The Alleghany Times
TO THE CIVIC, ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT OF ALLEGHANY COUNTY
Volume 9. . SPARTA, NORTH CAROLINA, THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 1934. Number 36.
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This Week
In Washington
Washington, Jan. 23. (A. S.)—
The first showdown between Presi
dent Roosevelt and Congress re
sulted in a victory for the Presi
dent which makes one thing cer
tain; there will be no effective
opposition at this session to Mr.
Roosevelt’s economy program. Al
though it was a narrow margin
by which the House adopted the.
rule that changes in the Adminis
tration’s budget could not even
be considered unless .recommend
ed by the proper committee, it
was a clear enough victory. It
ties the hands of the House
against any changes in -the veter
ans’ compensation laws, govern
ment salaries or other items ex
cept as the President recom
mends them. The rule was adopt
ed in the face of tremendous
pressure from lobbies interested
in getting something for the
' groups they represent. The j
eighty-four Democratic members
who voted for it were not voting
against the President but for
their constituents represented by
.these lobbyists. Now that they
have the rule to hide behind near
ly all of them can be counted on
to stand behind the President.
In other words, Congress is go
ing to continue to do whatever
the President asks it to do; for
if it stands with 'him on reduc
ing expenses in the ordinary bud
get, it is impossible to imagine
this or any other Congress op
posing him when he wants to
■spend money, in the extraordinary
budget. It is not in the nature
of Congress to be economical.
The Monetary Program
It can be taken for granted,
then, as it was in the extra
ordinary session last Spring, that
whatever the President asks for
he can get. Congress may or
may not have acted on the Presi
dent’s monetary program by the
time this is printed, but there is
no ground to believe that it will
not be carried out.
Briefly, what the President
recommends, after consultation
with all the members of the im
portant committees of both Houses
of Congress, is another step, al
though not a complete one as yet,
toward the stabilization of the
dollar in terms of gold and the
further backing of United States
currency with silver in addition
to gold. He asked that the top
limit of value of the gold dollar
be fixed at 40 percent less th>n
at present, or a “sixty-cent dol
lar” and that it be not permitted
to fall below half its present gold
content. But the most important
part of the plan is to make the
Federal Treasury the sole cua
odian of all monetary gold. The j
Federal Reserve Banks arc to
surrender their gold to the Treas
ury and receive in exchange for j
it gold certificates, at the new
valuation.
Money Possibilities
This will make it possible for
the Government and the Federal
Reserve Banks, between them to
issue more than eleven billion
dollars of currency, at the accept
ed ratio of one dollar in currency
against 60 cents gold reserves.
There is now outstanding some
what -less than half of that
amount of currency. The net ef
fect of this move, then, will be
to increase the Government’s abil
ity to issue money by more than
six billion dollars, every dollar
of it backed by forty percent
Except for the provision auth
orizing the Treasury to deal in
foreign exchange, with a $2,000,
000,000 fund to operate with> as
a means of maintaining parity
between our money and that of
other nations, the rest of the
President’s money program is
frankly dependent upon inter
national conditions. He would
like to take the next step in the
remonetization of silver, but is
—waiting for other nations besides
our own to carry out their part
of the London agreement under
which 66 nations promised action
early this year to increase the
price of silver in relation to gold.
What the President had to say
on silver is worth quoting, how
ever:
“The other principal precious
metal—silver—has also been used
from time immemorial as a metal
lic base for currencies as well as
—for actual currency itself. It is
used as such by probably half
of the population of the world.
It constitutes a very important
part of our own monetary struc
ture. It is such a crucial factor
in much of the world’s inter
national trade that it cannot be
neglected.
"Governments can well, as they
have in the past, employ silver as
a basis for currency, and I look
for a greatly increased use. I
am, however, withholding any
recommendation to the Congress
looking to further. extension of
(continued on page 2)
Roosevelt’s Gold
Policy Hailed As
Very Beneficial
Farmers Expected To Be
Aided Immensely By In
creased Prices Predicted
For Their Products
Washington, Jan. 23.—Govern
ment experts predict vast benefits
from the monetary policy just
announced by President Roose
velt. Workers generally, it is
asserted, will attain unprecedent
ed security through a sort of
controlled standard of living.
