Henderson daily dispatch., 1936-03-14


abandoned all hope that a State pace
including North Carolina, South Car
DINA and Virginia may be worked out
for the control of the 1886 tobacco
crop, although it is we'll known that
Governor Ehringhaus has not been
and is not now optimistic for the sue
cess of such a plan. It is. still believed
in informed circles here that if South
Carolina and Virginia will go into an
interstate compact for controlling the
1886 tobacco crop, without the coop
Grafton of, Georgia and if Congress
will enact the necessary permissive
legislation needed, to validate such a
pact, that Governor Ehringhaus will
call special session, as much as he
dislikes the thought of, doing So
In the meantime, it has been known
for several days that Governor En-
ringhaus has been working on a plan
of his own to apply to the tobacco
problem, in case the State pact plan
failed or if it. becomes apparent that
no Interstate agreement can be per-
fected in time, to apply. to the, 1886
crop, But he. has declined to give any
indication as. to the nature of this
plan, taking the position he might be
accused of trying to defeat the inter-
state compact plan. by bringing out a
new. plan, at this time.
Acting Under Pressure.
The pressure which has been in
creasing daily for special session or
for some action in the direction of to-
bacco crop control, is believed to have
brought Governor Ehringhaus around
to the decision to spring his new plan
without further delay and to the
abandonment of his watching wait
ing" policy. This decision is believed
to have been fastened by the fact
that the tobacco situation and talk Of
a special session were rapidly becom-
ing political footballs. In Statewide
radio campaign speech Thursday
night, Lieutenant Governor A. H.
Graham vigorously advocated spe-
cial session Of the General Assembly
to enact tobacco control legislation,
social security laws and to restore the
sales tax exemptions on essential
foods and meals. DR.. Ralph w. Nc
Donald, has been calling for special
session to deal. with the tobacco sit
uation for several weeks, although
most observers agree he is praying
that the governor will not call it.
+ If Governor Ehringhaus can find a
workable plan to take care of the to-
bacco situation without having to call
a special session of the General As
sembly, almost every one, with the
exception of candidates who might
benefit from a special session, will
xxy1i 0vo1xy tho
ernor can call the General Assembly
into special session, has has no power
whatever to limit it's deliberations to
the objects set forth in, the call and
is utterly without the power to end
the session, which like the brook, can
babble on forever, even though the
pay of members stops after 20 days.
Since North Carolina is the only State
in which the governor has no veto
power, he is at the mercy of the legis-
lature, which can pass any legislation
it may desire, regardless Of whether
the governor approves it or not.
Thus, if the governor should call a
special session for the purpose of en-
acting tobacco crop control and social
security legislation, there would be
nothing in the world to prevent it
from rewriting the entire revenue
act, changing or repeating many taxes
and thus throwing the entire budget
out of balance for the balance of this
biennium. Being a law unto itself, a
special session could do just as it
burned pleased. And with many Of it's
members seeking political office, it
might spend a great deal of time play
ing politics. So if Governor Ehring-
haus can find way to deal with the
tobacco crop control problem without
resort to a special session, almost
every one in the state, with the excep-
ton of some politicians, will feel re-
lieved.