CARTERET COUNTY NEWS-TIMES
C*rtar*t County's Nswspapsr
EDITORIALS TUESDAY, JANUARY 7, 1958
Yes ? But Then Again, No
The State Porta Authority members,
we hope, made a New Year's resolution
to endorse ? soon ? Southern Rail
way's proposed equalization of freight
rates to the port of Morehead City.
The authority's action on this matter
was postponed at the Dec. 3 meeting at
Pinehurst In November, Gov. Luther
Hodges asked the State Utilities Com
mission to make a study of the proposed
rates, setting forth the benefits that
would accrue to the state if Southern's
proposals went through.
While such a study is desirable, since
it would have the aura of an objective
report, it is ridiculous to think that
Southern Railway would recommend a
lowering of freight rates into Morehead
City unless those lowered rates would
be beneficial to Southern, to the port
and to the state of North Carolina.
Wilmington actively opposed the
lower rates at a hearing in the fall at
Atlanta, Ga., before the Southern
Freight Association. The rates were
also opposed by other port cities along
the east coast.
Southern placed the proposal before
the Southern Freight Association in the
hope of gaining the association's sup
port when the rates are taken to the In
terstate Commerce Commission for the
ICC's approval.
Referring to Wilmington's action at
Atlanta, a Southern Railway spokes
man told the SPA at ita December
meeting that he was "amazed and sur
prised to find any opposition in North
Carolina to the proposed decrease in
rates which should bring more traffic
to the port at Morehead." He added
that the proposed lower .rates would
not hurt Wilmington.
The state did not see fit to speak up
in support of Southern's proposal at the
Atlanta hearing. The former state
port's director, Col. Richard Marr, said
prior to the hearing that one of his staff
would be there merely as an observer.
The state of North Carolina cannot
expect Southern Railway to develop
the port of Morehead City when it gives
only lip-service support to Southern.
Saying that the SPA endorses anything
that favors North Carolina and North
Carolina ports is not enough. Stands
must be taken on specific issues.
Southern Railway is, in itself, a tell
ing force. But in some instances, offi
cial North Carolina backing of South
ern is ? and will be ? necessary if the
port of Morehead City is to thrive.
To deny Southern the SPA's blessing
on its proposed lower rates into More
head is to follow the philosophy of the
mother in this rhyme:
"Mother, mother, may I go out to
swim?"
"Yes, my darling daughter, hang
your clothes on a hickory limb, but
don't go near the water!"
Religious Query Dropped
The Census Bureau is to be com
mended for dropping the proposed
question on the li?60 census, "What is
your religion?"
One's religion is a private and per
sonal affair. It is not within the gov
ernment's province, according to the
Constitution of this country, to become
involved in religious matters. Pressure
has been brought to bear upon the gov
ernment, by certain religious groups, to
conduct a religious census.
If churches want religious data, let
the church denominations do their own
investigating. Citizens in this country
have the privilege of following no re
ligion, if their conscience so dictates.
As pointed out in an editorial in this
column six months ugo, government is
becoming involved, in another way, in
religious affairs. Heads of state and
mayors of towns are frequently called
upon to proclaim religious observances,
such as days of prayer, or worldwide
communion.
Such proclamations do not fall with
in the province of government. The
government officials may soon work
themselves into a maze of trouble. They
probably feel that one proclamation
here and there on a religious observ
ance is not "going to hurt anything".
When the proclamation concerns a
religious majority in the government
official's jurisdiction, he's probably on
safe ground. But if a minority religious
group asks him to proclaim one of its
religious observances, will the general
public reaction be favorable?
The functions of church and state are
separate. This nation has thrived, thus
far, by closely following that tenet.
Placing a question on religion in the
federal census would be a breach in a
bulwark that could have dangerous
repercussion. Governmental proclama
tion of religious festivals could likewise
have undesirable after-effects.
