The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1937-01-07
Money and
Liquor Big
Problem Of
N.C.SOlons
Means of Settling the
Prohibition Issue
to Hold Interest
List Other Issues

North Cardinals general assembly,
faced appropriations and with lines
already forming for bitter fight on
liquor legislation, that for it's biennial
session in Raleigh Wednesday.
Discussion of the major problems
to face the legislature always seems
to start and end with the question
of money"
The advisoy budget commission
report, virtually completed, will pro-
pose record appropriations" Frank
Dunlay, assistant director of the
budget, said last week.
Budget requests approximate $70,-
100000 per year for the biennium,
up more than 100000 year from
current levels.
In the face of that, the Democratic
party is pledged to exempt "the ne
cesSities of life'' from the per cent
sales tax, estimated to cut present
revenues about $2,5OO,OO0 per year,
so some new sources of income are
expected to be suggested in the bud
get report.
Legislators here for the special
session geneally agreed that liquor
major spot in the regular session.
HOey Said for State Vote
Since that time the special study
commission has proposed state SUI
pervision of county-operated stores,
with counties getting 80 per cent of
the net profits and the state 20 per
cent. Three members of the commits
sion poposed a statewide referendum
of the authorization of stores with
four voting for straight county op-
ton.
Immediately official representa-
tives of the II counties having ref
erendum- approved stores passed res
olutions opposing state control and
any division of profits with the state,
and word comes to Raleigh that
members of the legislature from
some counties now dry" plan to try
to rush through legislation permit
ting county option in their home
sectors.
Some circles express belief Gov
ernor-elect Clyde R. Hoey will ask
for a statewide referendum on the
liquor stores question.
Other Issues Stated
With the money" angle covering
many of the other major problems
in part, matters expected to cause
much other legislative debate in
clude: Social security measures,
such as extension of the new unem-
ployment compensation act to cover
employers of fewer than eight per-
sons and state participation in old age
pension and assistance and other
phases of the federal program; labor
legislation, such as the child labor
amendment, a bill for a 48-hour
week in industry and 40-hour
week in the textile industry; agri-
cultural legislation, including con-
troll of tobacco production by state
compacts; bigger school appropria
tons and changes in administrative
set-up; possible highway and public
works commission reorganization;
expansion of the Supreme court
from five to seven members; posi-
BILE election law reform; legislation
dealing with funds claimed by coun-
ties as due them for highway build
ing or donations; provision of free
school textbooks; possible provision
for state gasoline terminals; possible
provision for advertising the state;
possible provision for a new state
owned office building here; possible
provision for advertising the addi-
ton to the new tubercular hospital
at Black Mountain, and the making
effective of the new taxation amend
ments to the constitution permitting
classification of property, exemption
of homesteads and increase of in
come tax rates.
If tie legislature follows the foot
steps of its 1885 and 1888 predeces-
sors, it will remain in session until
mid May, though the members get
paid for only so days.