The Roanoke Beacon + + * * * * * and Washington County News ******* Plymouth, Washington County, North Carolina, Friday, December 9, 19.38 A home newspaper dedicated to the service of Washington County and its 12,000 people. VOLUME XLIX—NUMBER 49 ESTABLISHED 1889 Town opics “It is rather unusual to be de layed in the matter that I am down here to attend to,” said J. C. Mem ory, of Rocky Mount, representative of the N. C. Unemployment Commis sion, who was here Tuesday to meet two negroes, who were several hours later for their appointment. “The gamblers can be wrong,” said Ben A. Sumner, who has seen lead ing teams of the nation play this fall, “regarding the Duke-U. S. C. Rose Bowl Game on January 2. The gamblers now are backing Southern California, and most of them are broke.” Special ABC Officer L. L. Bas night Wednesday brought in an other still and about three gal lons of whiskey that he captured in the Skinnersville section in a forest bordering on Deane Bate man's place. No operators were found. W. R. Hampton, member of the Board of Conservation and Develop ment, was sick at his home Thurs day and could not be at his office. He was complaining of a pain in his stomach. The Hereford heifer which escaped from L. E. Hassell’s herd, brought here from Florida last week, was cap tured Monday on Highway No. 64 by A. V. Satterthwaite, who was riding a horse by when others were at tempting to catch the elusive ani mal. Charles R. Kirby, regional director, and E. L. Pagington, membership di rector, passed through Plymouth on Tuesday, en route to Elizabeth City, where they plan to organize a lodge of the Loyal Order of Moose. “President Roosevelt has the most magnetic personality of any person that I have ever seen,” said Patrolman Tom Brown upon his return from Chapel Hill, where he was on duty during the visit of the Chief Executive to the University of North Carolina. The Town of Plymouth Council men did not have their regular meet ing Monday, as the group gathered but when those present were counted it was dsicovered there was not a quorum, so they chatted a few min utes and left. J. Richard Carr made a successful motion at the meeting of the parent teacher association Wednesday night in the Plymouth School that future monthly meetings be held at night so that fathers may attend. -e Control Election Is Topic at Number Farmer Meetings 100 Attend Meet Here Last Saturday; M. A. Morgan Speaker -• Rain prevented better attendance, but then about 100 farmers gathered in the courthouse here Saturday aft renoon and heard M. A. Morgan, as sistant to the administrator of the soil conservation program in the east ern part of the state, predict condi tions that wil exist with and without crop control in 1939. The speaker pointed out that if control failed there would be no cot ton and peanut loans made to farm ers, as is now the case, and that if the control program was not carried Washington County and the state at large might lose some of its present acreage, as Florida and other south aestern states will take up the grow ing of the crop, which is now con trolled in that area by the allotments and Quotas. Mr. Hays also told of his visit to Florida last week where he found many new tobacco bams being built as farmers there were apparently planning to turn to tobacco as one of their main cash crops. If this section ever loses control of produc tion, it will never be regained, ac cording to his view, even if control is voted in later years. Mr. Hays held a similar meeting in Creswell Monday night with about 36 present and another in Roper on Wednesday night, with about 50 pres ent. He explained the farm program for the coming year and the condi tions likely to result if the crop con trol program failed to carry at the polls Saturday. -® Banquet Planned By Local Moose Wednesday Night —®— Visitors From Washington And Norfolk Expected To Attend -® Moose from Washington and Nor folk are expected to join the local fraternity members in a banquet at the Juniper Lodge Wednesday from 7 to 8:30 p. m., when the order will celebrate its foundation with food, speeches, music and entertainment. Harold Jones, of Rocky Mount, who once attended the Mooseheart school of the fraternity with his wife and probably others from that city are expected to be present also. Zeb Vance Norman, local attorney, will be the principal speaker of the occasion, but there will be fraternity members from Norfolk and Washing ton, who are expected to take part in the program also. A. P. Whealton, dictator of the lo cal lodge, will preside over the affair, and it is expected that about 50 Moose and their wives will enjoy the occasion. Domestic Servants Must Have Health Certificates Bv S. V. LEWIS. M. D. District Health Officer