Thuriday, December 12, 1968

Revenue Needs Pose Hard Decision

FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS! * NiXOIl.

The 1969 /General Assembly is not likely to jump into the controversial matter of increa^sing tte or local taxes wth any degree of enthusiasm.

An election year in which voters indicated iifkire than the usual amount of conservatism will he fresh in the minds of those who sit in the legis-iature. A national government in which the administration may be more inclined to reduce spending if not taxeswill not help the atmosphere in which the North Carolina General Assembly must consider whether to raise taxes, and if so, where the levies should come to rest.

Yet North Carolinas Tax Study Commission has said in no uncertain terms that the state and Tocal governments are going to need additional sources of tax revenue in the years immediately ahead if they are to do what is expectd of them. It has set forth clearly suggestions as to where these aldtional tax revenues may come from and what bourses should be followed to produce these revenues. It has also left the clear impression that the

ht rrom

matter should not be put off by the 1969 legislature.

Even though many North Carolinians have grave misgiyings about the recommendations of the Tax Study Commission, few argue seriously that the state or local level can be expected to produce suffic-needs which are going unmet because of lack of revenues. On top of that, there are few who will argue that the present tax structure at either the state or local level can be expctd o produce sufficient revenues in the years ahead to meet those needs.

The alternatives are just what they alaways are: either levy new taxes to provide additional revenues; or hold to the present structure and see urgent needs continue to go unmet.

Those alternatives will face the 1969 General Assembly. The decisions will not be as clearly defined or as uncomplicated as those alternatives seem to imply, but in the final analysis, the choice must be made between those two. And whatever the basic choice, there will be subsequent equal choices to be made either concerning what new tax sources to tap, or what needs to neglect in appropriating the inadequate amount of tax dollars that are available.

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Aanews

By WILLIAM A. SHIRES Rcilector Raleigh Burean

^WtLEIGH - Spiro T. Ag-oew suffered a political setback some months ago in Maryland when voters rejected an entirely rewritten state cdnstiution.

Agnew, governor of Maryland, learned a political lesson, was too much at one

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lime, he said.

/.The fact is that the proposition was so sweeping that the voters could not identify the fishes, nor fully understand all fttt was involved. The North Ctcrolina Constitutioml Study fQqftnmission, which aubmittad ^ reports last weekend, took 'due note of tie Maryiand ex-^rience.

' At the snc time, however, Hie North Can^a cocnmissioo 'eubmitted 10 major recommendations for revision of the states century-old charter and Hftre are some who feel this also may be too much for the electorate to swallow and di-oast at one time.

// WUl Atk Why To begin with, the study ommisaion itself must be prepared to answer why it made wch recommendations.

4s it because most other ethtes have such constitutional pfocedures? If so, why are jhcy better than North Caro-Iteas. It is simply to put Sorth Carolina in step with OHier states? What is wrong with the present system in Iforth Carolina?

More answers are needed, ond will be called for. The gestin will be placed first by the legislature.

Many Questions The study (xxnmission headed by former Supreme Court ghief Justice Emery Denny of 9Ute L. P. McLendon recommended the veto power for

6SSOn Young People Should Give Their Own Views

The Recreation Commission is working on plans for creating more interest among teenagers in using the Teen-Age Club and we applaud the com-misson^s efforts.

At a meeting this week the commission was told that a color television set has been purchased for use by the teen-agers. Plans are being made also to add a pool table, ping-pong tables and other items which will provide the teen-agers with recreation at Elm Street gym. A portion of the gym will also be set aside for this age groups use at times.

These are all constructive efforts, but perhaps the teen-agers themselves might have ideas on how the club can be made to best serve their interests.

So how about it young people? Why not express your ideas on what a good Teen-Age Club should offer? The Daily Reflector will be happy to print good, constructive letters from the teen-agers offering suggestions.

Office Memo Is Carrying Bal.

N(x1h Carolina governor. Legislators will ask why. Has the General Assembly enacted irresponsible or frivolwis legislation during Hie years that the govern<' has lacked veto power? Why, under the principle of separation of powers, should the governor have final say-so over what has been done by 170 men elected by the people? That other states grant this power to the governor will not be a sufficient answer.

Secondly, should a governor succeed himself? This may be more easily justified in the forthcoming arguments.

