PAGE POURTHE DAILY REFLECTOR, GREENVIl+E. N. C

Monday, January 18, 1980

Monday, January 18, 1960

The Great Balancing Act

Hodges May Yet Be Drawn In Fracas

Gov. Hodges repeated assertions of neutrality in the forthcoming gubernatorial race adds weight to previous speculation by The Daily Reflector that the governor may find himself in the position of defending Ms administration against all comers in the next few months.

Last week Gov. Hodges repeated emphatically that he intends to maintain a neutral position in the gubernatorial race this year, but that he will feel free *to defend the policies of the administration during the last five years. With the statement the governor ^ught to spike rumors that events' were moving toward an alliance between Hodges and John Larkins of Trenton, expected to be in the gubernatorial race.

It should be remembered that in the past Gov. Hodges has had his differences with all three of the major contenders for the ^ffice he will vacate next year. Terry Sanford of Fayetteville, a top man in the organization of the late governor and senator Kerr Scott, has never been on the list of Gov. Hodges favorite persons. E>ven though the campaign has not yet officially opened, there have been sufficient indications from the Sanford forces and Sanford himself to draw the conclusion that certain portions of the administration program in the past five years will be campaign issues.

; Political differences between John Larkins and *Gov. Hodges date back several years to the time when Gov. Hodges was successful in removing Larkins from the chairmanship of the Democratic organization in the state. The two men have been less than close political allies since that time.

In the case of the third major candidate, Addison Hewlett of Wilmington, Hewlett defeated for the House Speakership last year by Carl Venters of Jacksonville who was generally regarded as a Hodges man. As speaker, Hewlett was not regarded as in the Hodges camp during the session, and it is difficult to imagine his being taken under the wing of the administration during the coming campaign.

Although Gov. Hodges may wish to preserve his position of neutrality in the gobematorial race, there can be little doubt that he will be drawn into the campaign ... at least to defend his administration. While his defense of the administration may not place him ia the position of endorsing a particular candidate, it is probable it will place him in the position of being more against one candidate than the other.

If all of the candidates make certain administration policies issues in the campaign. Gov. Hodges may ultimately have to resort to picking the lesser of the evils at least for indirect support by the forces at his command.

The Guest May ! Prove Surprise

It must be remembered that as governor, he is still perhaps the most influential single person in the Democratic Party in North Carolina. A number of persons and factions at least will look to him for leadership and guidance during the cainpaign as has always been the case in gubernatorial campaigns in this state.

Govmt Also Owes More Than It Owns

Fridays Daily Reflector carried an Associated Press story reviewing the annual inventory report issued by the House Government Operations Committee which pointed out that every U. S. citizen, as a stockholder in the government, would own about $1,472 of the $264 billion in real and personal property owned by the government.

The figure is rather impressive. And the 398-page report reviews the millions of acres of land, public buildings, warehouses, typewriters, lighthouses, libraries, military equipment as well as some six and one-half billions in cash owned by the government.

While the listing is not complete, and while some of the book values shown probably are considerably below the actual value since all are based on purchase prices, government holdings of $1,472 per citizen represent a considerable sum of money.

There is another side o/ the coin, however, that should be considered before the collective citizenry decides to sell out the government holdings and take their $1,472 apiece.

The inventory of real and personal property of the federal government shows a value that is some $26 billions below the national debt that is owed by the government, and therefore is bwed by its stockholders, the people. While the individual citizen may, so to speak, own $1,472 worth of government property, he also owes individually about $1,673 as his pro rata share of the national debt.

If the government sold its real and personal property on the basis of the official inventory, each citizen, instead of getting $1,472. would have to cough up an additional $201 out of his own pocket to pay off the national debt after all government holdings h^ beOn sold and the proceeds applied against that

By HAL BOYLE

earned In Reading Mai',

Bf LTNN NISBET

ANGELSThe author of the Biblical Epistle to the Hebrews admonished his readers to Be not forgetful to entertain strangers; for thereby some have en-tHtalned angels unawares-*

lifton Blue, veteran legislator from Moore county, editor-pvbllsher of the Sandhills Cit-Isen weekly newspaper at Aberdeen, and iipthor of a column appearing in a number of other papers, recalls one Instance in point. In a paragraph about the upcoming Jefferson - Jackson dhmer on February 6, Clif hicks back to the 1952 J^ dinner.

Be recalls that on that occasion none of the political big shots paid much attention to a relatively unfamiliar and unobtrusive guest, who was s candidate for what Iras then re-lltrded a minor office. Inquiry dlBclosed' that be was a retired business executive, who had t}een bom in Virginia, rose to prominence in North Csrollna Industryand had the temerity fb run for the office of Lieutenant Qovemor. His name was Luther Hartwell Hodges.