Venereal disease patients holding health cretificates who have been un der treatment either by the health department clinic or by private phy sicians, and who have discontinued treatment without permission, will have their health certificates revoked if they fail to return for treatment on December 13, 1938. All such patients as mentioned above who are found to be working as domestic servants after December 13th, without a bona fide health cer tificate, will be liable to indictment for failure to comply with the pub lic health ordinance requiring that all domestic servants botain and have bona fide health certificates. There are a great number of do mestic servants working in Washing ton County who have been taking anti-syphilitic treatment that have discontinued treatment without per mission, and they may be a great source of danger to the people in the homes in which they are employed. All persons having such servants em ployed are requested to assist in hav ing such patients return to the clin ic or to a private physician for treat ment. In the event they take treatment from a private physician it will be necessary for them to bring a state ment from the physician showing they have been treated each week, otherwise a health certificate will not be issued. The examination of all domestic servants is done without cost, and no charge is made for issuing the health certificate. The State and Federal governments have provided means for the treatment of indigent venereal disease patients without cost to them, and it is the purpose of the health department to see that such patients take treatment, and those refusing treatment will be com mitted to jail in accordance with the North Carolina state law for the con trol of venereal diseases. Few Changes Made in County Official Group f DECORATION PRIZES | v' The Plymouth Woman's Club is offering a first prize of $3 and a second prize of $2 for the most attractively decorated home for Christmas, it was announced this week by Mrs. W. A. Davidson, president of the club. These decorations must be in place by Sunday, December 18, and Mrs. Davidson urges as many as possible to enter into the spirit of the occasion and com pete for these prizes. A similar contest conducted last year at the same season was very satisfactory, and a large number of homes were entered. Number Prominent Men Expected for Big Bear Hunt Soon —®— Movies To Be Taken of Chase By News Cameramen; Date Uncertain -@ Plans for a big bear hunt, with a number of important persons partic ipating, are being arranged here by W. R. Hampton, member of the State Board of Conservation and Develop ment, who hopes that a movie will be made of the hunt for the news reels. A famous pack of about 50 hounds from the western part of the state will be used in the hunt. The date has not been set as yet, but it was tentatively agreed that it was to be held Monday. Mr. Hamp ton had not heard from the inter ested officials at noon Thursday and did not know exactly who would par ticipate. It was first thought that Vice Pres ident "Jack” Garner would lead the distinguished group of hunters, but word was received this week that he would be unable to attend prior to the Christmas holidays; and it may be that the hunt will be staged with out him. News-reel oniciais Deneve tne evem. may be a thriller for the public, and Mr, Hampton has a letter from them stating they would have cameramen here when the hunt takes place, but there has been difficulty in arrang ing a suitable date for all concerned. Mr. Hampton was ill this week, and it is possible the hunt will be post poned for a few days. As it stands now, nothing can be done until Mr. Hampton recovers from his illness un less the others who are to engage in the hunt go ahead with the plans themselves, which is unlikely. - New Teacher Is Employed Here Plymouth High School officials de cided to employ a man for the fac ulty to replace Miss Ida Fuller, whose resignation becomes effective at the Christmas vacation, according to Principal R. B. Trotman. The au thorities have employed John Weaver, of Santa Rosa, Texas, a graduate of Wake Forest College, who was highly recommended as a history teacher as well as athletic coach. The newcomer is a nephew of the former Wake Forest coach, Jim Weaver, and he played end on the varsity football team there for two years, as well as participating in baseball, basketball and track. Miss Fuller will be married to W. E. Dunstan, of Elizabeth City, on De cember 28. --® Christmas Sing Planned At Episcopal Church Here A Christmas sing will be held at the Grace Episcopal Church Sunday evening, December 18, from 5 to 6 p. m., it was learned from Mrs. Laura S. Johnston, who is training children and adults to