f AGI POURrHE DAILY REFLECTOR. GREENVILLE,

Monday, July 20, 105b

Monday, July 20, 19^9Newest Member Of The ^ Club

Guest Editorial

invest.

Ccmporisons Reveal Similarities

Editors note; The following editorial was prepared by S. E. West, Mayor of Greenville.

For over six yeaiis I have been vitally concern-ed with " the operation of the business of the City of ; Greenville, and its growth . and development. Having been invited to write an editorial for the Daily Re-flecter, I shall endeavor to

, present to you some facts 'about Greenville and also

compare our city with my former home town of Statesville, N. C. which from population and size is similar.

I Greenville is supported about 70 per cent by agriculture and SO per cent by iniustry and other business activities, while

8. EUGENE WEST

Statesville is supported

approximately 70 per cent by industry apd 30 per cent by agriculture. I estimate the population of Greenville to be over 20,000 at present, while Statesville is estimated to have a population of about 21,000.

rr 's r''- -rr?.';

orccuviiic I. t I nf retires its bonded indebtedness created for utilities,

If while all this was taken care of here by Greenville Util-

our Greenville Utilities Commission.

Please let me make it clear at this time, that I am not critizing our utilities operation, or our utilities commissioners. I feel that they are doing an excellent job, in setting aside sinking fund 6r a sewage disposal plant, which will definitely be required in the near future. This will keep the city from having to issue bonds for this expenditure, such as was done by Statesville when their plant was constructed.

While we are on the subject of utilities, lets compare their city-operated utilities with our (Jreen-ville Utilities, as utilities is a larger factor in the residential growth of any town or city.

For the past 8 to 10 years, the residenti^ expansion in Greenville has ben very orderly, mujch more so in'fact than has the residential growth in Statesville. This, I feel is due to water and sanitary sewer being installed in new developments before paving and storm sewer work is done, all of which is required before the sub-divider can sell off his lots.

The city of Statesville gets approximately $500,-000 in profits per year from its water and light departments. They do not have gas service, as that is operated by private business. While Greenville Utilities supply gas service, their profits on this is very small. The $500,000 from the utilities in Statesville makes the $170,000 turn over by Greenville Utilities seem very small and out of proportion, yet we must realize that the city of Statesville handles its sewer operation at a

of

$4 ,292,000, is due to the large number of industrial plants on the Statesville tax books. This, also would have a small bearing on their tax rate being $1.30, while our rate is $1.38. The major reason for this tax difference is that they are deriving more revenue from their city utilities than we have been receiving from

jegislation Anc. Outdoors N.C..

(Guest writer for todays column is Rod Amundson, editor and publte relations officer for the Wildlife Resources Commission, discussing 1959 legislation )

The 1959 legislature set some sort of record in ' enacting 36 i^eces of legislation thatwill have a direct effect on people who hunt or fish or enjoy outdoor recreation. Some of these laws ar of local.application, having to do with the taking of foxes. Altogether North Carolina has about forty laws (of county application) concerned with rthe taking of this controversial auiimal.

^Thc most significant and far Teaching law passed by the General Assembly has to do with tee operation of boats on the territorial waters of North Carolina-On January 1. 1960, owners of boats having more than ten horsepower wrin be required to purchase a certificate of number at IThe tune of three dollars per boat. The reason for this fee is to obtain money for administering and enforcing boating safety laws and regulations. Details on administering and enforcing the boating safety act are being worked out by tee Wildlife Resources Commission. the agency responsible.

Tarheel commercial shooting

Sreserve owners were successful 1 getUng passed a law making ft possible for nonresidents to shoot on commercial preserves lor a 16.25 license instead of the regular $15.75 nonresident license. This should help th# preserve . owners and bring more money teto tl^ state.

Por several years Tarheel anglers on Catawba Lake near Charlotte have been, getting burned by South Carolina law enforcement men for fishing in the South Carolina part of the lake. Thp legislature passed a law making possible the reciprocal

lionoring of fishing licenses. The South Carolina assembly failed Jo pass a similar bill, however, -00 the reciprocity doesnt work.

Wildlife Protectors are now authorized to use red lights and sirens on their cars where Mid when needed. These are especially useful in apprehending persons hunting at night with the use of automobile and spot J^hts.

There is frequent misunder-^nding regarding an introduced bill and ratified and enrolled legislation. There were two bills introduced that would exempt persons 65 years old or older from

buying hunting or fishing licenses. One was a local bill, applying only to Clay County. The other was statewide In application. Both were killed in committee, but there are a number of golden age folks who have the impression that they need no longer have a license to hunt or fish. But they must have them.

