The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1937-03-25
State General Assembly
Is Adjourned in Raleigh
Following Short Session
Record Budget Balanced; Free
Text Books Approved; and
Liquor Made Optional
SOCIAL SECURITY PASSES
Budget Provides for 10 Per Cent
Raise in Teachers Salaries

Budget Provides for 10 Per Cent
Raise in Teachers Salaries
Working at furious pace that
bewildered veteran observers and
seemed at times to surprise even
themselves, North Carolina senators
and representatives in the session
which closed in Raleigh Tuesday
probably disposed of more legisla-
ton a day than any other Assembly
in the states history.
Shortest Since 1929
The 77-day session was the short
est since 1929. In 1881, when the
sales tax and the operation of
schools, prisons and roads on state
wide basis caused the first legisla-
tive stretchout, the lawmakers re-
manned in Raleigh for 143 days. The
1888 session lasted 1872 days, and the
1885, 122.
Balanced Budget
The largest budget in the history
of the state has been balanced and
at the same time Governor Hoey has
been able to keep his campaign
promises to remove sales taxes from
the necessities of life, give children
free text books, and old people So
cial security.
History-making law is the law al
lowing the textbook commission to
authorize issuance of $1,500,000 in
bonds to give elementary school
children free books. <....
AS in former sessions, money mat
tiers caused the longest debates. Fin
ally approved was record-setting
budget, calling for expenditures, in
Guiding permanent improvements,
of more than $147, OOO,O 900 during the
1879 biennium. Although the
sales tax was removed from nine
necessities of life, a flat $4-a-pump
tax was levied on filling stations
and the cost Of automobile license
plates was reduced from 40 to IS
cents a hundred-weight. The funda-
mental revenue arrangement re-
manned substantially unchanged.
Part of the huge budget will be
used to raise the salary of teachers
and other State employees 10 per
cent.
Liquor and Security
Passage of the liquor statute end
ed % years of Statewide prohibi-
ton. Under the measure, counties
voting wet will be allowed to oper-
ate alcoholic beverage control stores,
where liquor may be sold by the
bottle. Profits will 60 to the coun-
ties, with the State receiving seven
per cent of gross sales.
Stepping into uncharted territory,
the legislators made North Carolina
history by inaugurating social Sc
curity program designed to aid the
INDECENT blind, aged, and dependent
children, at a cost of 100000 a
year, to be borne jointly by the Fed
eral government, the State, and the
counties.
Child Labor; Slot Machines
The lawmakers refused to ratify
the Federal child labor amendment,
but passed State laws prohibiting
the employment of children under
Is in industries and limiting the
work-hours of women in industry to
48 a week and of men to SIS, with
many exceptions.
Both Houses passed a bill to ex-
empt male mercantile employees
from the maximum hour law. The
representatives however, killed a
Senate-passed measure which would
have allowed the manufacture and
ASSEMBLING of slot machines in the
State.
Slot machines were banned.
Reorganize Commissions
Two of the States most important
commissions, the Highway and Pub
lie Works, and the education groups
were recognized along lines recon-
mended by Governor Hoey.
The Highway commission will be
composed of 10 men and chairman
all appointed by the Governor, who
will divide the State into 10 high
way districts. The School commits.
sion will be composed of member
from each congressional district, the
Superintendent of Public Instruction
treasurer, and lieutenant governor
Prepare Amendments
Two constitutional amendment.
which would give sheriffs four-year
instead of two-year terms, anc
would create a State Department o.
Justice, were approved for submis
sion to the voters. Under an amend
ment approved at the last genera
election, the membership of thu
State Supreme Court was increased
from five to seven.