participate. The public is invited to attend. A silver offering will be taken, Bonds Checked and Approved by Board After Oaths Taken J. R. Campbell Elected Chair man of Board; List of Appointments Only a few changes were made Monday morning when the newly elected officers in Washington Coun ty took over the affairs of govern ment with little formality except for the oath-taking by the elective of ficials. The old board of county commis sioners, J. M. Clagon, Frank L. Brink ley, and E. F. Swain, met and opened the meeting, and, after passing on bills that had been contracted during their term of office, turned the af fairs over to J. R. Campbell, J. C. Knowles and E. F. Swain, compris ing the new board, with Mr. Camp bell being named chairman. The Branch Banking and Trust Company was again named as the official depository for the funds of the county. After the officials had taken their respective oaths of office, their bonds were inspected and accepted, as fol lows: J. K. Reid, sheriff, $5,000 bond by the National Surety Company, of Goldsboro and New York; W. D. Peal, deputy sheriff, $1,000, by the Na tional Surety Company, of New York; W. L. Hassell, treasurer, $15,000, by Maryland Casualty Company, Balti more; W. H. (Jack) Peele, coroner, $2,000, by Maryland Casualty Com pany, Baltimore; C. V. W. Ausbon, clerk of court, $5,000, by H. S. Ward, Mrs. Mattie J. Ausbon and W. R. Hampton; Mrs. Mary S. Cahoon, reg ister of deeds, $2,500, by National Surety Company, of New York. W. Ronald Gaylord was named as prosecuting attorney of recorder’s court at $60 monthly, to succeed W. M. Darden, who was employed by the board at $25 monthly as county at torney, succeeding Z. V. Norman. S. A. Ward, jr., was named assistant county attorney at $25 monthly. J. E. Davenport was reappointed county tax collector at a salary of j $150 monthly and Eli J. (Jack) Spruill was renamed county auditor at the same salary. L. L. Basnight was retained as keeper of the county home for $50 monthly and operator of the county farm for $45 monthly. Christmas Cantata At Creswell Church —*— A three-part Christmas cantata will be presented at the Creswell Bap tist church Sunday morning at 11 o’clock, with an instrumental pre lude arranged for presentation also. The following will sing in the can tata: Sopranos, Mesdames A. C. Har ris, J. M. Phelps, Misses Virginia Phelps, Marjorie Bateman, Theda Hopkins, Ada V. Hopkins: altos, Mes dames A. H. Tucker, A. L. Holmes, Glenn Mann, Miss Mary P. Peterson; baritones, C. L. Hopkins, R. T. Hop kins, Bob Merritt, Lloyd Norman, Glenn Mann, Ray Cox, and Billy Hopkins. Playing instruments in the prelude will be Miss Theda Hopkins, saxo phone; Bob Merritt, trumpet; and Mrs. R. T. Hopkins, piano. Colored Man Missing Since Early Monday Is Believed Drowned —«— Mengle Combs, 69, Cast Seen Starting for Fish Nets Up River Searchers today were looking for the body of Mengle Combs, 60, be lieved drowned in Roanoke River. He was last seen by his wife Monday morning at 6 o'clock when he left in a boat for his fish nets up the river. Aaron Pettiford, colored, was com ing down the river toward Plymouth late in the afternoon when he recog nized the flat-type rowboat owned by Combs drifting in the water. Inclined to believe that something was wrong, Pettiford rowed his boat alongside the Combs craft and found only a gun in it. Combs' wife was notified .after Pettiford returned here and re ported the matter, but up to Thurs day morning searchers were unable to locate the body of Combs. It was said that one of the boots which Combs wore was found near the boat, and it was thought he might have been trying to remove them when he was drowned. Combs, at one time, was employed in the freight department of the At lantic Coast Line Railroad station here. -s To Discontinue Free Lunches at School Until Need Decided Investigation To Be Made by Committee; P.-T. A. Meet Held Wednesday -@ Free lunches now being served in the Plymouth High School will be discontinued with the closing of the school for the Christmas holidays, pending an investigation as to the needs of the 50 children who are re ceiving them, it was decided by the parent-teacher association in session Wednesday night. It was revealed at the meeting, at tended by 100 parents, that there was a deficit incurred by the lunch room amounting to $18.78, brought about by a reduction in sales and the in crease to 50 of the number of free lunches served daily. Mrs. J. W. Read, president, is to appoint a committee to investigate the need of the applicants for the lunches and to go into the matter at once so that the worthy children may have free lunches again when school opens after the holidays. John W. Darden made a talk on “The Attitude of People in Regard