More immediately, it is said that
the farmers will be aided im
mensely through increased prices
for their products.
President Roosevelt is leading
the nation to a new frontier—
a monetary frontier whence pro
gress must be made by explora
tion across unmapped territory.
He is heading the nation toward
an ultimate goal even beyond
the commodity dollar. And the
first steps being taken under the
Roosevelt program include;
1— Acquisition by the Treasury
of all monetary gold in the
countiy, including both coins and
bullion. This is not too difficult
and should mean merely a shift
in title, for most of the yellow
metal was already in the Trea
sury itself or in its mints when
the President Announced his
plan.
2— .Restriction of dollar fluctua
tion between 50 and 60 per
cent of Its present statutory
gold value. This partial stabili
zation may be made semi-per
manent ultimately by internation
al agreement,
3— Establishment of a $2,000,
000,000 Treasury equalization
fund for direct dealing In pre
cious metal( foreign exchange
and Government securities as
may be necessary for the mainte
nance of the program.
4— Imposition of more rigid
restrictions upon private foreign
exchange dealings to prevent a
flight from the dollar.
5— Establishment of embargo
on exports of silver except under
license. Silver will continue to
circulate as currency domes
tically.
To most Americans the new
money program will not mean
much immediately, nor is it likely
ever, if it is successful, to give
the ordinary man any sharp, sud
denly noticeable change in cir
cumstances.
But with the ultimate com
modity dollar Roosevelt hopes to
give assurance that over a period
of years an income of, say
$2,500, will always achieve about
the same standard of living, since
the goal is to regulate commodity
prices through varying the dollar’s
value.
The 60-cent dollar talked about
in President Roosevelt’s devalu
ation program doesn’t mean the
dollar won’t continue to change
into 100 cents, 20 nickles or 10
dimes.
Nor does it mean me paper
dollar itself won’t look the same
and still measure 6 by 2 % incres.
Use of the term “60-cent dol
lar” or “50-cent dollar” refers
to the theoretical gold dollar
which exists on the statute books
and is defined as containing 23.22
grains of fine gold. _^_
When the United States' still
was making* gold payments this
much gold could be demanded at
the Treasury for every paper
dollar presented.
If the President decides on a
dollar of about 60 per cent of
the present gold content—the
percentage indicated by the new
Treasury price of $34.46 an
ounce—it will mean the gold
dollar will contain only 13.93
grains.
That’s what is meant by a
60-cent dollar. In comparison with
the 23.22-grain gold dollar, a new
13.93-grain dollar would be
worth only 60 cents.
The important effect of de
valuation on the dollar in the
average pocketbook is what that
dollar will buy.—The Baltimore
News.
PLANE TO GO S44 M. P. H.
Langley Field, Va.—An air
speed of 544 miles per hour, or
121 miles over the present world
record, is expected for \a new
model airplane.
Railroads Turning to Motorized Streamlined Trains
CHICAGO: The above three trains represent the last word in streamlining as applied by the rail
roads. In the foreground is a new Burlington three car train which can operate at 40G of the
expense of a steam locomotive. Center, is the trail, introduced by the Great Western and which
can travel at 60 miles an hour. Upper left,” is the Texas and Pacific train now running daily in
Texas. It can attain a speed of 78 MPH.
Members Of Tilley
Family Questioned
In Childress Case!
_
Fingerprints And Handwrit- j
ing Specimens Of Persons
With Whom Dead Girl
Lived Are Taken
North Wilkesboro, Jan. 23.—
Investigation into the recent
death of Leota Childress near
here seems to have centered, (lur
ing the past few days, about the
family of W. W. Tilley, with
whom she had been living for
some time.
Two of Tilley’s sons and a
daughter-in-law were questioned
at length and required to submit
specimens of their handwriting for
comparison with a note found on
the girl’s dead body.
