MAM EVER"* PAY DAY BONO DAY THE ENTERPRISE tt Par Vktary iTdifin! BONDS STAMPS VOLUME XLV?NUMBER 36 Williamiton, Martin County, North Carolina, Tuetday, May 5, 1942. ESTABLISHED 1899 Applicants Request Large Number Tires Of Rationing Board Current Requests Are Larger Than Quotas and Carry over Increases While a large majority of the pop ulation continues to live most of the time on turning wheels, there are quite a few who are learning the real meaning of rationing. The ma tority can well prepare for a jolt, for it is coming and coming soon, ap parently. Yesterday, manufacturers of about 400 steel products received meaningful instructions. They were told to substitute other articles for steel, join in the war production program or close down for the dura tion. About the only thing the mo torist can do is stop riding. The ra tioning board, reviewing applica tions filed by Martin County motor ists, finds that there are requests for 96 tires. 21 auto, 72 truck and three tractor. awaiting consideration. There are also 85 requests for tubes. It ia estimated that the requests al ready on file will absorb the remain der of the May quota and that for June and July. Many of the applications are near ly two months old, the board mem bers explaining that certificates of purchase are allotted according to classification, that the requests in high-rating classifications must be filled first even though the applica tions in those cases are filed weeks after those in the lower classifica tions. Truck tires and tubes were allot ted this week to the following: Slade-Rhodes and Company, Ham ilton, one tire and tube for general farm hauling. Harry B. Thompson, Williamston, two truck tires and tube for logging. Roberson Slaughter House, Wil liamston, four tires and five tubes, for wholesale delivery of meats. Frank F,. Carstarphen, Williams ton, one tire and tube for fuel deliv eries. Two auto tires and two tubes were allotted to John A. Ward, mail car rier, Williamston. Applications for tires and tubes were filed by the following since the meeting of the rationing board last Week: R. A. Haislip, Oak City, two car tiros and tubes for general farm hauling Toba Bowen, Williamston RFD, car tire and tube for use in fighting forest fires. . Clyde Waters, Williamston, four car tires ior use ffi conveying de fense workers on WPA project. Mrs Eva Avant, two recapped tires for use as assistant WPA supervisor R. H. Salsbury, Hassell, two ob solete tires and tubes for general farm hauling. J. T. Gurganus, Williamston, two truck tires and tube for fuel deliv eries. Martin County Transfer Company, Robersonville, four truck tires and tubes for use as a common carrier. W. Samuel Faulk, Williamston, four truck tires for ice deliveries. Frank F. Carstarphen, Williams ton, one truck tire and tube for fuel deliveries. Control Of Prices Expected To Hold Down Living Costs ? Leaf Tobacco in List of Items Uncontrolled by the President's Plan While the action is not quite clear, the Office of Price Administration working in close cooperation with the President's seven-point program, is out to hold down llvlrtg costs by controlling prices on thousands of items and leaving others uncontrol led. The main points of the maximum price regulation issued this week by the Office of Price Administration follow: beginning Hay IS, retail prices, with few exceptions, must not ex ceed the highest levels which each individual seller charged during March. Beginning May 11, manufacturer and wholesale prices and the prices of wholesale and industrial services must not exceed the highest March levels for each seller. Beginning July 1, no one may charge more for services sold at re tail in connection with a commod ity than he charged during March. Effectively immediately, all retail ers, wholesalers, mnaufacturers and sellers of services must preserve records of sales made during March for maximum-pricing purposes when the ceiling goes into effect. Controlled Prices? These every day articles are controlled by price restructions: Bread, beef, pork, sugar, fluid milk, cream, ice cream, canned meats, canned seafood, canned veg etables, canned soups, cereals, lard, coffee, tea, clothing, dry goods, yard goods, salt, soap, fuel, cigarets, cig ars, pipes, chewing tobacco, drugs, toilet articles, furniture, hardware, farming supplies. Uncontrolled Prices?These every (Continued on page six) Costly Forest Fires Reported In This County During April Believed to have been of incendi ary origin or the result of gross care lessness. three fires swept through thousands of acres of valuable tim berland in this county last month, according to an unofficial report heard in reliable circles this week. In addition to the three big fires there