Newspapers / The Enterprise (Williamston, N.C.) / July 9, 1943, edition 1 / Page 1
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VOLUME XLVI—NUMBER 54 THE ENTERPRISE Williamslon, Martin County, North Carolina, Friday, July 9, 1943. OVER THE TOP FOR VICTORY «ith UNITED STATES WAR BONDS-STAMPS ESTABLISHED 1899 County’s Tax Rate Reduced From $1.30 To $ 1.2Q Bv Commissioners in Special Meeting Here Yesterday Reduction Based On Increased Valuation And Other Rev enues Total Budget Figures for New Fiseal Period About the Saiue as for 1942 Following a brief session held last Monday, the Martin County Com missioners at the close of an all-day meeting yesterday announced a icn cent reduction in the tax rate for !be new fiscal yeai Dropped from $i.3u to $1.20, the new rate is the lowest in years, and was made possible mainly by increased property valua tions and anticipated increase in revenue from othei than tax sources. The new budget total is little changed from the one in effect for the past fiscal year, a preliminary estimate showing an increase of $3, 470. AH the figures are tentative, Auditor J. Sam Getsinger explain ing that all corporation property listings nad not been officially cer tified and that final budget figures could not be completed immediately. Budget increases were denied one or two departments, but larger sums were appropriated or the general and school funds. The extra school month, it is estimated, will boost the current expense total by some over $7,000, but at the same time the school debt service is being reduced by about $6,000. The tentative budget estimate calls for ,i general fund appropriation of $60,232 as compared with $55,724 a year ago. Of the $60,232 for the gen eral fund, it is estimated that $55,140 will come from sources other than genera! taxation. This independent income is expected from fees, license sales, ABC profits, court costs, etc., leaving about $5,000 to be raised by a 4 3-4 cent tax rate. A reduction of almost $1,500 is seen as a possibility in the poor fund for-the curreat fiscal year. The com missioners estimate that the $36,695 appropriated for the operation of the poor and welfare sgencj-^-fian be re duced to $35,055. While some of the department costs have been increas ed, the gain is more than offset by the elimination of one case worker and a reduction of $1,500 in hospi talization costs. Nearly $8,000 for the poor fund is anticipated from sources other than general taxation, leaving a rate of 21.5 cents per $100 assessed property valuation to finance the dif ference. The health fund was reduced by $25, the commissioners denying sal ary increases for the department head and sanitarian. A total of $7, 765 was appropriated, the amount to be raised by a six-cent tax rate. The county’s debt service fund will need $53,361.69 for the current year. Last year the figure was $55,740. During the early part of this year, the county commissioners converted approximately $25,000 gained from ABC excess profits and back tax col lections to the sinking fund. The ap proximately $2,000 reduction in the fund will be reflected each year for the next twelve. It is estimated that a rate of 38.25 cents will be neces sary to meet the debt service require ments. A rate of $49.50. it is estimated, will be necessary to finance the $45,540 school current expense, $9,550 capi tal outlay and $38,050 school debt service. Last year the commission tfW^ffjSpfopiiaud $37,776 for school current expense, $7,850 for capital outlay and $44,500 for school debt service. Of the $93,140 appropriated for schools, it is estimated that $25, (Continued on page six) County War Board Reviews 141 Cases _,_ Remairmg in session until early \ yesterday morning, the Martin rounty War Board reviewed 141 cases .for farm registrants. No names were released, but it was learned j that ninety-six of the group were I given essential ratings .leaving about forty-five subject to their respective turns in the draft. To date, the county war Mpd has reviewed 507 cases for registrants. Of that number 364 or about 72 per cent were given essential ratings and placed in the “C” classifications. No large number has been called from the remaining 143 as many cf them are married and have children. Approximately 100 cases are yet to be considered by the war board. Complete figures are not available but it is estimated that not more than eight out of 100 Martin County farmers have been placed in the 1-A classification since the unit produc tion plan was adopted. While the 1-A classifications run fairly high at the war board office, it should be remembered that only the border line cases are sent to