Another bill caused an uproar among hook and line fishermen. A bill was introduced to reduce the penalty for Sunday net fishing from five hundred dollars to fifty dollars, and reduce the jail sentence from six months to thirty days. When the bill was reported in the press the word net was inadvertently left out, and a few thousand Sunday anglers thought they had been habitually violating a law that would have cost them considerable money and time. There is no law against Sunday hook and line fishing.

Tarheel outdoor writers were successful in getting a law passed making it legal to fish from highway bridges having a four-foot walkway or a catwalk outside the bridge rail. Only about six or seven bridges in the state qualify, however, and the writers (together with thousands of fishermen) hope that future highway bridges will be planned to accommodate fishermen.

Loon hunters may indulge in their favorite sport legally if the federal government goes along with a legislative resolution asking that loons be taken off the protected list. Loons congregate in abundance at Cape Lookout and Shackleford banks, eat small game fish, and make sporty, if heretofore illegal, targets.

,The Currituck County game laws came in for considerable debate when a bill was introduced to rewrite it. Currituck has' its own game commission that deals largely with waterfowl hunting and the use of blinds. The rewrite bul died in calendar committee.

State law requires the Wildlife Resources Commission to enforce federal migratory game bird laws and regulations. A bill affecting only Hyde County gives the Commission authority to further restrict waterfowl rules with approval of the U S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The House and Senate wildlife committees both put a great deal of time and effort into wildlife legislation, and both did a splendid job.

The Daily Reflector

INCORPORATED

Piibliflhed Every Afternoon Except Sunday Established 1882 DAVID JULIAN WHICHARD, Publisher Entered at Post Office. Qreenvdle, N. C.. m aecond cUms mall mattr

SUBSCRIPTION RATES By Carrier Waak 30c

(BY MAIL, Payable in Adwance)

Three Month* ..................4 3.50

Six Months , $ 6.50

One Yeeur ______________________________ $11.50

umitErn aaaochATED pbebs

all oeva dupatcbea eredlted to (t or not othenrlM credited to tilla paper and alao the local oewa publlabe# herein all rlghta at pnbllcaUon of apodal dlapatcbe* bert ara aUo taauTed

RATIONAL AOVERT18ING REPKE8EN1AT1VC8 Tbocnaa F Clark Co., Inc., New York. Chicago, Atlanta Member Audit Bureau of ClreulatkA. .....

All advmtlaing copy muat be received at least one day before. publicatioo oate.

ities Commission. To arrive at a total cost of operation, which includes the city departments and the utilities, we muat add the city budget of $810,423 to the utilities budget of $1,531,678, mking a total of $2,342,101. The total budget for Statesville is $2,279,395. The only reason that I can account for our operating cost being higher than Statesville, is that Greenville Utilities has quite an out-lay of rural lines.

Both Greenville and Statesville have similar public school systems, but we are fortunate in having one of the largest colleges in the state, while Statesville has only a small college. Housing conditions are comparable in the medium and higher income families, but in the lower income group, the conditions in Statesville are much better than in Greenville, especially in some of our colored sections, which are little better than slums. It is a recognized fact that slums have an adverse effect on Jhe tax rate of any city.

I am sure that by now you are wondering why I have gone into these comparisons. My reasons are these: It is surprising to me, that two cities, one in eastern "Carolina and the other in western Carolina, one predominantly agricultural and the other predominantly industrial, should have similar problems and similar cost of operation, and that their future needs are very much alike. It is true that western Carolina has developed much faster than eastern Carolina in the past 20 years, but I am confident that our progress and development along the industrial trend has started and wdll pick up momentum in the next 10 or 15 years to where we will be dependent for our lively hood on agriculture and industry equally. To me, this will provide an economy as desirable as we could ask for.

On comparing Greenville wdlh other towms in eastern North Carolina, you will find that we have kept pace with them, even though we have not had any boom contributed by an army or navy base, or by a large industrial plant being located here. While our city tax rate is not the lowest, it is much better than the average, and is based on one-third valuation, while many cities and towns use one-half valuation for their ' rates. For example^ I believe Elizabeth Citj^ has a rate of $1.55, based on 50 per cent of valuation. If our tax rate was based on ,50 per cent valuation, our tax would be approximately $1.15, which would look and sound much better, although w-e actually would be no better off.

We have quite a few corrections and improvements that are needed, but none that cannot be Worked out if the citizens so desire. After analyzing our status and comparing our city with the others, I still think Greenville is the best town in North Carolina.