Governors have begun programs during a relatively brief four year term which, under the present constitution htey have been unable to carry on and develop a full fruit. Former Gov. Tarry Sanfords long-looking programs and experiments are a prime example, and Sanford said that tiis greatest wish was to have been able to carry them on through a few more years. The present Governor, Dan K. Moore, feels his greatest aocomplishment has been studying and planning for the fuUve but he has no chance of implementing or carrying out the tings these studies point to for future action.

ConncU of State

Another proposed constitutional amendment would strip Council ol States status from the Secretary of State, Superintendent of public instruction and the commissioners of agriculture, insurance Mid labor and make all of these offices except public instruction appointive instead of elective.

This conflicts with the recent public education study reports which recommends that the superintendent of public histruction also be appointed the Board of EducaUm.

In any case tiiere will be resistance he too. The principal argument is that aside from those officials who handle funds and render legal advice and opinions, the top officials of the executive branch should be subservient to the governor, thiB strwigthcning the governors power. They would serve at the pleasure of a governor.

Close

ART BUCHWALD

Demos Back To Chicago

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Publithm

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Member Auiftt Bureau o Clrculatloo.

By JIM NICHOLS

LANSING, Mich. (AP) -The interoffice memo has become the principal weapon in a skirt skirmish raging in Michigans Capitol.

It started when <me disapproving committee clerk circulated a memo among her fellow female legislative employes which said:

How short is too short? The right length is dictated by your size, age and intelligence. It is measured by good taste ,the proper place and occasion. Honestly now, are your legs and knees to truly fetching that they must be exposed to everyone, at all times, anywhere?

The memo added; Your skirt is too short if: when you sit there is nothing to tug down. . .turning around in your chair pulls it thigh high . .someone else has to do your filing for you.

The other side was toon heard from. A less disapproving secretary parodied the first memo with a memo of her own.

The right length, she asserted, is dictated by y o u r nationality, religion and the ahape of your head.

Your skirt is too long, she added, if: when sittinff you look as though youre still standing . . . when turning in your chair it gets wound up In the swivel.

A male then jumped into the frav with a memo inquiring: Honestly now, is your face so truly fetching that it must see the only thing exposed to everyone, ,at all times, anywhere?

In response, probably, to male meddling in this clearly feminine debate, another aec-

retary switched the discussion to beards.

How long, her memo inquired, is too long

The right length of beard, she said, is dictated by your age, Intelligence, and what your face looks like when clean shaven. It is measured by good taste, the color of your hair, and what time your five oclock shadow appears.

Honestly now, she asked Capitol males, is your face so truly homely that it must be exposed to no one, av no time, nowhere?

Your beard Is too long, the memo added, If: little children cry with fear when they look at you. . .you use a hairdryer to dry your face. . . the Capitol prigeons seek you out during nesting season.

Opinions In Brief

At the University of California, an anthropologist studied monkey tribes in India She discovered that if infant monkeys deviated even slighly from the pattern that adult monkeys prefer, they are punished without fail and at once by being struck or bitten. The young monkeys soon learn to avoid annojring adults. Maybe those monkeys are really smarter than we ai^. ~ St Albans (Vt.) Messenger.

WASHINGTON - It may be a little early, but a new organization has' just been formed to bring the Democratic convention back to Chicago in 1972.

The chainnan of the group, Upton Mace, told me that he hoped to get Vice President Hubert Humi^ey to serve as honorary chairman.

After all that Chicago did for him,* Mace said, thats the least the Vice Preside n t could do for Chicago.

-But there are soiiie who feel that Mayor Daley may have cost Humphrey elec-tion. * ^

Nonsense. If it wasnt for Chicago, the Vice Pres i d ent might have got to a very slow start in his campaign. Mace said. As it was, Chicago fired up the party and they all left determined to

make Hubert a winner.

They did?

Of course. Everyone was talking about Chicago after the conventions. As a matter of fact, they still are.

I know the Democrats are talking about Chicago, but Im not sure they re talking about it in the same terms that you are, I said.

Nonsense, Mace said. 1 dont think theres one member of the Democratic Party, or for that matter the press, who wouldnt come back to Chicago next week for a political convention if we asked them to. After all, we have ev-' erything here: beautiful

parte, wonderful hotels and excellent hospital facilities. Where else could you be clubbed in a police riot and be in an ambulance in five minutes?

Nowhere, I had to admit. By the way. about the clubbing of people. There are some people in the Democratic Party Im not say i n g many who arent cert a i n that clubbing people over the head is a good thing for the partys image.

Youll always have malcontents in any party, Mace said. The important thing is that the Democrats must bold

ART

BUCHWALD

Other Editors Say Reducing The Tax Loac.