Their fingerprints were also
recently taken for comparison j
with prints found in the room
where the girl died.
She was found dead with a
bull'et wound in the heart. A
note in her pocket saying that
she feared four men who were
ransacking' the house at first led
to a theory of suicide. But evi
dence uncovered later indicated
that the note had been placed
in the pocket after she died,
Andrew Smoot, her former
suitor, now held in jail in con
nection with her death, was borne
out in his protestations of in
nocence by testimony of his moth
er and sisters, who said he was
at home at the time Miss Child
ress met her death.
It is regarded as significant
that Smoot last week passed up
a chance to escape when four
prisoners in his department of
the jail pried loose bars on the
window of the northeast corner
of the jail and escaped by lower
ing themselves to the ground with
blankets tied together.
Byrd’s South Pole
Story Starts Today
Right now down in the South
Seas Admiral Richard E. Byrd is
making history. His second ex
pedition to the South Pole is
nearing the place where its quart
ers will be established in Antarc
tica.
Things are happening on that
expedition. Things that have nev
er happened before. Things that
may never happen again as long
as you live. Things that you will
be interested in reading about.
And the Times is going to let
you read about them for with
this issue this paper begins pub
lication of a series of articles by
a man who is with the Byrd
expedition.
These articles are human inter
est stories bf the experiences of
the men who are with Byrd and
j ou will be thrilled by them.
And they are written so that both
young and old will enjoy them.
The first installment will be
found op - page 3 of this issue.
Watch for future installments.
A. O. Honeycutt May
Seek Congress Seat
In the event that Congressman
K. L. Doughton, chairman of the
powerful Ways and Means com
mittee of the National House of
Representatives, is not a candi
date for reelection, A. 0. Honey
cutt, prominent attorney of Albe
marle and former newspaper pub
lisher there, will, in all proba
bility make the race for the seat.
Mr. Honeycutt is aid to have
informed friends of this fact,
although at the same time, mak
ing it plain that he would not,
under any circumstances, oppose
Congressman Doughton for the
place.
There has been considerable
discussion recently concerning the
probability rf Congressman
Doughton being appointed to a
place on the Federal Tariff Com
mission, although a number of
North Carolinians who are well
informed along political lines are
convinced that he will seek to
serve one mere term in Congress
and then make the race for Gov
ernor of North Carolina in 1936.
Folger Wagoner Is
Held On Charge Of
Assaulting Watson
Is Accused Of Having
Struck Victim With
“Knucks” While Engaged
In A Drunken Brawl
Mack Watson of the White
head community is in the Elkin
hospital in a serious condition
suffering from a fractured skull,
and Folger Wagoner, a young
man of the Bullhead section, is
lodged in Sparta jail charged
with assault.
News reached here Tuesday
that Mr. Watson was in a dying
condition but it was later learned
that some hopes were held for
his recovery.
It is reported that Wagoner
struck Watson with steel
“knucks” while engaged in a
drunken brawl and crushed his
skull, necessitating i'ne removal
of a portion of the skull' bone.
Wagoner is held without bail
pending developments in the
case.
STATE GRANGE MASTER
TO VISIT W1LKESBORO
E. S. Vanetta, master of the
North Carolina State Grange, will
deliver an address at an open
meeting of the Wilkes Pomona
Grange at the court house in
Wilkesboro, on Tuesday, Jan
uary 90. The meeting will be
held at 2 o’clock in the After
noon, according to an announce
ment made by County Agent A. G.
Hendren, an official of the Wilkes
Grange.
On the same day at 7 o’clock
the state master will address h
meeting of the subordinate grange
at Boomer. This will likewise be
an open meeting and the public
is invited to attend.
Gas Tax In North
Carolina Reaches
High Figures Tues.
State Now Gets, As It Has
Been Doing Since April,
1931, A Six-cent Tax On
Each Gallon Sold
Raleigh-, Jan. 23.-- Not yet
having leached a new high, but
on the way, the state gasoline
tax had this morning reached for
the first 22 days of January a
! great total of $1,328,049,78,
m al ly $200,000 more than
January, 1933, produced with an
unenforced ban on running
[automobiles without license.