were a dozen smaller ones, burning thirty acres or less of woods land. Centered in Griffins and James ville Townships and in a part of Bear Grass, the main fires did a dam age estimated at between $75,000 and $100,000, authorities describing the loss as the most extensive one re ported in the county in recent years. Representatives of the forest protec tion service were slow in discussing the origin of the fires, but it is un derstood that most of them were started during the night. They swept over large areas, destroying rapidly all small growth and in some cases fairly old timber. Working night and day, seven days a week during a greater part of the month. Forest Warden Marvin Leg gett stated yesterday that the last of the fires in this county was check ed last week, the Wednesday rain helping relieve the serious situation in some areas: In Jamesville and Griffins little or no rain has fallen in weeks and the extreme dry wea ther has invited fires, and while they have been checked they are said to be still burning in the earth or sub ject to break out again. The warden declared that only heavy rains could check the ground fires. STORE CLOSINGS Despite rumors and reports to the contrary, Williamston stores are planning to observe each Wednesday afternoon during the summer as a holiday. The sched ule becomes effective tomorrow and housewives and other pa trons are earnestly urged to handle their shopping according li. Quite a few towns in this sec tion of the State have already adopted the holiday schedule for the mid-week afternoon, the services of the merchants, other business men and many of the employees having been directed ot the war effort in one way or another such as war bond can vasses and victory garden work. Colored Boy Loses His Life In River Friday Afternoon Untimely Death Was Second Reported in Family in Past Eight Years Shifting from the highways, un timely death claimed its first vic tim of the year in the county last Friday afternoon when Joseph Titus Seott, 11-year-old colored boy, was drowned in the Roanoke River near Conoho, about three miles north of Williamston. The body, well in a state of decomposition, was found and removed from the stream yes terday morning after officers and others had failed to recover it by dynamiting and dragging the river. Funeral arrangements had not been completed early today. I . ? ?? Carrying dinner to an older broth er at the fertilizer plant at noon that day, the boy was instructed to return home. It is understood that he obey ed the command but later slipped away with his playmates, James Bak er, George Smith, Louis Freeman and Burley Brooks, and went to the riv er. The boys were in swimming and playing when Scott stepped into a hole and got strangled and although he was said to be a good swimmer he got frightened and could not help himself One of the boys started to him, but got frightened and turned back. The others ran for a pole, but he could not be found when they returned. Investigating the case, Coroner S. (Continued on page six) Bonner Addresses Farm Life Seniors Addressing the Farm Life High School graduating class last Friday evening. Congressman Herbert Bon ner painted no rosy picture for the youths but encouraged them by stat ing that the obstacles could be sur mounted by perserverance, ambition and courage. Heard by a large group typical of those he has so willingly, ably and advantageously represent ed during his stay in the National House of Representatvies, Mr Bon ner was well received. Introduced by State Senator Hugh G. Horton, Congressman Bonner told the graduates that they were not just venturing forth from school but that they were going into almost ah en tirely new life. Some of them, he said, would go out and get jobs; oth ers would go to colleges and other educational institutions, but all would find many difficulties in their paths to success and many stumbling blocks that could be overcome with the proper amount of ambition and courage. He cited how the present world situation had changed the lives of all and how the wax had great in fluence on all of them. He gave a brief but clear picture of the world as it stands in war today, indicating that the Allie* eventually would drive Hitler and his Axis partner to their terms of surrender and would rid the world of tyrants. In painting the picture of the war he showed the part that most of the youthful grad uates would have to play now and in their later years and urged that they have faith in the government and do all they were called on for without grumbling or complaining. Town Authorities Iii Regular Meet Here List Night Plan* Made for Opening Pool To Public Tlie Early Pari of June III a brief but fairly eventful ses sion. the