3ut Care

se

'fcNaiight Syndicftte. Ine

'Re&'M<ssN

By HAL BOYLE

Items From The Maillbag

NEW YORK (AP) Things a columnist might never know if he didnt open his mail:

than 50 a person and the number is increasing about one billion a year.

When a woman puts her foot down if shes wearing those new pencil-slim high heels she exerts five times as much pressure per square inch as a full-grown elephant does. Her weight is even greater, proportionately, than the weight of the Empire State Building on its foundation.

Prosperity item: One of every eight U.S. adults now has an investment in the stock mai'ket.

The ulcer Isnt just a Madison Avenue ailment. Between 18 and 20 million Americans have ulcers.

The average man hates tee chore of shaving. But actually he spends only about 25 hours a year at it, far less than a stout lady spends getting into and out of her girdle. *

Tip to baldies: Theres a big boom now in the mailorder sale of hairpieces. Prices range from $10 for a Hitler mustache to $400 for a full-rigged wig.

Our thirsty military: During an ordinary day at the Pentagon, its personnel and visitors consume 30,000 cups of coffee, 3,800 quarts of milk, and 7,000 soft drinks.

Whatever happened to cash money? Americans wrote 10 billion checks last year more

The odds that you may have the same fingerprints as someone else are 1 to 100 million. You develop these lifelong marks five months before you are bom. Experts can fingerprint Egyptian

Other E editors Saying ...

' - ederal Proper ty-Keep O

Hodgepodge

Bill

In

iicusing

By RALPH ROBEY

President Eisenhower's veto of the housing bUl caused unusual consternation in Congress. There had been rumors that the bill might be vetoed, but not until the message was issued could anyone outside of the executive branch be certain the proposal would be rejected.

The bill was a curious hodgepodge. It included about every thing in the way of housing that vnyone could tlilnk of covering. Although It was headlined as a $1.3 billion measure, the President in his veto message pointed out that the bill carried a minimum of $2.2 billion in spending authority, as compared with the $810 million AdminisU ration request.

E.xcessive spending was a primary reason for the veto. Equally important, however, were other provisions the President regarded as unsound and unnecessary.

Provided 190.000 Additional Units

A perfect example: We already have over 100,000 previously authorized units as yet unbuilt, but the bill authorized 190,000 more. The Administration opposed any future authorization in this field at this time.

A new program of direct federal lending was provided for homes for elderly persons. This, the President believes. Is extra

a ncial officers.

\ In the words of the vko message the bill would tend to substitute federal spending for private investment. Many provisions of the bill, instead of stimulating private investment, would drive private credit from areas where it is urgently needed. An example was the requirement that the Federal National Mortgage A.ssociation buy mortgages at par regardless of their price in the open market, and the provision to limit the fees which the FNMA could charge when purchasing mortgages.

Other objections to the bill were cited in the message, all of this same general character. In other words this was a carefully thought-out veto message and,* although relatively short, it was .convincing and effective. The last one-lifth of the message was devoted to' restating what the Administration would like in the way of a housing bill. o The Administrationt Proposal

Briefly this was a.s follows: The present limit op the insurance authority of tee FHA should be eliminated; the FHA program for the insurance of property Improvement loans should be extended and so should its program for the Insurance of military housing loans; the voluntary home mortgage credit program should be continued; authorization for

(Rocky Mount Telegram)

After 46 yeai's, the federal government has decided that a group of farmers must get off its property between Hoover Dam and the Mexican border. The reason: it wants to develop a recreation area.

The land, composing some 27.-000 acres of rich soil, was withdrawn from public entry by the Department of Interior in 1902. This move was perfectly legal, the land belonging to the government, and by all rights the squatters had no business remaining on tee land. But many famers did stay, and they cultivated the rich area, and now they contend their money and efforts have turned unused, brush-covered land into productive farms which enhance the economy of the area.-

So which is most important? Another federally-operated park area or a farm district that provides a living for some 150 fami-.lies? The farmers concede that the law is with the federal government but believe the moral Issues have little influence on courts whent he legal issue overrides the question.

And the embattled farmers can take some advice from the Indians. The Red Men were forced off their property too, believing all the while that moral issues were on their side. Today they reside on reservations while their land belongs to the federal government.

Some of the farmers, who have been there for as long as 46 years cannot understand why the government wants them to leave. The squatters contend they hold the farmlands now by virtue of historic customs and laws by which much of the American frontier was settled. They cite the Pre-mption Act of 1841, the Homestead Act of 1862, even though these may not apply in their case.