that group by the draft board as a general rule. County War Bond Purchases Are Holding Up Fairly Well -,-A Following a record established in May and despite the off season fi nancially, the sale of war bonds in this county continues to hold up fairly well. However, there is some doubt about Martin County citizens buying the full quota. A reliable report maintains that only a small percentage of the pop- j ulation is participating in the bond ! buying movement after a regular irtsmoo, dial possibly 75 pel cent of the people have invested little or nothing in either war savings stamps or bonds. At the present rate, the county is investing hardly more than $1 per capita each month in war bonds, or about $15 a year. The per capita ex pense in financing the war is now some over $600 annually. Taxation is falling far short in meeting the ex pense, and the county apparently is I falling far short when it comes to financing the war with loans. In addition to their regular pur chases, every citizen is now being urged to invest one dollar for the construction of a special ship for special use against Japan. The move ment is expected to raise some over 136 million dollars. A report on bond sales by agencies in this couniy for May and June foi June $ 2.156.25 712.50 112.50 18,000.00 6,205.50 3,000.00 187.50 $30,374.25 lows. Roberson ville: Post Office Guaranty Bank Jamesville: Post Office Williamston: Guaranty Bank Branch Bank Post Office Building-Loan $ 1 May ,950.00 487.50 93.75 .368.75 ,467.00 ,512.50 243.75 $37,023.25 Drive Started Against Vagrancy This Week FROM AFRICA Coming; all the way from North Africa, a request was made recently to the county tire rationing: board for a tire. Private Osmer Winborne asked i for the tires for his wife who has been managing the soldier's two farms since his induction in to the army. One of the farms, the soldier said in his V-letter to the board, is in Hertford Coun ty, which especially necessitates the request for tires if manage ment is to continue, Seventeen Marriage Licenses Issued In County Last Month -<» ■■■■■ July Issuance Is About the Average for Mouth Dur ing Past Ten Years -» Despite war and uncertainties, the issuance of marriage licenses in this county last month was about an av erage for the particular month dur ing the past ten years. Seventeen licenses were issued by Register of Deeds J. Sam Getsinger during the period, nine to white and seven to colored couples, as follows: White Dewey Stalls, of Oak City, and Vivian Bland, of Hassell. Charlie H. Whitaker and Ruth Ter ry, both of Williamston. Walter Wesley Brown and Hazel Marie Moore, both cf Williamston. Wendell C. Gardner and Ida Cher ry, both of Williamston. Lester Sylvester White and Lela Faye Wynne, both of RFD 3, William Dampy Lee Simmons and Carolyn Lmdsley, both of Williamston. Wilbert Reeder and Claire Crosby, both of Philadelphia. Meady Bennett Daniels, of RFD 3, Williamston and the U. S. Navy, and Mary Katherine Swain, of Wiliiam ston. Robert L. Mizelle and Opal Inez Brown, both.of Jamesville. Colored Charlie Highsrnith, of Pitt Coun- j ty, and Lula Pitt, of Martin Coun-1 ty. j Arthur Stewart and Emma Har-1 grobe, both of Williamston. Claude Matthews and Annie Jean nette, both of Williamston. Ulyses C. Whitley and Laura Lee Edwards, both of Williamston. John B Daniel, of Bethel, and Florida Slade, Robersonville. Thurman E. Collier, of Hassell, and Pauline Cherry, of Bethel. James Gilmore, of Jamesville, and Lizzie Teel, of Robersonville. Town Commiaaionera In Short Meeting Monday \ The local town commissioners held one of their shortest meetings in j many months last Monday night when they examined and approved i the current bills. Assured by the ; mayor, J. L. Hassell, that the police ! department was functioning very ef fectively, the commissioners moved | for adjournment, the session lasting hardly ten minutes. Commissioners G. II. Harrison, N. | C. Green, V'. D. Godwin and Roy T. i Griffin were present for the session.! p -$ Committees Named To Report To Law Enforcement Group Puss Resolution Urging Pub li<* Spirited Citizens to Cooperate Meeting in the county courthouse last Monday morning, about seventy five leading citizens, both white and colored, from all over the county launched a drive to stamp out idle ness and loafing among all classes; including rich and poor and regard less of color, creed. Committees were named in each of the several town ships, and they were directed to re port cases of vagrancy and loafing to law enforcement officers. Pay rolls will be checked to determine if regular work schedules are being maintained, the chairman pointing out that part-time