THE ENTERPRISE IS READ HI OVER 3,00* MARTIN COUNT* FAMILIES TWICE EACH WEEK ENTERPRISE THE ENTERPRISE IS READ *1 OVER 3,AM MARTIN COUNT! FAMILIES TWICE EACH WEES VOLUME LIV—NUMBER 5 Williamston, Martin County, North Carolina, Tuamiay, January 16, 1951 ESTABLISHED 189§ Budget Calls For - S-3ftfe.3S8.iM In The Next Period Bml^el ami the UtWitores Warming I llinois lip in Raleigh By Scott Sumners Raleigh.—Governor Kerr Scott's biennial address to the legisla ture, followed by his budget mes sage, caught conservative forces off-guard. At first, their reaction was a chortling he's lost his steam or “we've got him where the hair’s short.” But they are suddenly awaken ing to the fact that the Haw Riv er dairyman has outmaneuvered them again, and what worries them the most is that whatever course they take they will build up campaign material for the lib erals in the coming 1952 State wide campaign. The budget recommended by the Advisory Budget Commission —stacked four to three in favor of the conservatives—called for $303,000,000 to be spent by the General Fund during the next two years. Rising costs, plus some “must" increases in staffs to take care of authorized services caused even economy-minded Frank Tay lor of Wayne, Larry Moore of V, 11i, viirtd,\ Krii-MM of dasion and Edwin Pate of Scotland to recommend a budget that is some $25,000,000 higher than one for the current two years. Governor Scott in his budget message noted that *'iis was fine, as far as it went, but called for raising and appropriating anoth er $30,000,000 to meet what he considered "necessary” services and expenses. This extra money is needed, he said, to raise teacher pay to the $2,200-$3.100 minimum for ”A" grade teachers (some $17,000); to continue the merit pay raise sys tem for state employees (approx imately $2,000,000); increasing re serves of the retirement system ($1,000,000); state aid for con struction of local hospitals (some $6,000,000; a fund to supplement permanent improvements already authorized and meet rising costs ($10,000,000); with the remainder to go for a psychiatric hospital at the University of North Caro lina and better training for mental hospital personnel. To do this, the Governor point ed out, more revenue is needed. He recommended elimination of sales tax exemptions and replac ing the sales tax on theaters. For the benefit of the legisla tors pledged to "no new taxes”, he gave them an out. He labeled his revenue-producing recommen dations at not "new" taxes, perish the thought, but as an "extension »f present taxes" in the case of the sales tax exemption and as “re storation of taxes" in the theatre department. All of this, the Governor dump ed in the legislators laps. He didn’t “ask” for anything. He told them what he thought they ought to do and how to do it. Worried conservatives are faced with these possibilities: If they go along with the Gover nor's recommendations—and they generally admit that the suggest ed appropriations would be fine if they "only had the money"— it will be a victory for the liberal ! tv-aded bv the G.oyfi'r'iAgJ This would make nice campaign fdk for. th<* liber.?! gubernatone! candidate in 1952. If they stick to the policy of no appropriations other than those advocated by the Advisory Budget (Continued on page eight) *-o Precinct Law To Have Little Effect The proposed law to limit to 1,000 the number of qualified voters that eould be registered in any one precinct, will have little effect in this county. At the present time there is ( only one voting precinct, Wi! j liamston No. 2, with more than j 1,000 registered voters. Roberson - I ville has about 975 and Williams- ] ton No. 1 has slightly more than i 900. Jamesville is next with 683 I registered voters, and the num- ! her ranges in the other precincts ! from about 250 to slightly more | than 500. * OFF TO WILSON ] j With two busses, an instru ment truck and several cars, the Williamston High School Band left for Wilson at 9:30 this morning to take part in the parade of the District Lions convention to be held at 2 o'clock this afternoon. The local band has won honors in two previous dis trict parades: and last summer won first place in the state convention parade at Char lotte. It is understood that Direc tor Jack Butler and his young musicians have prepared some special numbers for the event. Two Injured In Series of Road Sireet Accidents —— Total of Kipclil Aeenlents In County During Past Several Days Two persons were injured, one seriously, in a series of motor ve i hide accidents on the streets and I highways of the county during ! the past few days. Tillmon Riddick, 40-year-old ! colored man of Williams Town I ship, suffered a compound leg i fracture, bruises about the body i and possibly internal injuries, when he walked into Wjlliarns ; ton's Washington Street near the | Crystal Grill and was struck by c ear driven by Willie Gus Wiggins about 7:15 o’clock last Saturday : night, lie was reported to be re covering in the Martin General Hospital. Wiggins, Negro tenant farmer, was driving into town when Rid dick, said to have been drinking, stepped suddenly into the street. The victim was knocked several feet and into the path of a pick up truck approaching from the other direction. One of his shoes was picked up twenty-five feet away. H. H. Cowen, Jr., driving the pick-up, stopped before strik ing the victim and got out and i helped make arrangements to get | him to the hospif'l. No charges 1 were filed against Wiggins im ' mediately. J. E. Hedrick, Jamesville man, was cut on one finger and skinned about the face and bruised in a car-truck accident near Holly Springs on Highway 64 list Thurs day afternoon at 2:30 o clock. He was entered in the Martin Gene ral Hospital for treatment, and is getting along all right. Investigating the accident. Pa trolman J. T. Rowe said a log truck broke down, that Jack Hardison, driving an oil truck belonging to the Williamston Oil Company, parked the vehicle be side the road to offer assistance. Learning he could render no as sistance, he started to turn around by hacking the truck into the highway. Hardison explained that he saw the Hedrick car approach ing^mn^Ure east, but thought it The truck was just j across the center „ hne. /when the j ear ran under the back end, doing ; about $150 damage to the truck.! Damage to the car, a 1950 Ford, was estimated at about $900. Early last Tuesday evening, j Elvin Hardy Rawls lost control of I his 1946 Mercury in a blind curve | on a dirt road near Bear Grass, i and the machine skidded, turning I over into a ditch. No one was j hurt, but Patrolman B. W. Parker: i investigating the accident, esfi- I mated the damage at $150. j Thursday afternoon at 4:00 1 o’clock, John T. Rowe, driving a (Continued on Page Eight) ---* Hritishers S/iemling Ttt u With Frivnds Mr and Mrs. W. C. Williams and son, Roger, of Worchester, England, arrived Sunday to spend two weeks here with Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Bridgen. Mr. and Mrs. Bridgen met the Williams family while they were in England during World War II, Committoe Named To Help Handle Chapter Program ■—«— IVoji'i'l Approved; Special Blooilmohile To Make A Rim Out of Norfolk -— Plans for establishing a Red Cross Blood Bank in this county were virtually completed at a meeting of local Red Cross chap ter representatives last Thursday afternoon, and arrangements arc to be made within the next week or ten days for operating a spec ial Red Cross bloodmobile out of Norfolk. Addressing the meeting, Dr. Chas. I Harris of Martin General Hospital, explained the urgent need for a blood bank in this area and cited many advantages to be expected from the bank. The chairman explained that the demand for blood transfusions is rapidly increasing, that only with a blood bank can emergen cies be met successfully. It was pointed out that the blood bank system avoids delays and often reduces the time a patient has to "spend in a hospital. The supply will be made avail able to civilians and the military without charge, it was explained. The blood bank will make avail able the types that arc rare or hard to locate, and will eliminate costly tests, it was also pointed out. There’ll be no waste to the pro gram because all whole blood not used within a certain time is to be concerted into plasma or used for other purposes. Special arrangements had to be made to bring the Red Cross Bloodmobile into this chapter since operations are ordinarily limited to a 100-mile operating radius The schedule to include this chapter was recently approv ed, and Miss Margaret Margrave of the American Red Cross Tide water Regional Blood Center in Norfolk, is to come here within a short time to arrange a sched ule and handle other details. A short time ago, the