Persons who enjoy the freedoms this
democracy assures them, and who in
telligently analyze the background of
these freedoms, should have no ill-feel
ing against a government, or govern
ment officials who follow the lawful
practice of keeping church and state
functions separate.
What is Politics?
(New York Times)
"My politics are short and sweet, like
the old woman's dance." (Abraham
Lincoln).
"The Aztec emperors took a public
oath each year to keep the sun on its
course. That may have been the begin
ning of the election promise." (Anon).
"In politics, familiarity doesn't breed
contempt; it breeds votes." (Dr. Paul
Lazarsfeld).
"Running for public office is some
thing like being inebriated. If there's
anything bad in a man, it will bring it
out." (Adlai E. Stevenson).
"Practical politics consists in ignor
ing facts." (Henry Adams).
"If I could not go to Heaven with a
party, I would not go there at all."
(Thomas Jefferson).
"A voter without a ballot is like a
soldier without a bullet." (Dwight D.
Eisenhower).
"Politics arc very much like taxes ?
everybody is against them, or every
body is for them, as long as they don't
apply to him." (Fiorello H. La Guar
dia).
"Politics has always been a rough
game, but there are certain rules . . .
and the first of these is to utter no
falsehood that can be refuted easily."
(Charles Michelson).
"Politics is the only profession to
which a man will devote forty years
and then be insulted if somebody says
he's good at it." (H. V. Wade).
"One of the evils of democracy is
that you have to endure the man you
elected, whether you like him or not."
(Will Rogers).
"Politics is the art of the next best."
(Otto von Bismarck).
"Kissing babies is a politician's way
of offering lip service to the voters."
(Edmund J. Kiefcr).
Carteret County News-Times
WINNER Or NATIONAL EDITORIAL ASSOCIATION AND NORTH CAROLINA
PRESS ASSOCIATION AWARDS
A Merger of The Beiufort News (Est. HID end The Twin City Times (Est ISM)
Published Tuesdays end Fridays by the Carteret Publishing Omnpeny, Inc.
504 Arendell St., Morehead City, N. C.
LOCKWOOD PHILLIPS - PUBLISHER
ELEANORE DEAR PHILLIPS - ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER
RUTH L. PRELING - EDITOR
Mall Rates: In Carteret County and adjoining counties, MM one year, MSO six months,
UE one month; elsewhere p.00 one year, H OP sis months, HJO one month.
Member at Associated Press ? N. C. Press Association
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I Class Matter at Morabead City. N. C.. Under Act of March I. ISTS.
THE WELCOME MAT
m
Ruth Peeling
Dixie Upside Down by Jerry Ball
Some of you probably know Jer
ry Ball. He's that wonderful guy
from Charlotte who, incidentally
is employed by Esso, and not so
incidentally, plays the piano as
though his mama was a player
piano and his papa a victrola.
Well, Jerry staged one of his
fantastic pianothons Saturday in
Charlotte. Perched on a platform
a hundred feet above Charlotte's
Independent Square, he played the
piano from that point for folks who
contributed to the March of Dimes.
As an added fillip to the event
this year, at noon he played Dixie
while suspended by his heels. En
gineers rigged up an apparatus
which permitted this crazy stunt.
Some funsters quipped that this
was a true picture of the South
these days?Dixie upside down!
While people talk about the North
Carolina mosquito menace, the
mosquitoes arc plotting to get rid
of the people. After all, peoplo
sometimes have the mistaken idea
that they arc the only ones doing
anything.
For 1958 mama mosquitoes have
been ordered to lay more eggs.
Mosquito rain-makers have been
delegated to sec that rain falls in
the right amount at the right time
so that ALL eggs, not just a cer
tain percentage, hatch. The fe
males, too, have been given maps
so that they lay their eggs in the
places most conducive to a large
output of young'uns.
During this cold spell, the peo
ple might have forgotten about
the mosquitoes, but the mosquitoes
arc faring quite well and arc look
ing forward to those warm days
ahead.
Marilyn Mercer, writing in the
New York Herald Tribune Dec.