Only 11 times during the nine
years just closed have the
month’s receipts gone above the
two-thirds record made up to
I yesterday. The best money 30
days in au'-omobile history was
April, 1933, when the state
gathered $1,652,027,83, but that
was i ct an unusual selling or
consuming month. The tax was
paid cn 16,778,166 gallons, but
jthis' was caused by a change in
the way of computing the tax.
Hut after April the substantial
ratio between gallon consumption
[and taxes paid was restored. The
■state now gets, as it has been
doing since April, 1931, a six
cent tax on each gallon.
There was a big turn for the
highway fund in 1933. It was
I lower in January a year ag>o than
i it had been any month since
June, 1932. “Rctten” was the
laconic report of Chairman E.
i B. Jeffress to a newspaper in
quiry as to how the highway busi
jness was panning. But May, 1933,
; beat May, 1932, and every
| month of the year since has ex
celled its 1933 fellow. The cal
endar year 1933 raised the great
est gasoline tax in history. It
[went to $14,974,123.40, but
I there had been higher gallonage
several times. The calendar year
1932 produced $14,124,647.26 and
1931 raised $14,367,629.68. Thus
calendar year 1933 stands $600,
[ 000 ahead of any similar period.
The 1925 consumption brought
to the state $6,258,472.68.. and
there was, owing to a constantly
rising tax, an increase every year
until 1932 which fell about $250,
000 below 1931.
—
TORMER “TIMES" EDITOR
AND FAMILY LEAVE FRIDAY
Mr. and Mrs. Erwin D.
.Stephens and small daughter left
here late Friday for Yanceyville
w'here they will make their home.
Mr. Stephens has become publisher
of the Caswell County Messenger.
During the several months that
Mr. and Mrs. Stephens were in
Sparta they made many friends
here who are extremely sorry to
have them leave. The TIMES
was greatly improved under the
editorship of Mr, Stephens and
the people of the county greatly
appreciated the efforts which he
pat forth to build up the paper.
Piney Creek Citizen
Kills Self Thursday
William Halsey, aped resident
of the Piney Creek community,
committed suicide at his home last
Thui day by shooting himself
with v, shotgun. A string at
tached to the trigger, apparently
was used, nulling the gun off
with his toe.
The deceased is said to have
threatened to commit suicide for
several months but no member
of his f:.rally took his threats
seriously.
He leaves a widow and several
children, all of whom live away
from home.
Growers Of Burley
Tobacco Sign For
Acreage Reduction
Lack Of Facilities For Ex
plaining Contracts Is
Only Obstacle In Way Of
Reduction Program
College Station, Raleigh, Jan.
23.—Approximately 90 percent of
the hurley tobacco growers in
western North Carolina are ex
pected to sign acreage reduction
contracts in the near future,
according to 0. F. McCrary,
district extension agent at State.
College. A large number have
signed already.
Mr, McCrary, who has recently
returned from a trip to the west
ern part of the state, said that
the only thing standing in the
way of a rapid sign-up is the
lack of facilities for explaining
the contracts to the growers.
Many of the hurley growers
have less than a quartc r acre in;
tobacco cultivation, he said. He i
pointed out that a grower with
one-eighth cf an acre in culti-1
ration, producing at an average
rate of 900 pounds to the acre, I
would receive approximately'
$2.90 for reducing one-third, or
$4.70 if he reduces one-half.
While in the burley section,
he held a number of county and
community meetings to explain
the contracts to leading growers.
He also assisted county agents
to iron out various difficulties
and authorized agents to help
growers in counties which have
no agent of their own.
C. B. Baird, Avery county
agent, will probably sign con
tracts for farmers in Mitchell
and Watauga eo-unties. E. D.
Bowditch, former Clay county i
agent, now residing in Mitchell,
will assist Mr. Baird with the
campaign.
The Yancey county farmers
wjll probably take their contracts
■•3 Earle Brintnall, Madison
county agent, for signature.
