-'.VJ ENTERPRISE IS READ BX OVER MM MARTfN COUNT! MMBIXH TWICE EACH WEBB ITHE ENTERPRISE wA THE ENTERPRISE 18 MAS OVER 3.0M MARTIN FAMILIES TWICE EACE Ml VOLUME LI—NUMBER 82 Williamtton, Martin County, North Carolina, Thursday, October 14, 1948 ESTABLISHED 1899 Explains Changes Proposed In The * State Constitution Be Unnecessary To Vote Against Registration In Special Elections H? Albert Coats, Director 4V Institute of Government On Tuesday, November 2, the • people of North Carolina will .vote: Tor determining results of special elections by majority votes, or Against determining re sults of special elections by ma jority votes. Present voting requirements: Article VII, Section 7, of the North Carolina Constitution pro vides that: “No county, city, town, or. other municipal corporation ^ shall contract any debt, pledge its faith or loan its credit, nor shall any tax be levied or collected by any officers of the same except for the necessary expenses there of, unless by a vote of the ma jority of the qualified voters therein.” The proposed change in voting requirement: For the words in the last clause of the foregoing pro vision—“unless by a vote of the majority of the qualified voters therein", the proposed amend ment would substitute the follow ing words—“unless approved by a majority of those who shall vote thereon in any election held for such purpose.” ' To illustrate the meaning of q this proposed change: Under the present voting requirement, if 1000 voters are registered (“quali fied” voters are held to be “regis tered” voters) 501 votes must be cast for the proposition voted on in order to vote it in. If 500 votes are cast for and one against it, the proposition is voted out, because , 500 votes are not a “majority, of the qualified voters.” Under the proposed voting re quirement, if 1000 voters are reg istered and 501 vote—251 for and 250 against it, the proposition is i vOted in, because 251 are a ma jority of those voting. Similarly, , if only 100 of the 1000 registered V Vote, and 51 are for and 49 against [ it, the proposition is voted in, be I cause 51 are a majority of those voting. Issues involved in the change: It is obviously more difficult to levy a tax or incur a debt under the present voting requirement than under the proposed voting ' requirement. Or, to put it an i other way, it is obviously more diffficult for people to get what they want through a tax levy or a bond issue under the present than under the proposed voting re quirement. In still other words, the present voting requirement makes it easier for people to keep down debts and taxes, while the proposed voting requirement makes it easier for people to get the services they want. It is for f the voters to say which is the wiser policy and this policy will be decided on Tuesday, Novem ber 2, by a majority of those vet oing rather than by a majority of those registered. Reasons cited for and against the change follow the line of cleavage outlined in the foregoing paragraph. One official wrote in opposition to the change: “My ob V servation has been that in elec tions called for approval of the is suance of bonds, we have a very ' small registration and if the elec tion is carried by only a majority of those who vote, then we have a bond issue authorized and sad dled upon the tax paying unit by only a small proportion of the people. I think the present ar- j rangement is better and fairer. If i a majority of the people do not j want bonds issued, then I think a ! minority should not be permitted i to authorize it.” Another writes:, “I do not think it would be wise to change the voting requirement in elections on necessary ex- j penses There are so many pres sure groups today just waiting for j an Opportunity to further some pet project and in most cases the pressure groups are composed of people who do not own property and, therefore, would not have to bear the additional tax burden.” Another writes: “I think that we! should use every effort possible to! hold down our bonded indebted- i ness; therefore my thought is that (Continued from Page Seven) Few Register In County So Far For November Election Few names were added to the registration books in this county last Saturday, indicating that no great interest is being shown in the general election scheduled for November 2; at least, not by po tential new voters. Eight were registered by the two Williamston precinct regis trars, reports from other precincts ! stating that only a few names j were added to the list while in at least one precinct not a single per son registered. As far ,as it