24, gave parents a recipe for
Christmas without tears. Among
her suggestions were these:
1. Most children count their loot.
How MANY gifts, not how valuable
is their measure of a successful
Christmas "Do not make the mis
take," Miss Mercer says, "of
thinking that one high-heeled doll
is the equivalent of a hair band,
a set of plastic dishes and a piece
of soap shaped like Mickey Mouse,
even if it cost more than all three
put together."
2. Don't make useless sugges
tions, such as, "But you're not
going to take the bride doll's
clothes off TODAY." Yes, she is,
every stitch.
3. One little girl, who may have
gotten six dolls for Christmas, will
choose to retire, come nightfall,
with old Penelope, eyeless, nose
less and filthy. Don't be hurt, says
the Herald Trib columnist, she's
just trying to hang on to reality.
And for the children of the same
age in a family who get identical
presents, the alert parent will la
bel each with the owner's name
so that there won't be squabbles
later over whose got broke.
You'll probably never sec: Dr.
Ben Royal in a fore-in-hand tic.
Frustration: a 6-inch straw in a
0-inch soda pop bottle.
is THE GOOD OLD DSTS
THIRTY YEARS AGO
Beaufort town commissioners
passed an ordinance forbidding
households to make unauthorized
connections for water and electri
city.
The Potter Emergency Hospital
in Beaufort was designated a
United States Public Health Service
Hospital.
Mr. Joseph Frank of Williamston
had purchased the Bayard Taylor
stock of merchandise and expected
to open a store here soon.
Twenty-Five Years Ago
The Carteret County Bar Asso
ciation advised a general county
court for the trial of all civil and
criminal cases.
C. D. Jones was advertising
Maxwell House coffee for 30 cents
a pound.
A Virginia trawler was seized at
Ocracoke for trawling within the
three-mile limit.
TEN YEARS AGO
Clayton F u 1 c h c r of Atlantic
launched his new $25,000 trawler,
Clay.
Elmer Dewey Willis of Davis
opened a new furniture store in
Beaufort.
County farmers were to review
the proposed program on agricul
ture at the court house on Friday.
FIVE YEARS AGO
Arendell Street, Morehead City,
was designated as Route 70.
County commissioners registered
opposition to the appointment of a
county medical examiner.
Range lights would be installed
in the Beaufort harbor this week.
Free Wheeling
By BILL CROWELL
COMICS ... Most of our state
highway troopers arc great racon
teurs. Any casual encounter with
the highway gendarmes unproduc
tive of a memorable yarn or two is
poor pickings indeed.
1 guess it's because like a monu
ment to the weather they arc
buffed constantly by the vagaries
of the public which range from
abusive to odd, from funny to not
so funny.
Spend eight hours or so in a
police car and stop maybe 23 or
30 motorists and it's even money
that more than one will be an odd
ball.
The grim ones, mind turning
over desperately for an alibi, are
seldom funny; the befuddled ones
you feel sorry for?sometimes; the
irresponsible and the drunks arc
unpredictable.
Occasionally on a Saturday night,
when highway shennanigans usual
ly climax for the week, I ride with
a state trooper?a genial though
unyielding six - footer. Together
we've had some weird and hilar
ious encounters with Mr. and Mrs.
John Q.
This particular trooper, who has
cruised the roads for to years,
groups his "customers" into four
classes; the average driver who
realises his mistake, accepts his
ticket without protest and goes on
his way; the timid and shy, who
waft wordlessly and dry mouthed
for the bad news; the belligerent
blokes who, liquor inspired or
otherwise, throw their weight
around; and the bolters?the ones
who, under no provocation, stop,
hurl open the door and hot foot
it for the woods.
Friend trooper was forced to
foot race one like that not long
ago.
It all started with a flapping
license tag, at worst an offense
requiring only a reminder to have
it fixed. But the driver had other
ideas?long distance ideas. When
the patrol car's red light hit his
ntirror he was out and running,
tiis car with the loose tag was left
standing in the road.
