Henderson daily dispatch. (Henderson, N.C.) 1914-1995, 1939-03-06
General Assembly Facing
Critical Week of Session
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the. horizon any such lowering cloud
as would presage a tornado, cyclone
or other disturbance. of unusual in
tensity. There are plenty of objec-
tions to plenty of revenue bill pro-
visions, but there doesn't seem to be
any cohesive group Of sufficient ten
acity of purpose and strength enough
to do more than snipe spitefully at
individual sections.
All of which indicates that before
the week is over the revenue bill will
have been considered and reported
by the committee of the whole. 1t
would be somewhat, &Ough not
stunningly, surprising if there is time
left thereafter to put the measure
through the two necessary roll call
votes needed to send it to the Sen
ate.
Tax on Building Materials.
By queer twist of circumstances,
the assembly is likely to escape what
would in different case be the tough
est battle of them all-the matter of
levying a sales tax on basic building
materials.
The committee leadership and the
administration started out with firm
steadfast purpose to enact this sec
ton, which is estimated to be worth
100000 a year in revenue; but de-
spite re%ure of the severest sort the
chairmen were never able to get the
joint finance group to acquiesce.
AS result the administration
leaders are now not only estopped
from themselves proposing to put
back this provision in the bill, but
they can't even be openly mice to
those who might propose it. 1t is now
their bound duty to support the bill
they piloted out to the floor.
It is, of course, conceivable that
under outwardly tremendous pres
sure from local units, the House
might be prevailed upon to upset the
6O-4O division of intangibles now
proposed by the committee, in which
case the leaders might feel themsel-
YES free to urge again the building
material levy on the plea Of "neces-
sity' brought about through upset OF
the balance resulting from intangible
changes.
This appears to be little more than
a possibility, certainly not a prob
ability.
Anti DiversiOnists Sore.
Elsewhere along the line the pros
poets for a pulse-tingling battle are
somewhat remote; though there still
isn't any getting around the fact that
under the surface there is abundant
opposition to the proposed taking OF
S7,OOO,OOO gasoline tax proceeds TO
balance the general fund budget.
If by any chance this sentiment
should ever crystalize under really
competent leadership $50 far totally
lacking) then storm warnings could
be hoisted and all hands piped on
deck to man the pumps.
Strangest efforts to insert new and
better money raising sections in the
revenue bill are likely to be made
by those who would like to see big
ger appropriations for departments,
agencies or activities in which they
are interested.
Other Pet Measures.
For instance, those who want big
ger salaries for school teachers Will
be practically forced to fight for big
ger revenues than the current Dill
provides. and the same thing goes
for those who oppose any cut IN the
State advertising fund (reduced from
S125,OOO to 100000 for each OF the
coming biennium), and for those VINO
would like to see the $4,000 slash
in health board appropriations re-
stored to figures recommended by
the Advisory Budget Commission.
On everv hand opponents OF the
hill are going to be met by the ar
e,1ment that there's no point IN IN
creasing revenues because the meas
ure provides enough to meet pro-
posed appropriations. Then when the
appropriations bill is reached 1t VIII
work the other way-you can't m
crease these appropriations because
we haven't voted enough money to
take care of therA
ne q wonderful set-up for those
who are satisfied with the work OF
the two big committees, and the lead
ers are going to make the most OF It,
From the news commentators
point of view this is a difficult legis-
iature to cover, for the reason that
off-the-floor declarations OF undylng
opposition or unWaverlng support lor
this and that measure so often TURN
to abject surrender when the polnt
of actually doing something is reach
ed.
Which makes it likely that threats
of frightful and ferocious bathing
over the revenue bill are SO much
hogwash and letting off OF steam.
Of a sudden this could change,
but assuming previous actions to
be typical Of the House, it now looks
like the revenue bill, as reported,
will come through the committee OF
the whole without more than minor
scars.