to the Schools,” explaining the differ ence between the schools of today in comparison with those 28 years ago, when he started in school work in the county. The Rev. P. B. Nickcns spoke on “The Social Activities of the School.” Refreshments were served and the visitors viewed the exhibitions of the work of students in W. S. Moore's vo cational agriculture class and Miss , Emma Coley’s home economics de partment. - Christmas Service At School on 14th A community Christmas service will be held at the Plymouth High School in the auditorium at 8 o’clock on the evening of Wednesday, De cember 14, it was announced today by Principal R. B. Trotman. Ministers have been asked to can cel their midweek prayer service and request that their congregations at tend this service, the principal said. Forty voices in the high school glee club will sing a cantata, consisting of new and old Christmas carols. Mr, Trotman has been assisted in training these girls by Miss Ida Ful ler. Scout Officials Will Meet Monday Night -*-‘ The annual meeting of Scout offic ials of the Washington County dis trict will take place at the Plymouth Country Club Monday at 7:30 in the evening, it was announced today by Dr. A. Papineau, district chairman. In addition to all Scoutmasters, cubmasters, troop committeemen, and chairmen of the district committees, according to Dr. Papineau, all of those interested in scouting are also urged to attend. J. J. Sigwald, scout executive, of Wilson, and his assistant, George Thomason, will be present and an outside speaker will be present also. Cotton and Tobacco Farmers To Vote Saturday on Application of Quotas To Those Crops in 1939 Building and Loan Stockholders Meet: Off icers Reelected Annual Meeting Held Wednes day Night; One Change In Direetorate Reelection of Eugene F. Still as president and J. C. Tarkenton as vice president took place following the election of directors at the annual meeting of stockholders in the Plym outh Building and Loan Association in the council chambers of the town Wednesday night. The directors who were elected by , the stockholders went into session immediately to name the officers. All members of the old board of directors were reelected except T. C. Burgess, who is very ill, and who was succeed ed by Wilbur M. Darden. It took the nominating committee only a few minutes to recommend election of the following as directors: Robert L. Tetterton, W. M. Darden, J. L. Horton. L. S. Thompson, B. G. Campbell, J. R. Manning, and H. E. Beam. The election was unanimous. It was reported that the organiza tion during its first year realized a small profit and that the association had helped 15 applicants build new homes, repair their old homes, or to refinance their homes to save them. Following this, the directors passed a couple of loans and adjourned. -1 County and Towns Get New Flat Rate From V. E. & P. Co. —®— Saving of $50 Monthly Will Be Effected by County; Get Flat 2-Cent Rate -A A saving of $50 monthly was effect ed by the Washington County Com missioners Monday when they enter ed into a contract with the Virginia Electric & Power Company for cur rent at a flat rate of 2 cents per kilo watt hour. The new rate applies to current used in all of the county buildings, courthouse, county home, agriculture building, and was secured as the result of the recent rate reduc tion schedule filed by the V. E, P. Co. It is required that each county or municipal governing body sign an agreement to purchase power from the same company for a period of 10 years in order to secure the reduced rates. Clerk M. W. Spruill, of the Town of Plymouth, said that the city coun cil did not meet Monday night and that nothing had been said to him about the matter by V. E. & P. Co. representatives, but he believes the town will also secure the advantage of the lower rates. At the present time the power com pany furnishes current for the street lights of the town free, under a con dition of the sale of the franchise, and this continues for several years. It is understood that Roper and Creswell will get the advantage of the new rate, and it is expected to include the street lighting in those towns. Each of them appropriate a fairly large percentage of their total budget for street lighting purposes. -S 16 Pupils Here Get A On .All Subjects Sixteen boys and girls in the ele mentary department of the Plymouth schools made grade A on every sub ject and thus were entitled to be named on the honor roll released to day by Principal R. B. Trotman for the month of November. The first grade, with 7, led the six grades mentioned in the list, with the sixth grade in second place. There was no high school list made by the principal. The list follows: First grade: Buck Gibson, Irene