and indifferent work schedules are to be condemned along with cases charging the com mon tramp wdth vagrancy. It was pointed out that the meet ing was not called to exact the im possible, but to lay the foundation for a program calling for the com plete marshalling of all wo k forces on the home front in bchad of the war effort. Called by Hugh G. Horton at the direction of Governor J. M. Brough ton, the meeting advanced an ap peal for whole-hearted cooperation on the part of the general public. If obstinate cases persist, the commit tees will take action. Alleged viola tors, convicted for the first offense, are subject to a $50 fine or a 30 day sentence on the roads. Second violations will be carried into the county court where the punishment will be meted out in doses a bit m^'e severe. A similar movement is underway State and a greater part of the nation. In this state if the warnings and appeals are not prop erly heeded, the governor is expect ed to exercise those emergency pow ers granted by the last legislature. Narrowed down to the final analysis, the drive now underway will, soon er or later, mean work or fight or else. Hugh G. Horton, presiding over the (Continued on page six) . ..db - Mrs. Wm. J. Haislip Dies In Sanatorium —*— Mrs. William Joshua Haislip, 53 years old last May 1, died in the Martin County Sanatorium, near Williamston, last Wednesday morn ing at 11:50 o’clock. She had been in declining health for eight or ten years, but entered the institution on ly a few weeks ago. Funeral services are being con ducted at her late home, near Gold Point, this afternoon at 4 o'clock by Rev. J. M. Perry. Burial will follow in the Robersonville Cemetery. The daughter of the late Thomas and Sarah Reason Manning, she was bom in this county. In early woman hood she was married to Mr. Hai slip and he with six sons survive. Their names are: Cleavie Haislip, of Stokes; Nunnie Haislip, of Everetts; Noah, Lorie and John, of Roberson ville, and Wm. J. Haislip, Jr., of Bethel. She was a member of the Christian Church at Gold Point for about 35 yearn. Flare-up In Illicit Liquor Business Is Reported in County Officers Take Several Stills And Arrest Several Men Recently Generally quiet these past few months, the illicit liquor business flared up during the past week or ten days in this county, ABC Officer J H. Roebuck explaining that pos sibly the manufacturers and traf ficers resume doperations on a larg er scale in anticipation of an increase in business over the July Fourth hol iday. It was also pointed out that some of the consumers are finding the rations allotted them insufficient to meet their “needs”. This condi tion exists in some cases even after premiums are paid to others for their rations. Coupons used for the purchase of legal liauors are known to have been sold tor each, but the general price is 25 cents. The owner ordinarily makes the purchase and then turns it over to the ultimate consumer for a 25 MM^Mwe.vieratiun fee. Getting back to the illicit liquor front, recent reports show that ABC and county officers struck a right heavy blow against the illegal trade. About two weeks ago, ABC Officer J. Ii Roebuck and his assistant, Dep uty Roy Peel, poured out 100 gallons of molasses bee and confiscated thir ty gallons of molasses in Bear Grass Township. A week later, the same officers wrecked two plants, one with a 20-gallon capacity drum still and the other with a 50-gallon ca pacity drum, and poured out 150 gal lons of molasses beer in that same section of the county. Last Friday, the ABC officer, ac companied by Sheriff C. B. RoebutK, raided in Williams Township and captured a 50-gallon capacity liquor still and poured out 150 gallons of beer made from a general mixture of sweets. One quart of liquor was taken and King David Smithwick was arrested. The still was the first copper one found in the county in recent months. On the following day, the officers went into the Free Union section Jamesville. Township and found fif teen gallons of illicit liquor in the home of Milton James, colored. A warrant was sworn out for James this week, and his case will be re viewed by the courts. It was the third time that officers found illegal liquor in his possession for sale. An invalid, the old man has virtually defied the officers and the law. It is possible that he will be placed on a stretcher and carried bodily into court. Returning to the Free Union sec tion this week, officers wrecked a fifty-gallon capacity drum and pour ed out 200 gallons of sugar beer. It was the first batch of all-sugar beer they had found in the county dur ing recent weeks. Potato Market Here To Close Tomorrow —-»— Believing that most of the pota toes will have been marketed in this area by that time, the local Irish po tato market will close tomorrow af ternoon, a representative announc ed this morning. However, the mar ket will reopen if as many as a car load is offered. Few farmers have that many, but several farmers could get together, make their ar rangements in advance and their po tatoes will be accepted, it was ex plained. As for the regular market, activities will be suspended here to morrow afternoon. Quite a few far mers are now digging their crops and will make delivery before clos ing time tomorrow. The floor price of $2.25 per hun dred pounds less 10 cent grading and 20 cent bagging fees is still in effect netting the farmer $1.95. The gov ernment is the sole purchaser at the present time. During the past three days, the market has handled only three cars of potatoes and it is loading a fourth one today, boosting the total for the season to fifty cars. THE RECORD j SPEAKS . . . ! Martin County’s motorists chalked up their second July Fourth period in a row without an accident, according to Cor poral W. S. Hunt and Patrolman Whit Saunders. Few things re flect a greater change than the observance of July Fourth twice in succession without a highway accident of any kind. The following tabulations of fer a comparison of the accident trend: first, by corresponding weeks in this year and last and for each year to the present time. 27th Week Comparison Accidents lnj’d Killed Dam’ge 1943 0 0 0 $ 000 1942 0 0 0 000 Comparison To Date 1943 23 11 S 3942 42 26 1 3250 5505 County Man’s Sudden Death Ma rs July Fo urth Observa nee death—the observance of the July Fourth holiday period was quiet and uneventful for Martin County peo ple. Very few arrests were made, traffic was hardly up to normal and by actual count only three pop crackers were exploded in this neighborhood. Officers were gener ally agreed that the clay was one of the quietest observed as a holiday in these parts during recent years. The day turned out to be a gener al holiday with the possible excep tion of farm activities, and some few farmers “took" the day off. Heavy industry, scheduled Vo operate, clos ed down when full crews failed to report. Quite a few long-distance travelers were seen going and com ing during the late hours of night, and some few, gas rationing or no gas rationing, made it to the beaches. The sudden death of Daniel B Robersonviile man. at Bavview earlv last Saturday evening dampened the holiday season foi many, Parker, 42 years old, son of Mrs. Lida Tripp Parker, of Robersonville, lost his life in shallow water at the Pamlico Riv er resort. He was in swimming with a party of friends. Investigating the untimely death along with Beaufort County authorities, Corporal W. S. Hunt and Sheriff C R Roebuck stat ed that ’here was no foul play, that they couid not say what caused his death. The young man. for years con nected with the tobacco warehouse business, was said to have suffered slight heart attacks just a few days before his untimely death. Several scars and bruises on his body, it was explained, were possibly caused while artificial respiration was at tempted, one report stating that he was rolled mi a barrel, and that his face hit a plank walk. More Martin County Men Called By Army Quite A Few Ruled Non-Essential By County War Board -- Group Includes Several Boys Who Had Been Register ed Only a Short Time More Martin County men were called to the Army induction center this week, unofficial reports stating that the July quota was hardly more than half met. After raking through their lists, the draft authorities found twenty-nine available colored men, including some who had been rejected previously, some who had been registered less than sixty days and a few whose deferments had ex pired and were not renewed. Pos sibly half the group came lrom the farm, the County Ward Board hav ing ruled that about fifteen of the number had not met production unit requirements. Tvvu Huh, Golden Williams of RFD 1, Williamston and 2111 N. 2l)th Street, Richmond, and Robert Lee Spruill, of W'illiamston and 45 Church Street, Norfolk, did not re port and were classed as delinquent by the board. The twenty-seven colored men left for the induction station Tuesday. Most of them have returned for the two-weeks furlough, but it could not be learned immediately how many were accepted. Names and addresses of the men reporting to the induction center follow: Vance Council, RFD 1, Bethel. David Jo/ics, Williamston. Wilson Williams, RFD 1, Palmyra. Johnnie Powell, of Williamston, transferred from Kenansville. Roosevelt Clemmons, RFD 