■Yancey county growers raised
S90 among themselves to help
pay a temporary county agent,
but the sum was not accepted
by the extension service. Mitchell
county growers have asked for
an agent, and it is hoped that
the county commissioners will ap
point- one early in February.
Shower Given Tues.
For Miss Martin
Mrs. T. R. Burgiss and Misses
Marie Wagoner and Betty
Fowler were joint hostesses at
a lovely shower given Tuesday
afternoon by the ladies of the
Baptist church for Miss Sarah
Martin, daughter of the pastor
of the’ church.
Miss Martin expects to leave
soon for Washington, D. C.,
where she will be a student in
the art school of Washington
university.
The honoree received many
lovely and useful presents.
Those present were: Misses
Sara Martin, Betty Fowler,
Carolyn Maxwell, Jean Reeves,
Marie Wagoner, Elizabeth Lam
bert, Mrs. C. A. Thompson, Mrs.
W. B. Collins, Mrs. Hugh Choate,
Mrs. T. R. Burgiss, Mrs. C. A.
Miles, Mrs. D. C. Bledsoe and
Mrs. Clete Choate.
CASTOR OIL FOR DRUNKS
Denver—Magistrate A. H. Pick
ens is giving fines of $10 or doises
of castor oil to men found guilty
of drunkkenness. A public spirit
ed citizen has contributed twenty
four bottles of the oil in order to
maintain the treatment.
Progress Made In
CWA Projects For
Alleghany County
Last Week’s Payroll In
County Approximately
$2200. Obtain Approval
Of Supplementary Work
Last week’s payroll for work
on CWA projects in Alleghany
eouny was approximately $2200,
this being the smallest weekly
payroll for several weeks, due to
the fact that team? and trucks
were discontinued on four of the
larger road projects. The allot
ment for team and truck hire for
these projects was practically ex
hausted at the end of the prev
ious week and it was necessary
to cease hiring trucks and teams
on these projects until further
funds were, allotted. *
C. A. Miles, local director, and
Sidney Gambill made a hurried
trip to Raleigh and obtained ap
proval of supplementary pi e jects.
Teams and trucks will again be
used.
The full quota of men and wo
men allowed Alleghany county is
now working. Last week the
local CWA office was notified that
it was permissible to “stagger”
workers, giving jobs to 80 per
cent more men, and putting all
workers on a weekly basis of
fifteen, instead of thirty, hours
per week.
Friday morning new workers
wen- assigned on all projects to
work fifteen hours. Late Thurs
day night Mr. Miles was notified
that all workers were being plac
ed on a fifteen hours per week
basis, and that no new persons
could be placed on the payroll.
All work was held up until
further orders could be obtained
from Mrs, Thoma Q’Perrv, State
Director. Owing to the fact that
Alleghany county had adopted the
“stagger” system and had assign
ed new workers to- the different
projects, the county office was
given permission to w: -k two
shifts each week on a fifteen
hour basis, giving employment to
80 per cent more workers. It
is understood that this is one of
the few counties in North Caro
lina given this privilege.
Work has begun on the new
gymnasium buildi 'gs at Piney
Creek high schoo1 and at the
Sparta high school. Work was
commenced Monday on the con
struction of 800 sanitary privies
in Alleghany county.
The county ha? been fortun
ate in receiving liberal grants
for direct relief. The amount
given out by the local office to
families on relief rolls, in the
form of food and clothing orders,
medical aid, etc., reaches -several
hundred dollars each week. The
Government has supplied large
quantities of mer,t, eggs, and
clothing, which is apportioned to
the most needy of the county.
Mr. Miles, local Civil Works Ad
ministrator,’ has been untiring in
his efforts to obtain for Alle
ghany county its share of all
benefits under the Government’s
program.
ELLSWORTH ABANDONS SHIP
With its plane badly damaged,
the El>cworth Trans-Antarctic ex
pedition has been forced to give
up its objective and is on its wray
back to Dunedin, New Zealand.
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