Basinger, Betty Lou Bateman, Jac quelyn Mizelle, Gilbert Davenport, Betty Jean Jackson, Rosalie Sallinger. Second gTade: Gracelyn Reid, De linda Ann Tetterton. Fourth grade: Joyce Bailey, Ger aldine Harrison. Fifth grade: Helen Carr. Sixth grade: Harry McLean, Au brey Gradeless, Dick Harrison, Mir iam Barron, Charles Brown. Firemen Again Call on Local People For Old Toys and Stress Promptness A few toys have been turned in to the Fire Department for re pairing and distribution to the needy children of the section at Christmas, but Fire Chief L. W. Gurkin this week urged the peo ple to remember this work and to rush their discarded toys to the firemen as early as possible. If it is inconvenient to deliver them, simply call the firemen and they will call for the toys, Chief Gurkin explained that the repainted and repaired toys would do much to brighten the hearts of needy children at Christmas time and urged that the citizens of the town and ad joining country bring in their old broken or discarded toys at once. The firemen must work on the toys during their spare time, and there are only about 14 days left to do this work. The toys must be repaired, repainted and made ready for use by the little tots if they are to completely serve the purposes for which they are in tended. Last year scores of these toys were distributed among the chil dren in the county, and all of them manifested a very appre ciative attitude when they saw that through the good work of the citizens and the firemen that had not been forgotten. County Schools To Close 16th for Tiro Weeks of Holidays With "Christmas in their bones," the children attending the public schools in Washington County will bid farewell to their school work on December 16 for a full two weeks holiday, according to H. H. McLean, county superintendent of public instruction. The boys and girls have the “Chirstmas spirit," as they see the vari-colored lights in the down town area at night, peek into the display windows of the stores and listen for the next few days to the Christmas programs at school. Superintendent McLean said the children would return to their school duties on January 2 for four more months of hard work before the term ends. Elizabeth City Hog Market Will Affect Sales Here But Little County Agent Believes Com petitive Sales Here Will Hold Producers Establishment of a hog market in Eylizabeth City by one of the four large packing houses is not expected to prove a very serious detriment to the success of the operation of the Plymouth Livestock Marketing Asso ciation, County Agent W. V. Hays said today. I he longer distance from the sou thern Albemarle section to Elizabeth City will be one thing in favor of the local market. Another factor favor able to the local sales plant is that the swine are sold here under a sys tem of competitive bidding, whereas the one in Elizabeth City will be owned by one concern, and their price must be accepted or the hogs sold elsewhere. Many of the hogs sold on the lo cal market come from Tyrrell, Wash ington, Martin, Bertie and counties farther up-state, and only a small portion have come from across the sound. Mr. Hays was of the opinion that the Shawboro market would be great ly handicapped, as it is near enough to the Elizabeth City market to lose some business, but Mr. Hays be lieves that his sales once each week will continue to be supported by the growers. Most of those who sell hogs in Plymouth are members of the asso ciation, and their loyalty as well as the higher prices that are usually re ceived here should prove sufficient hold up the sales. -® Special Services at Episcopal Church Here Next Monday -® District Meeting With Com mission on Evangelism Is Sehednled A district meeting with the Com mission on Evangelism wall be held at Grace Episcopal Church here, be ginning with Holy Communion at 10 o'clock and closing some time in the afternoon next Monday, December 12, it was announced this week by the Rev. Sidney Matthews, of Wash ington, rector of the local church. Conducting this meeting will be the Rev. Jack R. Rountree and the Rev. William Latta, assisted by the Rev. Mr. Matthews. Roper, Creswell, and Columbia parishes are in this district, and a large delegation is expected from each of these churches. Miss Catherine Sherman, daughter of Dr. Sherman, who is head of the "Forward Movement” in the Episco pal Church, will give a talk on re ligious education at the Sunday school hour, which begins at 10 o’ clock Sunday. Miss Sherman is con nected with the Department of Re ligious Education in the Diocese of North Carolina. The teachers and pupils are urged by Superintendent W. F. Winslow to attend the special Sunday school event. At 11 a. m., Sunday, the morning prayer and celebration