The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1935-05-16
L LEGISLATURE ADJOURNS
SATURDAY AFTER FOUR
MONTHS OF HARD WORK
Budget Balanced Even Though Sala-
ries Are Increased and Auto
Tags Cost Less
ELECTRIC CHAIR ABOLISHED

II, after having been in session since
the first of January. Judge T. c.
Bowie, Ashe representative who came
home shortly after the sine die ad-
journmnt, has expressed hismelf as
being well pleased on the whole with
the work accomplished.
Speaker of the House Johnson pre-
dicted that the Assembly would be re-
called in special session within the
next three months because of the
complex problem of liquor.
Other legislators agreed with
Speaker johnson on the necessity for
a special session because of the
Legislatures action providing for
elections to set up liquor stores in II
of the states 100 counties, while
the other S3 counties would have to
remain dry.
"What we should do is to legalize
liquor under rigid state liquor con-
troll plan and then do away with the
sales tax on the basic food commodi-
ties" was reported to have been ad-
vocated by w. L. Lumpkin.
3-Percent Sales Tax Again
The outstanding achievement Of
the legislature was the balancing of
the state budget for the next two
years even though state salaries were
boosted and automobile license tags
were lowered. To do this, however,
the genreal three-per cnt sales tax
was again made law but with more
strings than ever tied to it. All the
basic foods were put on the taxable
list with the exception of milk. There
were few other major changes in
taxes, though a brand new levy was
provided for chain filling stations.
Appropriations Increased
Appropriations for every state SER
vice were boosted above those of two
years ago and allotments for person
al service were raised enough to al
low 20 per cent salary increases for
1935-1936 and Is per cent for 1886
1887 if revenues will permit.
The legislature wrote into law a
statewide drivers license require
ment. Drivers of all motor vehicles
must be licensed and those with one
year of experience may secure their
cards without cost by November /.
AS supplementary legislation, the
solons doubled the size of the state
highway patrol and created divi-
sion of highway safety in the state
department of revenue.
The cost of automobile license tags
next year will be q per cent below
the present scale, the legislators de-
cided, with the rate based on 40 cents
per hundredweight instead of 55
cents.
A statewide school book rental sys-
tenn was authorized by the legislators
and proponents Of the measure said
the Inauguration of the system would
save hundreds of thousands Of dollars
yearly to school patrons.
A new tubercular sanatarium was
authorized to be built somewhere in
western North Carolina at cost Of
7 $250,OOO, for which bonds will be is
sued, and bonds for permanent i'm
provements at the three insane hos
pitfalls and Casweli Training school
were also voted.
Absentee Voting Continued
There were many efforts to repeal
the absentee ballot law or strengthen
it on a statewide basis but all were
rejected. Many counties got passed
local laws on the voting question.
A number of constitutional amend
ments were approved by the solons
and will be submitted to the voters
in 1886. They include: A proposal to
permit classification Of property for
taxation; a proposal to increase the
membership of the Supreme court
from five to seven; proposal to ex-
empt homesteads up to $1,000 from
taxation; proposal to adopt new
formula for limiting state debt; and
proposal to allow taxes up to 10 per
cent on incomes instead of the pres
ent per cent.
A new statewide game law to put
every county fully under the state
game and inland fisheries commission
in control of hunting, fishing, etc.,
was enacted, as were measures to aid
in establishing state and national
parks and the like.