could be learned, . the registration is holding to a straight Democratic ticket. It was stated that everyone who cn ] tered his name on the general re gistration book also asked to be registered in the Democratic pri mary book. It has been pointed | out that one does not have to state ! his party affiliation to get his 01 " - ***N her name on the general registra tion book to vote in general elec . tions, but to participate in a Democratic ' primary election he | or she must state party affiliation j and be registered in the primary ■ registration book. The same : holds for the Republicans. The splinter parties, even though they ; will be on the general election i ticket in the November election, j are not recognized in the primary 1 elections. However, regardless of party affiliation or political be liefs, one may register and par ticipate in the general election. The registration books will be open next Saturday and the fol lowing Saturday and all those who have not registered are urg ed to do so. The books are open for the two Williamston precincts. No. 1 in the courthouse and No. 2 in S. H. Grimes’ office on Balti more Sheet. BLOCKED i With the season opening to morrow for taking squirrel and deer, many hunters in this section will find the paths leading into the swamps in this section blocked by water. Recent rains have filled the swamps and if there’s much hunting done it will be on high land or in other sec tions, reports declare. Local hunters are making ready for a busy season. The Broad Creek Club sailed the Morattoc down the river ear ly this week, and the Conine Club reviewed Its rules and regulatleas and accepted new members this week. Clubs in other sections of the county are all set for the season. Raise One-Third Of County Quota For Hungry Tots l —*— ! Rol><‘r*oiivi!le Itaixo $83. To PuhIi Total To Dale To $842.45 The drive to raise $2,500 for the slowly starving children of war torn countries continues, late re ports from Mrs. N. C. Green, the county chairman, stating that a total of $842.45 or about one-third | of the quota assigned this county 1 had been raised and reported, t Robersonville raised and reported collections in the sum of $83.79 to push the drive over the one-third mark. No time limit for closing the drive has been set, but the treas urer is anxious to complete it and turn the contributions over to the United Nations Crusade for Chil dren. Those persons who have not beep solicited and have made no donations to the worthy cause are urged to forward cash or checks to the treasurer in Wil liamston. Contributions, not previously reported, follow: A. friend, $1; Mrs. Bill Carstar phen, $1; Blue Star Cleaners, $5; Dixie Motors, $25; Chas. H. Jenk ins Co., $10; Williamston Motor Co., $10; Roanoke Chevrolet Co., $10; Gulf Stream Station, $1; Jer nigan Cafe, 50c; John E. Pope, $1; Skinner Tobacco Co., $5; King To bacco Company, $5; Rev. and Mrs. John Hardy, $2; Mr. and Mrs. J. T. Barnhill, $2; Janet Cox, $1; Mr. and Mrs. Vernon Bunting, $2; Williamston Peanut Co., $10; N. C. Green, Agent Sinclair Oil Co., $10; J. W. Snead, $1; Geo. C. Griffin, Jr., $2; Mrs. John Wier, $1; Char lie Davis, $1; R. L. Coburn, $2; Mrs. C. J. Goodman, $1; Mrs. F. J. Margolis, $1; Mrs. W. O. Griffin, $1. , The Williamston High School raised $21.18, by grades, as fol lows: Miss Privett, $1.55; Mrs. Sumner, $3; Miss Roberts, 40c; B. K. Hopkins, $1.82; Miss Tilley, $1.20; Mr. Butler, $1.10; Mr. May nard, 55c; Mr. Cox, 85c; Mrs. Shul ler, $2.50; Mrs. Corey, $1.00; Miss Byrum, $1.07; Miss Best, 79c; Miss Whitley, $4; and Mrs. White, $1.35. Justices of Peace Hear Dozen Cases In Past Few Days One-tliir live. j TOBACCO SALKS ■N Despite the delivery of the “scrappings” in fairly large quantities, tobacco prices continpe to hold up unusually well, a report from the local market late yesterday stat ing that 62,156 pounds aver aged $52.91. Many of those selling on the market this week were completing the marketing of their crops and their offerings included trash grades accumulated over a period of weeks. Through yesterday the market had sold 8,803,198 pounds for an average of $48.42. Issued Nineteen Licenses To Wed In Marlin County Ishtiunee To While (ionpies l.iii^esl for Any Sep tember on Keehnl Nineteen marriage licenses were issued in this county last month by the office of the register of deeds. While the combined issu ance is just about average for the past twelve years, more licenses were issued to white couples dur ing the period than in any other September on record. Apparently the peacetime draft had little ef fect on