of the Holy Communion will take place, with the Rev. Mr. Matthews officiating. Chicken Salad Supper At School Saturday The home economics and vocation al agriculture departments of the Plymouth High School are serving a chicken salad supper Saturday aft ernoon at the Christian church an nex. Christmas gifts made by the boys and girls will also be sold. Tickets are being sold for the sup per this week at 25 cents a plate, with dessert extra. The annex will be open at 2 for the sale of gifts and from 5 to 8 for supper. Tobacco and 70tt Cotton Producers in County Are Eligible —®— Polling Place and Committees In Charge Named; Vote on Each Crop Separately - Cotton and flue-cured tobacco farmers of Washington County, as well as in all other cotton and to bacco producing areas, will go to the polls Saturday of this week, Decem ber 10. to decide whether they want marketing quotas for those crops again in 1939. The voting will be by secret ballot, in community polling places set up by the county AAA committee, and separate ballots will be cast for each crop. It will be a nation-wide referenda, and the total vote of farmers in all states will determine whether the marketing quotas will be in effect next year. A two-thirds majority of approval is required for the quotas to become effective. According to records in the office of County Agent W. V. Hays, there are 708 cotton farmers and 436 to bacco farmers in Washington Coun ty eligible to vote Saturday. It was explained that all growers of flue cured tobacco in 1938 and all produc ers of cotton with a staple length of less than inches this year are eligible. Each grower will have only one vote, even though he operates two or more farms. The polling places and committees in charge of the voting were an nounced this week by the county committee as follows: For farmers of Plymouth Town ship, including Wenona: Agriculture Building in Plymouth; C. W. Bowen, J W.. Snell, A. J. Riddle, and H. G. Simpson, committee. Lees Mill Township farmers will vote in Phelps and Freeman’s store in Roper; the committee there is com posed of R. L. Stillman, R. W. Lewis, J. E. Phelps, and H. D. Davenport. Scuppernong Township farmers will ballot in C. N. Davenport's store at Creswell; with W. D. Phelps, B. A. Williams, and J. R. Snell in charge. Growers of Skinnersville will find their polling place at Joe Pritchard's store; the committee is composed of H. L. Davenport and C. L. Everett. When similar referenda were held last March to vote on application of quotas to the 1938 crop, the vote in Washington County was 96.5 per cent in favor of the control program. Cot ton quotas were approved by a vote of 543 to 15; and tobacco went over by a margin of 332 to 17. The state as a whole voted nearly 90 per cent in favor of control. The election Sat urday is expected to be much closer, as there is some organized opposition to the control programs, particular in states farther south, where the grow ers hope to greatly increase their to bacco acreage. Under the program in effect this year, Washington County's total cot ton allotment was 2,707.7 acres, and for tobacco 1,543 acres. Practically all of the tobacco acreage was plant ed, but heavy rains reduced the yield to an estimated 300 pounds per acre. tContinue on page four) -®-. J ury List Drawn by County Board lor Next Term of Court -«. Two Weeks Mixed Term To Begin January 9; Judge 1 hompson to Preside Jurors for service at the January two-week mixed term of Washing ton County Superior Court were chosen by the Washington County Commissioners in session here Mon day. Tlris term of court will con vene Monday, January 9th, with Judge C. Everett Thompson sched uled to preside. First Week Plymouth: E. H. Browning, H. S. Gurganus, M. J. Carey, S. A. Bout well, B. O. Bishop, Hardy D. Wil liams, Joe H. Styron, J. E. Swain, E. L. Davenport, J. G. Taylor, Roscoe Bowers. Lees Mills: L. C. Lamb, Alfred Has sell, B. M. Holton, J. A. Jackson, W. T. Spruill, A. R. Phelps, J. D. Kinard, E. R. Lewis, Luke Daniels, Phillip Bowen. E. S. Blount, M. L. Peal and Forest Williams. Skinnersville: M. B. Davenport, E. Pritchett, and E. J. Patrick. Scuppernong: N. H. Ambrose, Alton M. Spear. J. E. Davenport, A. L. Dav enport, James Alexander, Bruce H. Phelps, J. E. Spear. Thomas F. Dav enport. and Chester A. Davenport. Second Week Plymouth: J. H. Jackson, A L. Owens, Joe Jethro, D. B. Harris, H. B Spencer. H. C. Spruill, W. E. Wa ters, A. L. Styron, W. W. Ayers. H. L. Respass, P. O. Price, J. W. Rath. Lees Mills: J. M. Cox. George F. Phelps. A. J. Barnes, R. w. Ayers, Mack J. Davenport. Skinnersville: J. W. Tarkenton and L. C. Spruill. Scuppernong: J. J. Ambrose, Phil lip M. Spruill, W. D. Jordan. Arthur J. Spruill, and S. A. Davenport.