Bloodmo bile made its first trip to Ply mouth and received more than 100 pints of blood. It is believed that it will do equally as well if not better In .this ehapisvy.,.. The Martin County National Guardsmen have volunteered more than fifty pints of blood as a starter, and it is possible that there'll be more donors than the Bloodmobile can handle. The Bloodmobile, fully equip ped and staffed by eight nurses and one or more doctors, leaves Norfolk about 6:00 a. m. and: has its equipment set up and ready for the first donors about 10:00 o'clock. Incidentally, free meals are furnished the donors. After working about six hours, the Bloodmobile packs up its equipment for the return trip to its base. At the present time, the Bloodmobile is operating in twelve Northeastern North Caro lina chapters and twenty in Vir ginia The local chapters accept costs, !.;nd about three trips will tfr-ffiafk m the • t t/ar«*r»vi~a'-yt?ur. Working with Dr. Harris on the committee in this chapter ale V ■I. Spivey and Wheeler Manning, chairman and co-chairman of j blood donor recruiting; Mrs. Gar land Woolard, chairman of volun teer services, and Al Sweatt, chairman of information services. While funds in the local chap ter treasury are almost depleted, emergency measures will be tak en to launch the blood bank pro ject without waiting for the an nual Red Cross fund drive in March. ->o lia/tluraH Manning On Jam anvil I a Com m ittaa -* In a special meeting last Thurs day evening, the Martin County Board of Education upon the mo tion of Member F. W. Holliday elected Ben Styons as a member of the Jamesville School Commit tee. Styons succeeds Bill Man ning w'ho recently moved from Jamesville to Plymouth. I Soys Are Charged tittihJLsuu&in'g A 15-Year-Old Girl —4,— YicVihi Discharged Follow-1 ing Treatment In Hos pital Monday Charged with attacking a 15 year-old girl whose identity was not immediately revealed, James Hardison, young white man, Was placed in the county jail early . Monday morning, and a warrant, charging the same offense, was sent to Fayetteville for the arrest of Samuel R Hardison, brother of the first defendant. The victim was treated in a Wil liamston hospital and released fol lowing an examination and treat ment Monday morning. Samuel Hardison and an army acquaintance whose name could not be learned, came to the county from Fort Bragg to spend the week-end with Hardison's rela tives. Sunday evening the two ai my men got Hardison's brother, James to take them to Fort Bragg. Accompanied by Rachel Lee Bail ey, Johnny Hardison and Mere dith Cherry and the victim, the two army racn and James Hardi son started for Fort Bragg Sur.daV evening. They stopped near Wilson where Samuel Hardison allegedly attack ed the young girl. The two sold iers arc said to have decided to leave the party there. On the return trip, James Hard ison got his brother to drive and in or near Rocky Mount James al legedly attacked the girl in the back se;it while the other three were in the front. James allegedly attacked her again near Everetts. According to Sheriff M. W Hol loman, the Bailey girl heard the girl struggling and crying, and the witness told the officer that she tried to get the boys to leave the girl alone. "But they wouldn’t," she wits quoted as saying Meredith Cherry, auout 15 years old, said he heard the victim strug gling and crying. James Hardison admitted the at tacks, but denied employing force. No statement could be had from the other alleged attacker. Sheriff Johnson of Cumberland County told Sheriff Holloman over the telephone Monday that he would contact army authoiities and call for Hardison’s arrest. A warrant was mailed there earlier in the day. About 2:30 o'clock Monday morning, the youthful victim was ;;"a1 out iii the'CJi hi ’tiiO ihah hear her home in the Bear Grass sec tion. She went into the house cry (Continued on page eight) --$>_ Representative Gets Assignments E. U Anderson, Martin County's representative in the State Legis lature, drev% some good commit tee assignments from House Speaker Frank Taylor last week. Mr Anderson holds places on eight committees, many of them in major listings. He is a member of the following committees: finance, agriculture, counties, cities and towns, public utilities, salaries and fees, eor por^toii, omldmgs and grounds, penal institutions and puB'iic' welfare. Anderson, who sided with loser Fred