They point out that courts have held that settlers who made improvements upon the public lands of the United States, who are commonly referred to as squatters, are not considered trespass-. ers, but to the contrary are encouraged by the public policy of the country to put land into cultivation and use.

An ironical note is the fact that many of them have building permits from several California counties and pay taxes on their Improvements. The resort and camp operators in the area have formed an organization to try to show the Department of Interior that private enterprise can and is operating recreational facilities better than the federal government.

But in spite of all this there Ls an air of gloom hanging over the whole situation. Judging from past experiences, It would be unwise to wager against the federal government losing in a court fight moral issues notwithstanding.

mummies 5,000 years old. How would you like to find out you had the same fingerprints as a mummy?

Overhead in a restaurant here: Look a! it this way, Smith. Youre as well off as I am in tee things money cant buy,

Married women with little or no schooling have up to three times as many children as do wives with college degrees.

Safety hint: Accident studies have shown that major injuries could be reduced 30 per cent if car seat belts were widely used.

What article do men leave most often in hotels? Not their attache cases, but their combs.

The nation is getting more sports-minded. Between 1925 and 1955 the number of public tennis courts and ice skating areas doubled. golf courses and bathing beachest rebled, and swimming pools quadrupled.

Yet, healthy as we are. some 60,000 patients enter American hospitals every day.

Wht in a name? Well, one of the biggest agents in London for stripteasers is named Levitoff.

Do you know why most navies wear blue uniforms? Not because they match the color of the sea, but because in older times indigo was the only aye that could withstand the fading action of saltwater and sun.

Martial advice: Women are like money, said comics Phil Ford and Mimi Hines. Keep them busy or they lose interest.

A survey showed that 70 per cent of U.S. grade school children depend on some other member of the family to shine their shoes, usually mom.

It was Friedrich Nietzsche who cautioned: Distrust all in whom the impulse to punish is powerful.

Quote...

Corporations are merely tax collectors for government. They must add the tax levied against them to the prices of the products they sell, or go 0Ut ot business. The significance of this was pointed out recently by the president of a leading southwestern electric company when he said . . . if we were to oi>eiate on a tax-exempt basis as public powers does, we could reduce our rates 27% without affecting the net income of the Company or the people who put up the funds to operate our Company. Industrial News Review.

By ROGER BABSON

BABSON PARK, Mass., The Dow-Jones Industrial Average is today about 660, compared with 350 five years ago and 170 ten years ago. Therefore, it is dangerous for one who does not have conservative recommendations from a long-established service, or from a trusted bank or brokerage official, to invest money today in common stocks. Like a trapeze artist in a circus, the higher up he gets, the more dangerous is his fall.

In view of the continued threat of Inflation, I am not now advising my friends to have all of their funds in bonds even though bonds now yield much more than stocks. This applies not only to long-term bonds but also to short-term issues. Witness the recent issuance of one year Treasury bills to yield 4^ per cent.

My father, who was a country banker in Gloucester, Massachusetts, used to tell me that preferred stocks are neither fish nor fowl. hay nor grass. As a rule, such stocks are redeemed if the coiApany is successful, and wiped out if the company fails. This, however, was before President Franklin D. Roosevelt squeezed the water out of the utilities and when they were very competitive. Today, for income and safety, I believe that First Preferred Cumulative Utility Stocks are worthy of purchase, especially if issued by the local company to which you pay a monthly bill. If by any chance you can find such a local stock which is also either convertible or non-callable, it is especially attractive.

FUTURE OF ELECTRIC POWER

Whatever happens during the next few years, the output of electricity wl continue to increase. This is due bote to the fact that tee cost of generating electricity is gradually decreasing and also to the fact that demand by municipalities, industries and homes is constantly increasing.

Most readers of my column have seen house heating change from the use of coal to that of oil and gas. I believe that our grandchildren will see electricity take the place o oil and gas. This electricity will supply heat in the winter and air conditioning in the summer, as well as operate many home appliances not yet invented.

We do not see much direct advertising of electric power; but the newspapers are full of ads for all kinds of electric appliances.often with no down payment required. This means that there are hundreds of thousands of dealers who are selling electric appliances which will use more electrcity. No other industry is in such a favorable situation, with a monopoly, in addition. Although the rates of electric power are controlled by State Commissions, these Commissions allow rates which will pay the interest on bonds and the dividehdi on preferred stocks. Electric power companies are safest from labor troubles, which are destined to become more serious with all other Industries. When going crazy about electronics stocks, remember that electronics always depends upon and uses electricity.