DEFERRED Prosective candidates customarily wait as long as possible to pay the filing fee, 80 they will not be without us of the money. New candidates make a big to - do about formal announcements, and frequently (H>en working headquarters long before they become legal candidates by checking in at the State Board of Elections. Incumbents seeking re-election make less ballyhoo about formal announcements. They jest assume that ev^ybody knows they want to keep their jobs, and that they re campaigning all the time. So they just quietly slip into the State Board of Elections office, pay the required feeand let Raymond Maxwell make their announcements.

debt.

On the basis of the official inventory, considering the real and personal property of Uncle Sam, and his debts, the government has a dollars and cents net worth of minus $201 per citizen.

In addition to counting how much.they own Individually in government holdings, citizens should also give serious thought to how much they owe individually on the government debt

business. Likes

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

How much do you value your bed? After his dreary, wintry retreat fnmi Moscow in 1813. Napoleon gave this opinion of a confortable bed: I would not exchange it for all the thrones in the wwld.

We arent the most tslkative people in the world. The sverage Canadian uses the telephone 511 times a year, i Iceland the average Ls 480 and the United States ranks third with an aver-of 472 calls.

Did you know the Uni(m Jsck

is incorporated in Hawaiis state flag? It symbolises the fact that Hawaii brieily was under British rule.

Many peoi^ believt a check has to be written in ink. Actually, a check written with a pencil is just as legal but youre a fool to write oneunless you use an indelible pencil.

When Orville Wright made the first powered flight in an airplane 1903. he flew a distance of only 120 feet. Todays big new planes measure more. than that from nose to tall.

In the 16th century, Britain was OM of the countries having

Debt-Retirement

Other Editors Saying ... Close To The People

TEMPUS FOIT Time is mnning short for the folks who have been thinking for years about running for big political office to make up their minds.. The books for filing notice (g candidacy for statewide and district offices will close at noon Friday. March 18. 1960. That is less than nine weeks from now.

And. as one wag observed the other day. nine weeks can seem Idee a long time when you are just waiting around for something to* happen. It can be a mighty short time for folks who have been playing with ideas for years to make scmie-tMng happen.

BROADENED There is more involved in the appointment of Judge Raymond Mallard of Whiteville to the board of trustees of Pembroke State College than just filUng a vacancy occasioned by the death of James R. Lowry. It is significant of the broadened scope of the institution.

Originally established as an institution of higher education for the Indians of Robeson county, Pembroke College a few years ago opened its doors to other applicants. Presently the student body is more than half white, with students from,several counties. Until two or three years ago all trustees lived in Robeson county-Oovernor Hodges is broadening the base of tinisteeship to correspond with expanded enrollment. Indications are that Pemlwoke State College is on the road to becoming an Important unit in North Carolinas higher educational system.

The Daily Refl^or

INCORPORATED

Published Every Afternoon Except Sunday Established 1882 DAVID JULIAN WHICHARD, Publisher

Entered at Post Office, Greenville, N. C.. as second class mall matter.

By Csurier

SUBSCRIPTION RATES

Week 30c

(BY MAIL, Payable in Advance)

Three Months ................................................. $ 3.50

Sia Months-------------------------------------------------- $ 6.50

One Year ........................ $11.50

imiBnt ASSOCIATED PRESS Aamciated Presa ia exclusively entitled to use for publicaMon ill news dispatches credited to it or not c-therwlse credited to this paper and also the local newr published herein. All rights of publication of special dispatches here are also reserved.

NATIONAL ADVCRTISINO REPRF8ENTATIVE8 TTiomas F. Clark Co., Inc., New York, Chicago. AtUnta Member Audit Bureau of ClrculaUoQ.

All advertising copy must be received at least one day before publlcatloo date.

By RALPH ROBEY

From the viewpoint of business tbe most important statement in the State-of-the-Union message by President Elsenhower probably was that on retirement of the public debt

Back of this was a projected surplus of $200 million for the current fiscal year ending next June 30 and an estimate of $4.2 billion surplus for the following fiscal year.

The mroject for this year Is another revision by tbe Adrainis-Administration. In the mid-year review by the Budget Bureau it was predicted that there would be a surplus of $100 million. Then, a few weeks later. Budget Bureau Director Stans, said that the chances were we would have a deficit this year. The difference wag continuation of the steel strike and the Influence of this upon both corporate pror fits and Individual Income. This current revision, however, can be accounted for by other than settlement of the steel strike. Only a few days ago the Federal Reserve System adopted a new formula for tbe retention of its earnings, and this resulted In an increased payment to the U.S. Treasury of $266 millionor by more than the estimated surplus.