3, Wil liamston. William Henry Jones, Parmele and Norfolk. James Bannerman, Williamston, transferred from Warsaw, N. C. Kater Herman Green, Williamston and Norfolk. Isiah Bookhart, Williamston and Philadelphia. Henry Moody Howell, Roberson ville and Norfolk. Joe Williams, Williamston. Fred C. Howell, Hamilton. Anthony Moses, RFD 2, William Dallas Bryant Evan*, RFD 2, Wil liamston. Nathaniel James, RFD 1, James ville. Levy James Lynch, Oak City. Bennie Peel, RFD 1, Williamston. Lonnie Lee, RFD 1, W'illiamston. Tom “Robert” Keel, RFD 2, Rob ersonville. William Solomon Hyman, Oak (Continued on page six) I Meat Committee for This County Named —_*— The recently named county meat committee held its first meeting in the agricultural building here Wed nesday evening when John Ander son, area supervisor, addressed the group and outlined the meat situa tion. Mr. S. T. Everett is chairman of the group. Members of the commit tee are, |. Rossell Rogers, James Herbert Ward, A. J. Osteen, W. R. Burrell and L. B. Wynne. The committee will work as a pan * 1 of the County War Board, Mr. Anderson reviewed the need for increased meat production, the conservation of every possible pound of meat, and outlined and attacked the operations carried on by the black market. He urged the members of the committee to cooperate in ev ery possible way with the program, which, with the support of the gen eral public, will help relieve the crit ical situation now facing the nation. ( TOMB CONSCIOUS Breaking a tomb stone while playing in an old graveyard 21 years ago, a citizen of a nearby county this week gave an order duplicating the stone. The man, n-' nearing middle age, had never told his parents and his wife knew nothing about it, but he admitted that the act had caused him much worry from time to time, that to replace the stone over the grave now more than three-quarters of a century old, W'as the only decent thing to do. Jesse T. Price, local marble salesman, helped relieve the ! man’s conscience by guaran teeing an exact duplication of original stone. Alleged Violations Of Vagraucy Law to Be Aired In Courts —._ First Warrants Are Now In The Hands of County Officers Hardly had a meeting of citizens been adjourned in the courthouse last Monday before action was taken to stamp out loafing, idleness and va grancy in this county. Without any prodding and without delay, the des ignated committees went into action, and reports are understood to be reaching law enforcement officers throughout the county. Members of some of the commit tees accepted their new jobs with re luctance, but when it was explained that some action was necessary, that this is a time for everyone to do his part, every one of the appointee's ac cepted and are getting busy. “It places me on the spot, but if the meeting thought enough of me to place me on the committee for my district, I am going to do my best,” Billie James, colored member of the Jumesville Township committee, was quoted as saying. James, declaring that he had no ill will against any one, is understood to have warned i'er,:' n! Urn members of the United Sons of Rest that he plans to do his duty. During the meantime, law en forcement officers are doing an ef fective work, and are picking up idlers on their own initiative. Two warrants ore already in the hands of county officers, and reports are coming in thick and fast. The cases will be investigated, and it is now fairly apparent that the unwhole some situation will be met. Indifference and independence ex pressed by the acts of quite a few workers are disappearing A.bsee.'e.a* ism ha: already been lowered, and it is believed that most workers, now that they have been appraised of the need for every lick of work, are helping to improve the general situa tion. Several of the committees have al ready held meetings and discussed plans for supporting the governor’s proclamation, declaring that it is more than a privilege and an oppor tunity to work now. Committees in |amesville and Oak City are slated to hold meetings tonight. Civilian Dejenae Meet To Be Held In Bear Graaa ——♦ It was announced today by the chairman of Civilian Defense and the chief observer of the observation post at Bear Grass that there would be a special joint meeting for Civil ian Defense workers and ground ob servers Monday night, July 12, at 9:00, at the Bear Grass school house. They urgently request every Ci vilian defense worker and every ground observer to be present Major Fighting Now In Progress On The American* Are In On Strongly Fortified Jap Base of iWuitilu The apparent lull existing in land and sea fighting these past few weeks lias been broken, and