Job-holders who conqilain about hard work must envy the unemployed. 'They get every day off. Charleston (S. C.) News and Courier.

(Rocky Mount Telegram)

When Presidiwit J o h n s <mi pressured Congress to approve a 10 per cent income surtax he gave the impression that it was to be only a temporary levy to help meet the costs of the war in Vietnam. Most people of course viewed the promise with some misgiving, since taxes have a way (rf beciwning terriWy permanent.

However, the measure is supposed to expire next June. Whether it will depends up<m how much the government can tighten its spending. Richard Nixcm is on record as fa-vOTing an end to toe 10 per cent surtax. But it ought to be noted that the Johnswi administrations last budget may be bigger than the $185 billion anticipated far this year.

In such a case, toe fault wont lie with Nixon since he has nothing to do with what the present administration does in shaping toe size (tf the new budget. Thus, it could be a whole year be-Iwe any effects of a Nlxwi economizing move (if tho^ is

one) would be felt.

In toe meantime, Nixon is obliged to place top priority on ending the war in Vietnam. That was one of his primary campaign M-omis e s. So in order to get rid of the upopular surtax, he will have to bring toe war in Vietnam to a conclusion.

Nobody is expecting him to perform mirades. Eiverybody is expecting him to make a vigorous, determined effwt to place the nations fiscal business in order, clean up the mess in Vietnam and retom some sanity to 'our foreign and domestic polides policies which have cost us bilQons upon billions of dollars.

If NixMi thinks this is an impossible task, if Ccmgress tries to throw roadblocks in his path, then all he has to do is ranember that the American public will give him its wholehearted support in returning the nation to a'sane course. We <toubt if any member ol Congress will stand in toe way of that, particularly if he knows he will have to answo- to a fed - up coristitr uaicy two years hence.

their convention in a major city whMe the mayor has enough power to deliver the state. Chicago fills that bill. But Mayor Daley didnt deliver Illinois to the Democrats this year.

That wasnt his fault, Mace said. The only reas o n Illinois did not go to Humphrey was that Nixon got more yotes.

Hhats a point I hadnt thought of.

Look, I dont have to s e 11 Chicago to you,* Mace said. You were there this summer. Dont we have one of the finest police forces in the country?

The finest, I said. They left' their mark on a lot of people who were there this August.

Of course they did, Mace said. And do you know why? Because theyre used to dealing with any kind of person that shows up at a political convention. Our cops are kind, courteous and noted for keeping their cool. Do you know they gave out less traffic tickets during August while the convention was on than during any week of the year? Everyone Ive spoken to, I said, says Chicago policemen have big hearts. But this report by the committee on violence. . .

Thats a lot of poppycock, (Continiied On Page 5)

By JOHN M. HIQHTOWER

WASHINGTON (AP)-Pre-sident -elect Richard M. Nixons cholee of Witiiam P. Rogers as his secretory of state can make loreigh p(di(^ iiiia-ka^ in other countries cmly assume that their tiKNights on Idiomatic ffaiiR i^t ftin parallel.

Basing tide assumption on the long and close personal f ^ lationsnip between Nixon mid Rogers, they can expact me former attorney general to have a relativdy easy time in estabUshing a program based on the president - elects an-nounceo WM*ld goals.

These goals include negotiating peace or de - Americanizing toe war in Vietnam, seeking a peaceful settlement (d the inflamed Israeli - Arab conflict, strengthening the Atr tantic Alliance, opening summit negotiations with toe Soviet Union on nuclear missila Hmitatiph and other Issues, and reshaping toe foreign aid program.

Until his chwce of Rogers became known Tuesday, speculation here had centa*ed on various men with some experience in diplomacy, particularly former Treasury Secretary Douglas Dillon, who had /also served as an ambassad-/ or and under - secretary <rf state.

Tlie reaction now, am o n g diplomatic officials' is toat Rogers will have a lot to learn in a short time but that he will have the advantage of looking at problems and po-' licies wito a fresh mind and against the background of extensive experieiKie in government.

Because of his intimate association with Nixon, Rogerg will be in a far stronger position in taking over toe State Department than was D e a,n Rusk, the retiring foreign po;-licy chief, when he moved into toe job at toe outset of the Kennedy administration.

Rusk had never met Pre-' sident Kennedy until a few days before he was asked to accept toe cabinet positi<xi. He was nevar a ^member of Kennedy*s exuberant and intimate'inner circle at toe Whlte^ House and daring his first year in office was subject tO CTiticism and opp<wition from some of thos who were.