The indicated surplus for fiscal 1961 is of quite a different character. Expenditures are estimated at $^.8 billion, as compared with an anticipated $81 billion. Revenues are forecast at $84 billion, which is appreciably higher than had been expected. This is a good sized surplus, but the President had this to say about it:

Personally, I do not feel that any amount can be properly called a surplus as long as the nation is in debt. I prefer to think of such an item as a reduction on our childrens in

herited mortgage. And once we have established such pasrments ss normal practice.we can profitably make Improvements in our tax structure and thereby truly reduce the heavy burdens of taxation.

At first glance this appears to be a conservative and appealing point of view. But analysis of its implications raises some fundamental issues- If we can not have tax relief with income exceeding expenditures by ,$4.2 billion, how much surplus must we have before beginning a program of tax rate reform?

Everyone is interested in getting s reduction of the public debt, but must that be given absolute priority over tax rate reform?

Since the historical record shows that within a short period a reduction of taxes brings more revenue to the government, might we not be better off If we started on tax reform immediately?

Finally, in as much as we have a shortage of venture capital, and that is holding back 'the growth of the nation, would it not be wise to aid the accumulation of such capital by tax rate reform?

In my judgment a surplus of $4.2 billion is more than enough to justify a tax-rate-reform program this year. Further, toere already is a program before the House Ways and Means Committee that is particularly suited for the present situation. Thia is the five year program of the Herlong-Baker bill. This reduces taxes across the board by using the revenue which comes from economic growth for this purpose rather than increased government spending. It Is a genuine tax-rate-reform measure, and involves no shifting of taxes from one group to another.

(The Raleigh Tfanes)

The most efficient government is* not necessarily tbe best government. For, the most efficient government may be tbe government which shuts out tbe people, which leaves the government in the haixis of one man or a small group of men. A truly good government must be in close contact with the people and must be so constituted as to be responsible to the will of the people-

On this editorial page yesterday. Lynn Nisbet, tbe veteran Capitol Square columnist for North C^(^dnas afternoon newspapers, discussed the current situation in state budgeting. He noted that budget estimates extending through June of 1963 are now being received, saying that one objective of such advance estimates is to streamline budgeting operaUons. That would reduce the time tbe Admission spends evor two years visiting institutions and agencies, talking with their officials and . getting their own budget ideas. Correspondent Nisbet explains:

All hands concede that the centralized stream-lined system may be more efficient from the business viewpoint. None of the administrative personnel, from the OoverncH' down, has ever served in the Legislature. Five of the six members of the Advisory Budget Commission are members of tbe present General Assembly. Senators Arthur Kirk-,man and William Copeland, Representatives Clifton Blue and Clyde Harrias are ex-officlo by. reason of money committee chairmanships. Joe Eagles is a four times veteran Senator and is

likely to be back next time.

The legislaUffe understand, wuph better than the executive administrators, the difference

between government and private business operation. They are .acutely conscious that the voting citizens insist upon the right to present their ideas of bow their tax moneys should be spent. They resent apparent intent to deny them their day in court.

The voters should resent

such centralization of power in the hands of just a few administrative officials. The officials of the Department of Administration arent elected. They have never appeared before the people as candidates for office, and they never will have to. They are, therefore, In a posttlon to be completely unresponsive to tbe wishes of the people, and to be ignorant of the' wishes of the people even if they should wish to respond to them.

Such efficient centralization of power in the hands of a few in Raleigh has been a trademark of tbe Hodges administration. The powtt centered in tbe hands of State Highway Conunisslon administrators in Raleigh is sure to be an' issue in this gubernatorial campaign. It should be an issue, and if the people are alert to their own best good, they will see to it that the centralization of power here not only stops, but that much of it now centered here is gtven back to tbe people.

A government close to the people and responsive to the people and really run by the people may be creaky, slow and at times actually inefficient. But, it is the best kind of government, and it is the kind of govemment North Carolina needs again-

the moct violence in the wm'ld. Now 20 tiznes es many murders sre conuDltted in the United States as in Brtialn.

Does education pay? It has been estimated that the average high aebooi graduate in hie lifetime will earn $49.000 more than one who tpi only a gran>-mar eclMxrt degree. And each year in college adds s later earning power of $25,000. Moral: Stay in college until you arc 65 and retire a millionaire I

The first clock noade in the United SUtee was built in 1754 by Benjamin Banneker who until then never had seen a clock.