The trooper, no slow goer him
self, lit out after him. In a few
minutes they returned. The driver
was thickly trying to explain. The
driver. I think, was drunk.
"What did you run for?" the
officer asked. No answer. "Well,
is this your car?" Again no ans
wer. Then, remembering that he
had left his flashlight in the patrol
car. the trooper called out to me,
"Rive me that light, Bill."
This brought an immediate re
sponse from the sodden culprit.
"Yassah, just a minute," he said
while fumbling in his pockets. "I
got that ligbtbill right here somc
wheres."
See what I mean?oddballs. And
our state troopers collect 'cm by
the hundreds.
SUDDEN THAWT ... When driv
ing, it may not be your fault
only your funeral.
Author cf the Week
A. Whitney Griswold, author of
"In the University Tradition,"
some essays and papers on edu
cation, was born in Morristown,
N. J., in 1906.
He was educated at Hotchkiss
and Yale, which gave him his A.B.
and Ph D; he has been president
of the university since 1950.
His previous books are "The Far
Eastern Policy of the United
States" and "Farming and Demo
cracy."
Children who arc proficient read
ers have a great advantage over
their friends. They can finish a
comic book before the druggist
tells them to put it down.
?Maurice Seitter
Satw-a/
Join
THE
MARCH
OF DIMES
Words of Inspiration
Tie* your deficiencies and acknowledge them, but do not let them
mister you. Let them teach you patience, sweetness and insight.
When we do the best we can, we never know what miracle is wrought
in our own life, or in the life of another.
MAXIMS TO REMEMBER
The only safe and sure way to destroy an enemy is to make him your
friend.
If you see good in everybody, nearly everybody will see good in you.
. Money talks but has very little conversation for the shiftleaa.
THE CLIQUE
What is the "Clique"? 'Tis a body of men
Who attend every meeting, not just now and then;
Who don't miss a meeting unless they are sick ?
These are the men that the grouch calls "The Clique."
Who don't make a farce of the magic word "Work";
Who believe in the motto, "Not a job will I shirk";
Who never resort to an underhand trick;
These are the men that the grouch calls "The Clique".
The men who are seldom behind in their dues.
And who from the meeting do not carry news;
Who attend to their duties and don't seek a kick;
These are the men that the grouch calls "The Clique".
We all should be proud of members like these,
They can call them "The Clique" or whatever they please,
But there are some people who always find fault
And most of this kind are not worth their salt;
They will always start trouble but seldom will stick.
And leave all the work to be done by "The Clique".
? Unknown
Idleness is a constant sin. and labor is a duty. Idleness is the devil's
home for temptation and for unprofitable, distracting musing; while
labor profiteth others and ourselves. ? Baxter
A FRIEND
I will not think that I have failed, or lived my life in vain.
If to my credit I shall find one friend to be my gain.
And tho' the Road of Life is rough, with mountains hard to climb;
I find there's joy along the way, and the journey, it is fine,
If there's a friend beside me, to cheer me with his song,
To smile his understanding, when everything goes wrong;
It gives me strength and courage, the Mountains to ascend,
And I find that life's worth living, as long as there's a friend.
Then be not hasty when I'm gone, to say I lived in vain,
Tho' ghosts of many failures, like monuments remain
But when Life's sun is sinking; and I reach my journey's end.
Then count my earthly riches in the number of my friends.
? Unknown
Write on my grave when 1 am dead, whatever road I trod
That I admired and honored the wondrous works of God.
The beauty of the hills and seas brimmed that immortal cup;
And when I went by fields and trees my heart was lifted up.
Lay me in the green grass and write upon the daisies' sod
That still I praised with all my might, the wondrous works of God.
? Katharine Tyson
Captain Henry
Sou'easter
There's a certain professional
man about town, who when he
leaves to do some trading in other
places shucks his professional sta
tus.
