-Salem authorities picked him up. Melton was said to have been the one who stole a cow from Dr J. S Rhodes here several months ago, be came frightened and returned the cow, claiming he had found her. The boy was said to have accepted a reward Melton has faced other cow-stealing charges end wai con nected with tha murder ol William Lanier, colored man, on East Church t Street here last summer. Trend of Report Is Against Refunding Money To Counties Chairman Bailey of Opinion Some Inequalities and Inequities Exist Appointed seven months ago to investigate the claims of several counties to refund- from the State Highway Commission, the special commission yesterday rendered its report, the fact-finding gioup toss ling the problem unsolved into the hands of the all-powerful and steam roller highway body By J vote of 7 to 2?Chairman Carl Bailey, of Roper, and William B Campbell, of Wilmington, dis senting?tliec laims commission rec ommended to the General Assembly and to Governor Hoey that the High way Commission be empowered to make refunds but that cash refunds should be made "only when the exi gencies of a particular situation de mand." The claims commissioners' report said that they did not regard cash (refunds as the "proper method of adjusting any such inequities as may exist." Dissenters in the re port, which was submitted to the legislature yesterday, signed it along with the majority, however. Bailey. Campbell, and Jule K. Warren, of Trenton, the report said, I "are of the opinion that some in equities and inequalities exist, the working out of which would prob ably require refunds to be made to certain of the claiming counties," which were not named. "Probably no large sum" would be necessary for tins, these commissioners were represented as believing. The report said the commissioners Were unable to decide from the mass of claims and statistics presented be fore them what was necessary to be done with the claims, but admitted "that some inequities probably exist a: among the various counties of the state " These, it was said, werp not regarded as being "greater than must of necessity have been created in the administration of the road af lans of the state by any highway commission which could have serv ed it " Appointed only last summer al though their appointment had been^ authorized "by the. 1113b General As sembly. the commissioners began work last July, holding hearings in Raleigh and in Asheville Charles Ross, general coun ol of the High way commission, ri presented the state. He declared m a brief filed w ith the commissioners that none of the claims should be paid in cash and urged, instead, the further de velopment of the highway system in the injured counties." The commissioners recommended in tins connection that the highway commission "be charged with the further responsibility of .continu ously seeking m its program of maintenance and construction to gradually eliminate and adjust all such inequalities as may exist. The report made it clear, how ever, that the "oemmission does not regard the counties which have filed claims with it to be entitled to ex clusive preferential consideration in the future, and all recommendations I . . with reference to adjustments, 'to be made of any possible inequities (are intended to be inclusive of all [the counties of the state and not re 'stricted to those having filed claims 'with this commission." Small Fire Monday On Warren Street Williamston's volunteer firemen answered their second call of the year yesterday morning at 10:20 o' clock. when fire threatened the home of Mr. and Mrs. J. J, Street on Warren Street just off Haughton. Starting from a defective flue, the fire was gaining considerable head way when the fiie-fighting appar atus, started with difficulty at the station, was stopped at the scene. No official estimate on the loss could be had, Mr. Street stating that dam age resulting to his furniture would probably exceed $150. The building, a small two-story structure owned by Sid Mobley, was damaged some over $100, it was estimated. No insurance was carried on the contents or building.