The friendship between Nixon and Rog-s goes back to their World War II days in toe Navy and cwitmued through their years in the Ei-Eisenhowej: suffered a heart afterward.

Whai M-esident Dwi^t p. Eisenhower suffered a heart attack in Denver in September, 1955, and questions oi succession arose, it was primarily Rogere to whom vice president Nixon turned first for advice.

Apart from whatever' role he played in .policy diecisiwis in the Eisenhowa cabinet, Rogerss wie active assignment in foreign affairs was given him by President Johnson in 1965 when he served for three ' mcxiths as a U. S. delegate to the 20th session Of the U. N. Gena*aJ, Assen^y.

At that time he criticized alleged anti - Semitism in toe Soviet Union. He attacked apartheid hi' South Africa. And he called for active'pw-ticipation by all U. N. members to eliminate want and ignorance in underdeveloped countries.

But his lawyers task as U. S. member of the legal committee of the General Assembly (fid not require him to famulate advice of expound views on other issues.

Stock Market To Churn More

Strength For Today

HOPE AND COURAGE

Many people have been overwhelmed by the fact that with all the attempts that have been made during the past century to avert war we are still confronted perhaps to an unprecedented degree wito the possibity war. We have toe power, and so do the communist nations, to blast one another off the planet, or perhaps to blast everyone off the planet.

The League of Nations could not stop this. The United Nations cannot stop this. What wa hava to do is to live wito a continual manace and take one step at a time. We should not despair. A third world war Is a possibility but certainly not something ineviti-ble. Our sophisticated generation trembles wito fears toat

should long since have been banished. But they are not banished.

One step at a time. Faith in God. Devotion to sound government. These are certainly factors, and helpful factors, as we confront an alarming future. We need to c<m-feoit the fact that it will be the hands of concerned individuals which will sweep the clouds away and keep criminally - minded men and nations within certain bounds.

If we are looking for complete security, we are not going to get it. This world, in which we live is s dangamis world, and wa live under the cloud of danger most of the time. But our condition is not hopeless. Far from that It is full of hope and challenge.

By Earl L. Douglass

By ELMER ROESSNER

The churning stock market will be churned even further by ycar-end tax buying and selling. Thousands of speculators and investors will be acting to realize profits this year or to push them into 1966.

This year the churning will be worse than ever because of toe surtax. The 10 per cent surcharge isnt a flat 10 per cent. Because it was effective April this years surtax amounts to per cent And because it is scheduled to expire on June 30 next year, it will be only 5 per cait in 1969.

But the fact toat it may be extended for all of 1989 and for all aternity as far as anyone can tell makes gamblers of everyone who has postponable taxable income.

Tax End Uocertaio

President - to - be Nixon (he wont be President - eleci

until Dec. 15 when toe Electoral College formally votes) and Congressman Wilbur Mills, D-Ark., chairman of toe House Ways and Means Committee, at their meeting last week a^eed to try to avoid extouling the tax.

However, while Mr. Nixon has promised economy in go-vernmait, some of his campaign promises will require added spending if carried out. Fmihermore. the Democrats are in control of Congress and Democrats, as appropriations over the last administration show, love to spend money.

So those who think the surtax will end next year can put their money where there conclusions are and post-phone profits until 1969 and those who want to bet the surtax will be extended will grab them this month, paying 7V4 per cent In our taxes instead of 10 per cent.

On Die Other Hand-

All situations arent as simple in the game of tax roulette. For instance, many speculators have made a bundle of money this year on upsurges in stock prices. They can bet they wont make so much next year by postponing realization until 19^ or

they can gamble they will make more by taking profits now, thaeby equalizing net profits.

.Others will have made gains in business, real estate and other offmarket ventures and will want to realize losses on their stock that has declined to offset other taxable

gains.

Tax roulette can be played in other ways. Corpoi'a-tions can pay bonuess dtocr this' year or next, depentong (Ml their estimates of profits in both years and of bets on toe surtax. And the recipients, in many instances, can persuade employers to advance or delay payments.

Addentda

Note: My bet, if I owned any stocky would be to realize gains this year. I expect the surtax will be extended (1) to meet higher costs of government caused by jogging inflation and racing do-g(^ism and (2) to brake, however ineffectively, the continuing inflation. ,

Note: Diere are many

ways to advance <r delay the taxiqg of stock prests. Vour income tax accoustont knows them.

Note; Income tax for jn t next year will be red, white and blue.