If he didn't do so, he says, the
prices on what he buys would be
twice as high!
The womenfolks are going mad
over some new gadgets that shim
my and shake them and take off
weight. They cost a couple hun
dred dollars, and some of the girls
arc thinking about joining together
in a co-op, buy the table or vibra
tors or whatever it is that shakes
the fat off, and then share the
use of it.
I think the whole thing is silly.
If some of these women that wor
ried so much about their weight
would wash their own windows,
scrub their own floors, bend over
to get the dust off the bottom
rungs of chairs, and stretch a mop
to the ceiling to get cobwebs out
of the corners, they'd take the
weight off in the right places?
and it would also build up some
weight in the "right places."
I have little patience with the
girls who sit and drink cokes and
cat chocolates and at the same
time complain about their weight.
If they want to cat and enjoy it,
then they ought to learn to keep
quiet about the extra inches around
the hips.
I heard the first mate talking
about someone in Morebead City
who uses one of those vibration
gadgets and if you ask. me, ahe
still looks like an elephant.
Bill Blair, who winters in More
head City, has a Weimarancr, one
of those German dogs like the
sheriff and Ernest Davis have.
They tell me that this pup, called
Vi, is so German that she won't
even obey orders in English. So
Mr. Bill has resurrected some of
his German and now Vi happily
does as she's told.
This should be helpful to some
of 1958's Carteret coroner's juries:
an Iowa jury, unable to reach any
sort of an agreement about a
death they were investigating,
came to the conclusion that it was
"An act of God under very sus
picious circumstances."
This is the Law
By ROBERT E. LEE
For the N.C. Bar Association
INHERITANCE LAWS
A resident of North Carolina dies
during a visit to a foreign country
leaving real and personal property
in both Virginia and North Caro
lina. There is no will. The law of
which state determines the owner
ship of his property at his death?
The ownership of the real prop
erty in North Carolina and the
personal property In North Caro
lina and Virginia would be deter
mined by the intestate laws of
North Carolina. The ownership of
the real property in Virginia would
be determined by the intestate
laws of Virginia.
As to real property, the govern
ing law is that of the state in
which the land is situated. As to
personal property, however, the
governing law is that of the state
in which the decedent bad Id*
domicile or legal residcnco, re
gardless of where the personal
property may be located.
A married man dies, survived
by a wife without children. His
only close relatives arc a mother
and two brothers. There is no will.
Who will inherit his property un
der the laws of North Carolina?
The surviving wife will get all
of his personal property if its total
value does not exceed ten thousand
dollars. If the husband's personal
property exceeds ten thousand dol
lars, the surviving wife will be
allotted ten thousand dollars plus
one-half of the remainder; the resi
due of his personal property will
go to his mother.
The surviving wife is entitled to
"dower" in her husband'* real
property. "Dower" la ? life estate
in one-third of all real property.
The two brothers of the deceased
become the owners of the real
property, subject to the surviving
wife's right of dower.
A man dies without a will. He
is survived by a wife, three chil
dren, parents, brothers and sisters,
and numerous other relatives. Who
will inherit his property under the
laws of North Carolina?
The surviving wife gets one
fourth of the personal property,
and the balance of the personal
property is divided equally among
the three children.
The surviving wife gets "dower"
rights in the real property. Dower,
as previously stated, is a life es
tate in ooc-third of all real prop
erty. The three children become
the owners of the real property,
subject to the surviving wife's
right of dower. This means that
the three children become imme
diately the absolute owners of
two-thirds of the real property and
the owners of the remaining one
third upon the death of their mo
ther.
If there is a deceased child leav
ing children, the children of the
deceased child take the part their
parent would have taken if living.
The parents, brothers and sisters,
and other relatives of the decedent
in this case arc entitled to noth
ing.
This is the last of a series of ar
ticles that have appeared weekly
during the past three months. They
have been written for the non
lawyer as a public service of the
North Carolina Bar Association.
Another series will be started in
the spring.