Royster in the fight for the House speakership, failed to be tapped by Speaker Frank Taylor for the chairmanship of any com mittee. Assignment to the agri culture, utilities, and welfare committees—in addition to fi nance—seems to indicate, how ever, that the speaker was not vindictive against those w'ho were against him for the House’s num ber one job. Charged With Theft Of Several Chickens Charged with the theft of .sev eral chickens from James Best near Hassell last Saturday night, Fhad Clark was arrested and plac ed in the county jail Monday morning by Deputies Raymond Rawls arid Cecil Bullock. Clark, seeing the officers as they approached, ran into I.ee Perkins’ home and crawled under the bed. General Assembly First Full Week 1'lmm'nlum of Sales' ’Tax K\eui|itioii* I'i’opl; Bv the Governor Raleigh—The General Assembly wound up its first full week with | an air of readiness to settle down to the serious work of fixing Stute spending and taxing policies for the next two years, The joint appropriations com mittee had its first get-together and heard Assistant Director of the Budget Dave Coltrane outline the balanced $303,000,000 General Fund budget. “There was no desire on the part of the governor or any mem ber of the Advisory Budget Com mission to cut out any items,” he said “There wasn’t any more money—it's up to the legislature to find that money if it wants these extra services.” Coltrane advised against contin gent pay raises, which he said "de feat the purpose of the budget act”, said completion of buildings —already appropriated for— would cost 30 to 40 percent more than allotted: declared that an increase of estimated income would endanger the whole bud | get. He held open the door to in creasing estimated income—now tabbed at $292,000,000 for the next two years -saying a better picture would Jjo available when the in come tax payments came due March 15. On the finance committee front ‘Revenue Commissioner Eugene Shaw reviewed the State’s fiscal policy, which he said was sound. The finance committee is the most powerful ol the legislature, he said, because it has the power to levy taxes He said there has been no deficit spending in North Carolina; called for three "E’s" in taxation Efficiency, Enforce ment, and Equality- noted that the teachers will get their $7,000, 000 contingency pay raise at the end of this fiscal year June 30, and said that three-fourths of the general fund revenue comes from the income and sales taxes. Senator Grady Rankin of Gas ton called lor appointment of an Appropriations sub-committee to “restudy” the upspent balance of permanent improvements author ized by the 1947 and 1949 Legis latures. This totals some $30,000, 000 worth of building slated for -DtSflfsl -“s4..'.*.*-'.*.''-a. , w,,,,■ : and colleges, N, C. State Fair, aiid other units of the State govern ment. Rankin wanted tins sub committee to make recommenda tions as to advisability of continu ing or eliminating some of these appropriations. New state-wide bills introduced included: One sponsored by Rep. Winfield | of Forsyth to set up a "Better ' Government Commission” to study the administrative agencies (Continued on page eight) -<*» lltffi Wrevk» Car On Highway 64 Moutlay A loose hog ran into the high way and wrecked H. M. (Iluck) Ayers’ ear between Williamston and i lute' MoiiC-'iy uller n’oon. No one was hurt, but dam age io'uic car was estimated at $7f) by Cp| T Fearing of the Highway Patrol. It was the ninth accident re ported on the streets and high ways in this county since last Tuesday. i IMH.WMJP J Crime, including one of flic most sordid and degrading acts in all the books, broke loose in the county last week end. Twelve persons were ar rested and Jailed, warrants are pending in several other cases. Five were arrested fur pub lic drunkenness, two for as sault, and one each for forni cation and aduter.v, investiga tion .larceny and receiving and operating a motor vehicle without a driver's license. Six were white, and the ages ranged from a low of 17 to a high of 59 years. Buildings In Martin County 'Tasking Martin Farmers To Plant 6,000 Cotton Acres \ In a public meeting held in the courthouse last Thursday after noon, an appeal was directed to Marlin County farmers, asking them to plant approximately (i.000 acres of cotton this year to help rebuild rapidly diminishing stocks. Last year They planted 3,400 acres but