loeal town commissioners discussed a number of topics last evening, the business schedule in cluding subjects relating to mosqui to control, cemetery improvements, library, swimming pool and current bills. A determined effort to control the . mosquito is now underway with town hired as life guarfo-at $10 a week eral clean-up pnbfcram. Property owners have been notified that they wlil have to and are expected to aid the program. Brush and foreign ma terial -on- numerous lots are-to be re moved, and the towp will start spraying with oil ditches and other mo6quito breeding places. L. H. Ham. Goldsboro man. ap plied for a license to open and oper ate a beer and wine store on Wash ington Street. The application was not approved. No action was taken on the re quest for damages alleged by Jim Bagley to have been done to his property when Broad Street was widened, the board reasoning that the property was improved rather then damaged. Fitting into the mosquito control program, a tiling -project between Rhodes and Haughton Street was conditionally approved. The ditch divides private property from the cemetery, the town agreeing to fi nance one-half the cost. ?Appealing before the board, Rev. John L. Guff, representing the local public library committee, explained that the WPA was mntiniiing-4tft-4b brary projects and that the services of a librarian would have to be dis continued or financed by other sources He also explained that the several civic clubs had agreed, or virtually so, to finance a portion of the cost, and he asked the town to appropriate $25 a month as its share. The request was approved and it is now believed the library service will be maintained. Plans were virtually completed for opening the swimming pool on or about June 1. Mrs. W. H. Coburn and Miss Ruth Manning were em ployed to manage the pool for $35 a week joint salary, and J. D. Wool ard, Jr., and Jimmie Manning were hired as life guards as $10 a week each. There is a supply of chlorine on hand to insure operation of. the pool for at least half the summer, and orders are being placed._1qtl more. Failing in their efforts to buy ad joining properties, the town authori ties have started condemnation pro ceedings to acquire lots for enlarg ing and improving the local ceme teiy. ~ Commissioners Harrison, Godwin, Green and Griffin were present for the meeting. A bill for $150 for listing town property was approved. Boy Again Facing Court For Forgery Sentenced to prison for three years for alleged forgery and later placed on probation by Judge J. Paul Frizzelle in the Martin County Su perior court last March, Ben Hol land, young white man, is again fac ing the court on a similar charge. Alleged to have forged the name Of G. H. Harrison to an eight dollar check, the boy attempted to pass the instrument at the Martin Supply Company last Saturday. The man agement became suspicious and it was learned the check had been forged. Arrested by Officer J. H. Allsbrooks that afternoon, Holland maintained he found the check Probable cause of guilt was found and he was bound over by Justiae J. L. Hassell under a (300 bond for trial in the superior court next month. Unable to raise the amount, Holland | was placed in jaiL The youth was placed on proba tion about six weeks ago on con dition that he pay three checks he was alleged to have forged and re main of good behavior. War As It Relates To Horob Front Is Reviewed for Week Swollen Prices Absorb a Big Part of Money Raised For War Purposes * Uncle Sam paid a bill of 31 billion dollars in the first World War to crush German imperialism and drive Kaiser Wilhelm into exile. Thirteen and a half billions of that, it has been estimated, was wasted 011 swol len prices?never went to hold a line or storm a trench. That was infla tion old style. Already in this war advancing prices have padded the bill by 35 billions, or more than the total cost of the last one And at the rate they were mounting they would have in creased the cost by two-and-a-half billions every month that went by, two-and-a-half billions which would have bought 25,000 pursuit planes, 35,000 medium tanks, or 1,500,000 heavy machine guns. And the cost of living-was mounting steadily, too Such a situation obviously called for action. Last week's order from the Office of Price Administration throwing virtually all prices and rents?with specified exceptions ? under a coiling for the duration was that action. The High Cost of Living no longer was a vague threat?it had become grim reality. As Price Ad ministrator Leon Henderson com mented: "This measure is one which the American people know to be neces sary ... It is, after all, the citizen's charter of security against rising liv ing costs and it will be so