STOCKS WITH LONG

DIVIDEND RECORDS

When a reader wants a stock for income, he is interested in the'number of years that the company has paid dividends. As the electric utilities are young, they have not generally had a long record. Many insurance companies, gas companies, and the like, have been paying dividends for about a hundred years. For instance, the New Haven Gas Company has been paying dividends for 110 years; the Travelers Insurance has been paying for 96 years; the New Haven. Water Company 82 years; and the Home Insurance Company, in which I ,am a great believer, for 86 years.

ITie following are a few other such companies coming to my memory. Their stocks arc aU common shares as preferreds did not exist so long ago. The Aetna (Fire) Insurance Company has paid dividends for 87 consecutive years; the Hartford Fire Insurance, 87 years; National Fire Insurance. 88 years; Phoenix Insurance, 86 years; Southern New England Telephone, 69 years; and the Security Insurance for 66 years.

No Fair Trade Law On Horizon

mmemr** yba .tnvwiiiaL

needs in this area can be adequately met by private funds Invested under the protection of federal insurance ''*

College housing loans Could havV been started all at Interest rates below those which the federal government currently c/ays for funds. This subsidy ini/rcst rate was vigorou.sly opined by tec Administrations fi-

replenished; and. the statutory Interest rate ceilings on mortgages insured by FHA should be raised.

Such a bill In the opinion^ of the Pre.sldent, would provide more and beqer housing for the American p^iople.

Whether a bill along these hne'f will be passed by the present iea

(Continued on Page 5>

By ELMER ROESS.NER

No new fair trade law is likely this year despite a fairly strong campaign for one. Proponents of retail price fixing by manufacturers have developed considerable support for such legislation in both Senate and House.

These bills would permit manufacturers of branded goods to set retail prices regardless of state laws, making this kind of price-fixing legal even In states opposed to it.

And while support for the bills is strong, it is doubtful that it is great enough to push one through in the rush before adjournment. And even if it should ..gt _ bsi^ -ft- .

ll<eiy.

Here are more forecasts, based on analyse.s of trends plus advance information:

NEW POWER IN POLITICS

More benefits for (he elderly. Politicians are realizing that the lengthening life .span is making *'ih9e-tJast middle age one of the most powerful blocs in the country, ranking with tee farm

and labor blocs in voting strength. Consequently, there will be more and more proposals for various kinds of government

assistance.

Demand for enactment may

be tremendously powerful be

cause needs of the elderlv far surpass the needs of either fanners of workers. Furthermore, they will be reinforced by support of the middle-aged and

younger who would rather see the Federal government and

states support older persons tjian themselves.

Slowdown in credit cards. The novelty has worn off; so many credit cards have been issued that no one now makes an im-

by fiourkshing 1,

thermore, since almost every establishment selling to the public accepts one card or another, the competitive advantage is thinner. There will be lulls in credit card promotion.s, broken by sporadic Httempts to gain new card-car-riers.

Boost in appliance tags. Regardless of the length of the steel strike, appliances and other wares using steel wl rise in price. No matter who triumphs, steel prices will go up. This, and higher labor costs, will push steel producis higher. Sorne small advances have already been made, either to test or soften public acceptance.

Businesses will soon be paying higher rates for loans, and Installment buyers will be charged higher interest and-or service fees.

LIFE SPEEDS UP IN ATOMIC AGE

Costlier vegetables. Plantings for canners and freezers are down sharply. Fearing unwieldly surpluses, processors cut back contracts, under which most canned and frozen produce is now grown. Coniaquently, supplies will tighten if blights or storms ruin crops. Fresh summer vege-tabiesi ^owevfr,^nre although watermelon crops are down sharply.

HIGHER PRICES STILL AHEAi

LIE

Higher interest. Earlier predictions for higher rates are coming true, and there will be moie rises to come. Bank funds available for loans are down, and some banks ara^tei.hto&kag.-up on money for consumer credit, feaxiog A (Ungeroug increas*.

The Old Promoter had that sarcastic gleam in his glass eye when he di*opped in for his weekly visit.

I see the Jewelry Industry Council is speeding up the wedding anniversary routine, he said, flicking a pale blue booklet. When I got married, a couple got paper gifts on their first anniversary, wood on the second. and tin on the fifth. The Addlng .cAllftd io*-gfW add the seventy-fifth- for . dia- > monds,

But this council now makes the first anniversary clocks, the second china, the third glass, the fifth silver and tec tenth diamonds.

The council la sure kind to bride.s, w'remarked.

Yeah," he aald. And to it-