Mgo feels sure be will eacape the fate of the diiMsaurs. but win be? Sinoe the time of Cfaiiet, 107 kinds of mairnnala are known to have become extinct.

You dont need an enormous vocabulary to be a literary to be a literary genius, fiiakes-peare used only about 15,000 wcwds, and the authors of tbe Old Testament fewer than 6.000-Its how you put the words together that counts.

Men believe they spend most of their lives in hot water, bat doctors say women not only tolerate but enjoy a bath temperature five degrees or more higher than moet men prefer.

Public Forum

To the Editor

From living here for a year and a half. I conclude that Greenville would be a delightful place to live If it .could be cleansed ot fantastic quantities of neglecte<^ yelping dogs for There appear to be two dogs every resident and four dog owners for every one dog lover.

Perhaps old OreefivUle In-habiUnts among your readers could help an embattled newcomer.

How do 3T0U keep going when dogs wake you early every morning, keep you awake late every night? How do you do your work properly over the erratic barking ot dogs, all day long? How do you treat a neighbor who maintains a public nuisance year in and year out?

These questions seem awkward, I know, since tbe dog in the United States, like the cow In India, has long been s sscred animal. But perhaps It Is time to re-examine our faith. In the long run might we not properly put a higher value on the man than on the mutt? ?

8lnc*e)y,

Francis R. Adams, Jr.

Atheist

Soviet

Outlook

By ROGER BABSON

Babeon Park. Mass., I rather hesitata to write this column because some people may think that I am getting favorable toward Russia; but let me first assure you that I detaet many things Russia to doing and waa glad to get out of the eoontry. Nevertheless. I can alwaya learn something wherever I go, and from any nationality. Thoee who keep their eyes shut and their ears plugged are getp ting more ignorant every day and are only fooling themselvee. WHAT RUSSIANS MEAN BY

SAYING THEY ARE ATHEISTS

Althoufh I visited a church In Rusela where, oe the me-vlous Sunday morning, there had been 4,(W0 people standing or on their kneee (these church* ee have no seats), yet 96 pot cent of tbe one miUion people in Moscow aiMl two miUkm in tte suburtM win tell you they are athetote. Some of them aay they do not believe ia God; but tiie majortty wiU ^ tell you they do not b^ve that Jeeus was the Son of God. They eey that Jeeus wae tbe great leader and founder of C2uistianity, just ea Buddha wae the founder of Buddhism, Mohammed the founder of Mohammedanism. and Cknmiciue tbe founder of Confueiantom.

I am noet acquainted with aH the church denominations in the country; but I am told that the Unitarian branch and some of the Pacific Coast branches of the Protestant chorches may feel about the same toward Jeans as the Rueeian lealers. (1 cannot speak authoritatively on Russia as a whole, as Moscow was the only city which 1 vl^ tied.)

JESUr SERMON ON TBE MOUNT

When I was talking with some prominent Communiete in Moih cow about Christianity, they first made the point that a very small portion of the BlMe consists of Jeeus own words. They reahse that the (Md Testament to a history at the Jewish People end may be found in many Moscow libraries trane* lated into Russian. They, boir-ever. would substituto the teachings of Nikolai Lenin, the founder of Communism, in j^ace of the writingi of St. PauL When a Russian does this, he feels justified in calling himself an atheist, althmigh this to not the description which Wehetcr'e' Dictionary gives for an atheist.

I had no personal talk when In Moecow with Nikita Khrushchev, the Premier, be being in Peiping itt the time; but I met people who claimed to know hie thoughts. They told me that Mr. Khrushchev has said that if we Cfarietimis in the U. 8. followed the teschings of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount, Communism might have had no op-portiinity to develop. This to a very knportant etateizMnt to be remembered when we celebrate Christmas as Jesus* birthday.

THE BIG DIFFERENCE between JESUS TEACHINGS AND COMMUNISM

Seldom do I ask followers of my column to read anything: but I do ssk you to read today Jesus Sermon on the Mount (aa found in the fifth chapter of Matthew) and relate it to our present mode of Uf. R agrees pretty well with the Communists ^p^l of taking care of their lees fortunate people and seeing that all are fed. housed, and clothed, and that those who are

Suallfled have a proper educa-on, etc. Jesus also warned against wealth as a handicap to proper living. Certainly. Jesus would heartily approve the desire of President Etoenhower to help beckward nations and uzk> fortunate people.