Cupid’s work during the month. Licenses were issued to fourteen white and five colored couples last month in the county, as follows: White John A. Harrison, HKD 1, Rob erson ville, and Emma Lee Bullock of Robersonville. James R. Griffin, RFD 1, Wil laimston, and Gladys B. Godard of Jamesville. David B. Manning and Annie Virginia Chesson, both of Wil* I liamston. Reginald Parker Peele and' Martha Lillian Mendenhall, both! of Williamston. Linwood Stanley Weuthersbee1 and Idonia Pierce, both of Rober sonville. Marcum Roebuck and Evelyn Keel, both of Robersonville. Julius M. Jackson, RFD 5, Greenville, and Margaret Ade laide Bullock, RFD 1, Roberson ville. Dallas Taylor, RFD 3, Williams ton, and Delia Frances Revels. • RFD 1, Williamston. C. B. Taylor. RFD 3, Williams ton, and Susie Gray Taylor, RFD 2, Williamston. Harry S. James, Jr., and Lela M. Cartwright, both of WeeksviMe. Alvin Octavius Everett of Ham ilton and Edna Ruth Smith of Pal myra. Elton Ray Martin of Roberson ville and Be-ttie Lorene Nobles of Stokes. Paul Clifton Bailey of Hobgood and Bettie Mae Smith of Palmyra. (Continued on page eight) Judge J. C. Smith Has Sixteen Cases In County’s Court j ♦ ■— Fines Imposed At Session Last Monday Amount To $350.00 Judge J. Calvin Smith called | sixteen cases in the Martin Coun ty Recorder’s Court last Monday, completing the trials in time to ; recess for lunch. Fines imposed during the three-hour session amounted to $350. There were only two speedsters in court and no one was called to answer for operating a motor vehicle without an operator's license or for not stopping at a road intersection. Proceedings: Charged with non-support, El mer Mizelle was sentenced to the roads for mne months, the court I suspendnig the road term on con ! dition that the defendant pay $100 j immediately and $5 each week for the support of his child. He is to make the weekly payments for two years and if he fails, the road sentence is to be invoked. Pleading guilty of simple as sault, James E. Moore was sen tenced to the roads for thirty days. The term was suspended upon the payment of a $20 fine and costs and on the further con dition that he does not go upon l the premises of Charlie, Lenora or Rubv Whiehard for two years j without first obtaining their per j mission. j His ease having been continu ed under prayer for judgment and it appearing to the court that the' conditions of the judgment could not be met, Kelly Wilkins, charg ed with non-support, was sen tenced to the roads for four months. Charged with speeding. Holi way Holman of Edenton pleaded guilty and was fined $15 with the costs attached. Adjudged guilty over his plea of innocence, Lee Rollins, charged I with an assault with a deadly weapon, was sentenced to jail for two days, fined $25 and taxed with the costs. Willie Taylor, colored, pleaded guilty of an assault with a dead ly weapon, and was sentenced to jail for two days, fined $250 and required to pay the costs. Guy Rollins, charged with car rying a concealed weapon, was adjudged not guilty. Charged with assaulting a fe male, Louellen Smith was sen tenced to the roads for four months, the court suspending the road term upon the payment of a $25 fine and costs and on the fur ther condition that he violate no criminal law for one year. Charged with an assault, Selby Price pleaded guilty of being drunk and disorderly and was sentenced to the roads for four months. The road term was sus pended upon the payment of a $25 fine and the costs. The de fendant is to not be convicted of a law violation within the next two years. Pleading guilty of fornication , and adultery, Henderson Moore and Carolina Prevatt were given six months sentences, Moore on the roads and the Prevatt woman in woman’s prison, Raleigh. The terms were suspended upon the payment of $50 fines and costs each. The court instructed the wo man defendant to leave Martin County and remain away for two yeajs. Pleading not guilty in the case chraging him with reckless driv ing, LcRoy Bowers was adjudg ed not guilty. Judgment was suspended upon the payment of the cost in the case charging Will Crawford with violating the weights and meas ures law. Sam Brown, charged with issu ing "a worthless check, was ad judged not guilty. The case charging W. R. Cherry with an assault was thrown out of court. Pleading guilty of drunken, driving, M. Wheeler was fined $100, taxed with the cost and the court recommended that his oper ator’s license be suspended forj|9 one year. Charged with speeding, Georjjy ii M. Phillips, of Norristown, P&, % was fined $15 and taxed with |3£J eosts.