harvested the smallest number of bales in many years. It is expected that the acreage will be increased this year, and that plans will be made to poison the crop more extensive ly in an effort to check the boll weevil. Attended b> cotton farmers, farm agents, fertilizer men and representatives of insecticide manufacturers, the meeting last Thursday heard the cotton situa tion discussed from several angles. It was pointed out that farmers right here in this county produced more than a bah' per acre by care- , ful poisoning the weevils The government is recommend- ; ing an acreage this year that will produce sixteen million bales There are no allotments and re- ; gardless of plantings, the entire crop will be supported at 90 per- j cent of parity, meaning that at I least 92 cents will be phid for I every pound. By the time the 19.r>l crop starts moving to market there'll be less than one million bales of cotton on hand. It is be- | lioved that farmers in this county can plant (1,000 acres to the crop ; without creating hardships or up setting the farm program. R. T. Griffin, chairman of the Martin I’.-M. A. committee, and T. B. Brandon were named to 1 work with various groups, look ing toward an increased cotton ! acreage in the county this year, l Delay Action On Contract for New Health Building llmltli Oilin' Bids About $9,(MK) Above Latent Kntinuiten While the education board i.s tussling with a $60,000 building problem, the Martin County Com missioners had a $0,000 problem dumped into their lap last Friday afternoon when they opened bids for the construction of a county health center. The low bid on the general construction was sub mitted by J. T. Hardison of Wash ington and amounted to $114,962. J N Bryan and Son of Raleigh were next with a bid of $35,083, and P. S. West Contsruetion Com pany of Greenville was third with a bid of $36,550. Hub Electric Company of Greenville was low bidder on the electrical contract with a price of $4,673, and C. J Demers of New Bern was next with a bid of $4,985. Corey Plumbing and Heating Company of Williamston was low Wiui a ni< 1 oII .pa,240 on the plumb ing contract C L. Russ was-sec ond with a bid of $5,257, and Rural Plumbing and Heating Company was third with a $5, 766.61 bid. C. L. Russ of Greenville was low bidder on the heating contract with a price of $5,360, and Rural j Plumbing and Heating Company i was second with a bid of $7,755.96. The cost of the building, in 1 eluding wiring, plumbing and heating, amounted to $50,025. The architect’s fees boosted the cost by $3,015.30. Equipment added $4,500 to the cost, and an cmeren cy fund boosted the total by $1, 229.70, making a grand total cost of $59,000. The Medical Care Commission has agreed to pay $36,318.15 on the building, leaving the county to finance p22,0dl.f>a of tin- cost. Discussing t.he^bids, the com missioners agreed to appeal to the Commission for funds. Dui ing the meantime, the architect was instructed to confer with the low bidders and sec if alterations could be made in qn effort to re duce the costs. It i.s possible that two or three thousand dollars or possibly more can be saved by eliminating cer tain items, but it is fairly definite that the county will have to ab sorb the excess costs if the con tracts submitted last Friday are (Continued on page eight) -o lludly Idil In Freak Accident Here Friday Levi Hill, colored, was badly cut on the arm by Odel Hart, also colored, at the Hitching Post cafe on Sycamore Street here last Fri day night. And it was just an ac cident, it was reported. A knife was planted deep in tin victim’s arm and severed blood vessels caused him to lose much blood JOIN ""MARCH OF DIMES i Frank Dean Goes On Spree, Pulling One In Hospital Jl'ssc Kascor Krcmvriiifg III llo*|iilal From 11 Bail Hoad Wound Said to have gone crazy mad, Frank Deans, young colored man, | cleaned things up around the Lit- ! tie Savoy cafe on Washington Street hi re early last Saturday j nignt But the action cost him quite a bit of blood and gained | him a place in the county jail. The nature of the trouble, mark ing the beginning of a wild at tack, has not been disclosed. At .first, it was thought Deans was playing, but a short time later I the blood started spurting and I witnesses said they knew he! i meant sure enough business. Arthur Lee Jones said Deans hit at him with a board. “I thought he was playing, but