But, Jesus insisted that these changes should come about fol-untarily and not by f(vce. The wicked massacree by the Communists in Hungary and other countries, merely to eliminate private property, would certali-ly be considered outright mur> der by Jesus. I repeat that Jesus would Insist that tbe r^ forms be voluntary and that men should let God (Who. He said. Is s Sirit) do the punishing. In order for me to take Premier Khrushchev seriously in his purported respect for the Sermon on the Mount. he

Contiweed On Page i

Strength For Today

Valid Forecasts For Every Week

By EARL L. DOUGLASS HANDS STRONG AND WILLING

Believing in God and trusting God are two entirely different things-

The Bible tells us that the demons believed in Christ. No one, probably, is more theologically sound than Satan himself. He knows Christian theology as no seminary professor or Christian scholar knows it. The trouble with his satlxiic majesty, however, is that he does not live u to this theology nor does he intend to do so.

People can sometimes he absolutely orthodox in their belief and yet have no religious faith whatsoever. For religious faith is rooted and grounded in trust. It is not only what we believe about God that redounds to our advantage but the extent to whkh we cgh Implement that belief. -We may believe with our minds that all things work together for good to them that love God, yet frequently when v.'e confront hard problenas we find ourselves In a perfect, cither. Iht last thing wa think

of doing Is using our religious faith. We yell for the doctor, the marriage counsellor, the psychiatrist, the money lenderbut we are silent about God.

Let God do the worrying about your affairs. Your duty and privilege is to do the trusting. Put things in His hands and let them remain there. He is big enough and strong enough to handle them.

[mis

By ELMER ROESSNER Each week this department offers a number of forecasts for various periods ahead, most based on analyses of developing trends. To save space and time, and to avoid repetition, lets set down two forecasts that will be valid for every week in 1960:

1. More Inflation. No matter what happens, nd mstter what speeches are delivered or promises made. Inflation will continue to shrink in purchasing power. LegislaUon. elections. Federal Reserve decisions will have no significant Influence. The explanation for this is. long and complicated but take this departments word for it. this will happen. Cut this column out and put in in your safe, and on January 18. 1961, check the U. S. Government figures on the - purchasing power of the dollar for December, 1959, and December 1960. And you wUl And. not that I gm eating my hat, but ihat you are earning a little bit less for your $1. .

AND ON TAXES Z. Higker slaU aod tocal tout-

es. Ther may a few communities and even a state or two that will wind up the year without the prospect of higher taxes, but in most of the Fifty especially In the two new ones citizens will be paying more.

The reasons are as Inescapable as they are simple: The public demands more services on the stata and local level, especially for schools, roads, uq-employment benefits, welfare, juvenile programs, medical aid and recreational facilities. The public can have all' of thdte benefits it insists upon. Its children need never swim in bare concrete pools if it Insists ^on sea-green tile poolsand is "willing.-to j)taE the costs in taxes.

Now, for some short range forecasts:

Cancer insurance. A bi|^ insurer is planning to offer medical tare Insurance for single Qwomen as well as families in the next few weeks.

No Federal tax cuts. The promised Federal budget surplus will cause many Congress-msA to propose (ax cuts. Coa-

gressmen coming up for elec-' tion will be most vociferous. But White House attitudes, reinforced by a threat of a veto, will block them.

OTHER LOOK-AHEADS No Keogh-Simpson bill. This bill would permit self - employed persons to deduct, for tax purposes, the cost of future pensions. It has a lot of support, because - Incorporated businesses get such a deduction. But because It would be a tax cut. It will be beaten.

Costlier pepper. The Singapore corner on pepper has been broken partially, but it still has enough control of the market to force higher prices in the United States.

Higher wages. Costlief steel. No matter who says it, no matr ter what you read, wages in other industries will rise in the steel pattern and, over the longer term, all wages will be influenced by the settleinent. And even If you see denials spelled urti by shooting stars, steel prices will rise to cover most, 1 not all, Of the increases won bv (ka siedwdrkasa.

Anybody who thinks othe^ wise is under six yaars of aga.

CUTS OUT TIPS

AND SERVICE BEGINS

The Old Promoter was in today with the atory about a friend and his definition of a friend ia one who loans him money-i.-who is a tenant in building with a staff that expects Chiistmaa gifts, and xpects them in caab.

Every year the superlntenp dent hands each tenant a Hat of names of employees, and the tenant is expected to hand out checks or currency to all cv-evator operators, watchmen, furnace men and so on.

The Promoters friend happened to be tied up in a new venture at Christmas and pushed the list aside.

Since then, he reports, hes never had it so good. Elevators are held for him. he gets heat when he phones for it. and all employees bow. He cant figure v'hether employees are respecting him for his stalwart independence, or whether he is the objective of a campaign to him (he error ol, hie wajs.