today major fighting is in progress in the Southwest Pacific and on ctr East ern war fronts. Americans and other Allied forces are on a strong offen sive in the Pacific and the Germans are pushing a terrific drive against the Russians in the Belgorod area on the Eastern front. Last reports from the Americans stated that they were within two miles of the important Jap base at Munda and were slowly closing in. It was indicated that the first de fenses had been broken, but that a /mid and possibly costly light could be expected during the remainder of the way, Reinforcements have been delivered to New Georgia Is land to boost the drive or • Munda, hut the operations were carried '’til only after a terrific sea battle in the Kula Gulf between New Georgia and Kolombangara. The Japs lost eleven ships, including five destroy ers, lour cruisers and several trans ports. The Americans lost one cruiser, the Helena, and a destroyer, but more than 600 of the Helena crew were rescued immediately. The Japs are understood to have rein forced their positions in the air and on land, but Allied airmen are pounding Jap bases and making it costly for the enemy in the air. In Russia today one of the greatest air-tank battles ever fought is in progress. Starting their summer offensive, the Germans have pour ed vast numbers of tanks, planes and men. And the Russians have been exalting a heavy toll. It was an nounced by Moscow today that the Germans had lost 1,1100 tanks, 810 planes and 35,000 men in the first four days of the big battle. Plunging against the Russians over a 200-mile front south of Moscow, the Germans have pierced two sectors in the Bel gorod area, and the Russians, their forces about to be encircled, are pay ing a costly price m an attempt to close the gaps. The German thrust is following an arc-shaped course with the apparent goal being Voro nezh. If the Voronezh objective is gained, and the Russian defenders are sufficiently organized, the Gor mans can be expected to start a drive toward Moscow in the north or turn south toward the Caucasus. At the same time, the German offensive may have the implications of a de fense to forestall the coordination of a Russian offensive witli Allied land ings in tiie West or in tile Balkans. The Germans knew and feared that massed Allied army in Syria, capa ble: of driving through the Balkans and perhaps effect a juncture with Soviet ofrees. Whatever the motive may be behind it, the fighting in Russia is desperate on both sides. The lull in air attacks against Ger many has been broken, and large scale raids are now in progress. The RAF was over Cologne in the Rhine land last night, and they were fol lowed by day raiders streaming over the Channel this morning. The aid drive against Sicily continues, but invasion talk there and on the con tinent has subsided. It was announced today that this country is considering financing a 300,000 French Army, that the French in turn would cooperate in the drive against Japan just as soon as Hitler and Company are eliminat ed. Congress has folded its tent and left for home, giving promise to more progress and greater unity on the Hc.ma ‘ in <aA In a final move to take a vacation, the Congress quit wrangling long enough to save the Credit Commod ity Corporation and farm subsidies. Few Registrants In 4-F Subject To Call -a» No official statement could be had, but it is generally believed that few draft registrants in the 4-F classifi cation will ever be called for active military service It is now fairly ap parent that the Army is interested primarily in able-bodied men who are able and who can fight or do whatever comes to hand. It is also fairly apparent that the Army is try ing to cut potential disabilities to a minimum, and a man who paints himself with a yellow streak is not wanted in the service. According to indirect reports reaching here, plans are being made to take more men out of the 4-F class ification who were placed there on account of low literacy standards. The plans are necessarily limited and are hardly in practice. One county registrant who was first rejected on account of low literacy standards was recently rejected a second time. He explained that that last rejection was based on low intelligence stan dards. A few registrants, victims of social diseases, are being accepted for treatment and possible military service, but very few have been call ed from this county, and the 4-F classification lines are holding fair ly firm on the w'hole.
The Enterprise (Williamston, N.C.)
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July 9, 1943, edition 1
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