play or no play, I left for home,” Jones was quoted as saying Deans next turned on James Goss and bit him in the chest. Offering no cause for the action, Deans said Jesse Kaseoc started on him witii a knife, that he (Deans) crowned him over the head with a board, cracking the man’s skull m two place:; and sending hi?.!’ to } the hospital Ita-coc was said to have responded to treatment, and" is expected to recover. Deans, still a bit hazy about how , it. all happened, says he was cut when lie fell down on some glass. There was several-stitch gash in ; his left leg, and cuts on both hands and both arms. Following hospital treatment, he was placed in jail. About that time, a free-for-all light was taking place not tar a way, but details could not be had. Minii (ireen Joins The Hear (iron* Faculty Miss Billie Green of Gates has , joined the Bear Grass faculty and entered her new duties in the social science and physical edu cation departments Monday morn ing. Miss Green was just recently graduated from East Carolina Teachers College, Greenville, and | is making her home with Mrs. ] Effie Rogers. ‘ BoarlMPiaposm§r To Limit Program To Two Projects Selinol Contraets, After Cuts, Are $60,000 Above Allotments Sky-high costs are just about to upset a proposed public building program in this county, and of ficials admittedly know not which way to turn or just what to do. At the present time, contracts are pending the outcome of appeals for more funds and building plan alterations. Last week when the county board of education opened bids or, three school projects, costs ex ceeded allotments by more than $110,000 The architect revised the plans and cut costs by $29,7111.00. But the action left the costs about $00,000 above allotments, and un less that amount can be found some where, at least part of the program is doomed. Upon a motion by Board Mem ber Cecil Powell, seconded Dy Member Ernest Edmondson and supported by Member F. W Hol liday, the board ordered contracts be let for the construction of a Negro school in Williamston and a gymnasium in Kobersonville, leaving the contract for an addi tion to the Williamston high school buildmg to be left if funds can be made available. The board chairman, J. D. Woolard, was in structed to meet and discuss the problem with the county com missioners last Friday. Ail the commissioners were not present for the special meeting at that time, and the matter was delayed until tomorrow when the com missioners are to meet in a sec ond special session The meeting, attended by J. D. Woolard, chairman, and Cecil Powell, Ernest Edmondson and Ferd W Holliday, lasted for about three hours. Board Member Geo. Griffin was unable to attend on account of illness. Discussing the projects with the board. Architect Griffith of Greenvi'le said that $29,781 could be saved by eliminating the pro positi addition to the Williamston white school building. A detailed schedule of reductions follows: c ontract: change row! constructioii to wood to save $2,400.00, omit shop wing to save $14,000.00; elec trical contract: change roof con struction to wood, adding $150.00, omit shop wing, savin" $725.00; plumbing contract: omit shop wing, saving $89.00; heating con tract, omit shop wing, saving $1, 808.00, use unit heaters in cafe, saving $651.00. Robersonville gymnasium — General contract: Change roof construction to wood, saving $2, 700.00. omit cafe rolling door, sav ing $400.00; electrical contract: change roof construction to wood, adding $117.00; plumbing contract, no changes; heating contract, no changes. Williamston Colored Elunen ' school General contract Change roof construction to wood, uVTAg" $4,500.00, electrical con tract: change roof construction to wood, adding $125.00; no changes in plumbing contract or heating (Continued on page eight) --o - —■ ■ ■ Plan Second Draft Board For County In the event of a complete na tional emergency, a second draft board would be created in this county, according to information coming from the office of State Selective Service Director T. H. Upton in Raleigh. The number of boards in the State would be in creased, under the new plan, to 257. Martin County wuuld be divid ed into two districts with the pos sibility that Jamesville, Williams, Griffins, Bear Grass and Wil liamston forming one, and Cross I Roads, RobersonvilJe, Popular j Point, Hamilton and Goose Nest I forming the other.