recogniz ed. Therefore, I know every citizen will look upon this program as his own and will do his part to make it work." Touches Lives of All Tlie General Maximum Price Reg ulation is the most drastic, the most far-reaching step ever taken do con trol the American economy. It touches the lives of almost every manufacturer, wholesaler, retailer, consumer, landlord and tenant. The price order means that-a-re tailer who may have restocked his shelves at high rates must seek re lief from the wholesaler and so 011 down the line to the seller of basic materials. This is what the trade calls "rolling back the squeeze." If the "squeeze" cannot be "rolled back" voluntarily, the OPA stands ready to step in The regulation is expected to mo bilize our economic resources for victory just-as the Selective Serviee (Continued on page six) Registrations For Sugar Progressing r r Rapidly in County l.illli' Kvi?lrnr?- of lloiirriinp I'nrovered in County To Diilc Complaining little or none at all, several thousand Martin County cit izens reported to the several regis tration places yesterday for their sugar rationing cards. No detailed report on the registration could be had immediately, but it measured up to expectations and surpassed pre dictions in a few instances. Two dis tricts, Williams and Smithwicks, both colored, exhausted their four day supply of cards the first day and called for more. Today the registra tion is advancing rapidly at possi bly a faster clip than it did yester day, clearly indicating that the bit ter taste of rationing will be delayed as long as possible. Maintaining headquarters in the high school gymnasium, the white registrants^ for this district signed up 863 consumers yesterday. The colored school here handled 763 reg istrants. Hassell registered 125 con sumers yesterday, reports from oth er parts of the county stating that the registrars were kept busy dur ing the day Little evidence of hoarding has been brought to light so far in the county, and in those cases where fairly large amounts of sugar were on hand it was a matter of custom ary buying in large quantities rather than hoarding One rationing card (Continued on page six) CALL FOR HELP An urgent call for volunteer aircraft spotters warn issued to day by County Civilian Defense Chairman Hugh G. Horton for the Williamston post. Hugh Sprulll has been handling the task alone at the river for sever al months and the task is prov ing too much for one man, and he must have relief. It Is likely that the observa tion post will be moved and lo cated on top of some building up town and that the volunteers will be asked to maintain watches of a few hours each. Men, women, girls and boys ov er sixteen years of age can han dle the work. Volunteers are urged to contact Chairman Hor ton immediately. Million Dollar Increase In County Tax Values Commissioners ill Invest Sinking Fund In U. S. Viar Bonds Reduction hi Tax Rate Bused On Increase in Values Is Fairly Apparent ? ! An increase of nearly a million | dollars in assessed county property j values was reported by Supervisor | C. D. Carstarphen to the board of | commissioners in regular session here yesterday, the gain apparent ly ranking close to an all-time record for those years when no revaluation was effected. The increase, subject to minor corrections, of course, was tentatively fixed at $911,970, the tax I supervisor explaining that most of the gain is traceable to personal [property listings. Soon after the preliminary report was submitted, the commissioners reached for their pencils and start ed figuring the possible effect the gain in values would have on the tax rate. Based on the 1941-1942 budget figures and on the listings not yet reported by the corporations, the new tax rate can be reduced about eight cents as a result of the marked increase in property values. But. the tax picture is not near complete. The new budget figures are subject to vary and it is very likely they will vary, and vary upward. And then there are the corporation listings to be considered. The trend in corpora tion values, as a whole, has been slightly downward in past years, and with a loss in that quarter and with even a slight increase in the new budget figures the gain based on an increase in property values will be offset or, at least, materially reduc-1 ed. The gain in values is almost phe nomenal and"especially is that true when one considers that all farm props held by their owners on last January 1st were not taxable. Had those items been continued in the taxable list, the gain, it is fairly cer tain, would have been well over a million dollars. The commissioners, recognizing the increase as a pleas ant subject, discussed the underly ing factors at length. Commissioner C. A. Roberson expressed the theory that ihe psychological mood at list ing time had its effect "Property owners, making a little money last fall, were more liberal in listing their holdings," he explained. Supervisor Carstarphen explained that much personal property heretofore escap ing toxation had-been placed on the I books, especially in some of the townships. With favorable tobacco prices, farmers and others, too, bought more cars last fall, and the car owner is being taken for bis us ual.tax ride. Hog prices were high er and poultry accounted for approx imately $25,000 of the gain. The pleasant discussion subject soon faded into the background, and the commissioners were again scratching their heads. Will auto mobiles be wiped from the tux books by the rationing system? the com missioners wondered. What about the general trend in business in the non-defense areas? was another question of the many asked and pon dered over by the commissioners. And the tax subject was dropped to await further consideration when the budget figures are submitted about July or August. Advised that a few property own ers had failed to come forward and list in accordance with the law, the commissioner^ ordered all delin quent listers cited to the grand jury for possible court action. If a prop erly" owner's name is not on the list ?it-will-be just too bad for himv There is no way just now to get his name on the list, and when it goes before the courts he will be required to list his property, pay all taxes due and the court costs or go to the roads. The hooks will hp rhprked fnr do linquents possibly by the time the (Continued on page six) 1 Wanderer Detained In the County's Jail Arrested last Saturday as a sus picious character, Toofic G. Maloof is being held in the county jail pend ing an investigation. About 25 years of age, the wanderer was in rags and to filthy that Sheriff C. B Roebuck ran him through a shower and bought clean clothes for him before the jail was opened to him. Maloof, his nationality not defi nitely established, said that he de serted from the army, that he was returned and served a sentence and later given a dishonorable discharge. Traveling out of Florida, Maloof would not say or did not where he was going. It is understood that he had been detained in Craven Coun ty for a short time, but that for the past several months or since last December he had wandered here and there, living in woods and on what he could find or beg. He declared that he had not slept inside a house since last December. BREAK DOWN / Staggering under its own ov erwhelming power, the Demo cratic Party organization in this county is ahout to break down. For quite a few yean Uiooe members at the party founda tion have not found time to at tend the precinct meetings, han dle party business within the unit and elect delegates to the county convention. Jumping ov er the precinct organizational pow-wows, the county organiza tion has been maintained by a few old faithfuls who found time to wander into the county convention. Executive Committee Chair man E. S. Peel is announcing that precinct meetings will be held on Saturday of this week and party leaders are urged to attend and take part. The coun ty convention will follow on Sat urday. May 16th, and that will be followed by the State convention in Raleigh on Friday, May 22. Forty Seniors Will Get Their Diplomas Wednesday Evening Commencement VddrCKK Not To Br Inrhnled in (doling Program Thin Yrar The formal graduating exercises tomorrow evening at 8:30 o'clock wiH mnrk-the ctosr of the term Tor students of the Williamston High School. Forty members of the sen ior class will receive their diplomas in a special program which elimi nates -tbe-uwua4 -commencement ad - dress. The program follows, in de tail: Processional, Glee Club; Invoca tion. Rev. B T. Hurley; Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag; Salutatory, Madelyn Taylor; "Freedoms We Guard," Catherine Turner; "Am erica At War," Joseph Gurganus; Valedictory, "Today's Challenge to youth," Evelyn Griffin; Song, v Is Tor Victory; Remarks. ETbert S. Peel; Presentation of Diplomas; ~Presen= tation of Awards'; Song, "Star Span gled Banner." Names of those to receive di plomas follow: row, Beatrice Cherry. Mamie Au drey?Cohurn.?Ottis?Btrrr Cottrairrr James Andrew Critcher, Evelyn Grace Grill in, Betty Rose Gurgan us, Irving Daniel Gurganus, Joseph Saunders Gurganus, Thcron Russell Gurganus, Audrey Hardison, Rena Ewell Howard. Marian Franklin Hurley, Myrtle Elizabeth Jones, Rob ert Bryan Jones, Vernon Carlyle Langley, III, James Leggett, Jr., David Frank Lilley, Nannie Gray Manning, Charles Thomas Mizel Ethel Marie Moore, Mary O'Neal Pope, Bessie Arnette Newbern, Wil liam Alfred Roberson, Charles B Rogerson, Daisy Mae Strawbridgc, Robert Warren Sullivan, James Har old Swain, Garnetta Swanson, Jas. Busick Taylor, Jr., Mary Madelyn Taylor, Annie Catherine Turner, Emma Belle Ward, Sara Elizabeth Ward, Joseph Warren, Jr, Mary Edwards Warren, Benjamin Russell Weaver, Edna Mai' White. Bill Griffin, ill in a Washington hospital, will not graduate with his classmates but will receive his di ploma as soon as he is able to com plete his examinations. ? Registration For May 30th Primary Incomplete reports state that the registration for the May soih p^liti. cal primary was off to a fair start in some of the precincts and unus ually slow in others last Saturday when the books were opened for new names. One of the local precincts, O. S. Anderson, registrar, reported seven new electors, and the No. 1 precinct, John Henry Edwards, registrar, re ported three new names were add ed to the books there. Most of those registering had moved into the pre cincts since the last registration two years ago. Those persons who registered two years ago do not have to register It this time to participate in the May 30 primary, but all newcomers and those attaining the age of 21 years since the last elections must regis ter if they are to participate in the May 30 primary. The registration books will be open again next Satur day and the Saturday following for new names, or registration may be effected by specail request any time during the week. With little activity being reported on political fronts, several registrars declared they were surprised when more-than two or three persons ap peared to place their names on the books. As far as it could be learned, the registration is maintaining a def inite democratic trend. British Take Over French Madagascar For Gain Over Japs ??? Russia, Nut Germany, Start* Strong Offensive on the Eastern Front After standing idly by. possibly unable to do otherwise, the British took the initiative in the war yester day when they occupied the big French u.land of Madagascar, Jtru tegic point in Allied shipping lanes in the Indian Ocean. The full mean ing of the move is yet to be deter mined, but it is fairly well estab lished now that if the German dom inated government at Vichy offers a vigorous protest, it may lead to a complete breakdown in American French relations. The United States government has warned Vichy of its stand, but it is fairly certain that no American troops or Free French participated in the occupation Late reports from Madagascar state that the French are offering re -srsfcmeer but apparently the detense is negligible. A French destroyer was sunk along with another French ship but the British are pushing on tow ard their objective. Vichy is to an nounce its stand on the Madagascar drive late today. The landing was ef (ected on the north side of the island under the protection of British air forces and are now moving on the big naval base of Diego Suarez. ten miles away. It had been well established be foro the British .started to occupy the strategic island that the Japs were making ready to take it over either by assault or through Vichy. The island will be held in trust by the Allied Nations for France. While the British were, scoring in the war effort at Madagascar, the Japs continued their drive into Chi na and toward India through Burma. The Japs, traveling north, have al ready crossed* the Chinese' border, late reports stating that they were reforming their lines three miles within the boundary. The advance lines may be going forward, but the rear-of the- Jap?army?is berng?sub jected to murderous attacks by Am erican bombers. Smashing attacks have also been directed against the Japs by American and Australian airmen. In the European arena, Germany is being battered by the Soviets in the East and at home by the Royal Air Force. The British airmen dur ing the past three days have been spreading new destruction on Ger man industrial center^ Abe dr+ve eluding an attack on the large muni tions factory in Chechoslovakia. To day, raids are going on over the French invasion coast with marked effect. There is much talk now being heard about a 20.000-tmrt rrtr attack on Germany, one militarist stating that such an attack is possible and that it would bring Germany to her knees over night. Even with 1,000 bombers, working nightly over Ger many, could bring Germany to sen sible peace terms by early fall, the militarist added. On the Russian front it now ap pears that the spring order has been reversed, and instead of Germany starting a spring offensive it would appear that Hitler and his gang are (Continued on page six) $ Well Known County Citizen Died Near Jamesville Sunday Funeral ScrvirPH Wore Held On Moii