Henderson daily dispatch., 1939-07-07
Maxwell's Big Issue To
Be Highway Improvement
Continued From Page One)

I(<OnLlnuGQ TdSC OI1Cy
the commissioner launched approx
mately a year ago. Since then he has
missed no chance to play his theme
song.
It may be just straw, but the
fact that Mr.. Maxwell sent out ad-
vance copies of his Greensboro XII
wants club address to all Raleigh's
news men, indicates strongly that the
wind is blowing strongly in the di-
rection of a Maxwell candidacy. The
fact that he never misses a chance
to talk roads indicates that's going
to be his major campaign issue-or
at least one of them.
An interesting and important corol
larry of all this is that the commits
sioner of revenue will be driven by
the logic of the case to firm stand
in opposition to diversion Of highway
funds.
Almost a year ago he said flatly
that he is opposed to diversion ever
and beyond the contingent provisions
first inserted in the 1887 revenue
act.
When Governor Clyde r. Hoey
took firm and fighting stand for
retention of the contingent provis-
ions by the General Assembly, Max
we'll was clearly not in position to
oppose his chief actively; but it was
quite noticeable that he never active
ly supported the governor. Every
time he was asked a question about
his views he evaded any definite
committal, but did state unequivocal-
ly "every cent we can get hold of
should be spent on the roads,"
At Greensboro yesterday he point
ed out that one of the sources from
which more money can be had for
road improvement is to keep the
cash on hand down to lower level.
without such large balances of idle
cash.
That was hitting very, very close
to the contingent diversion provis4
ions which have the direct effect of
tieing up $2,500000 so that they can
not be ued.
This is SO because that amount
must be kept available for possible
diversion. It cannot be used by the
general fund unless and until a de-
ficit shows the necessity for it. 1t
cannot be spent on the highways un-
til experience shows that the con-
tingency will not have to be met, and
by the time the contingency is re-
moved there arises another like con-
tingency for the next year, so the
practical effect is to keep this ST.
100000 of State funds suspended in
mid-air
And so if Maxwell sees a smaller
cash balance as one of the requisites
for highway improvement, he will
obviously be forced to oppose a pro-
vision Of law which clearly has the
effect Of tieing up all the time no
less than $2,5OO,OOO.
What the other prospective con-
didates for governor will have to saw
on the subject of diversion isn't quite
SO clear.
j. NJ. Broughton, Raleigh LAWYER
who has been running for nearly two
years, appeared before the finance
committee in opposition to diversion.
but his appearance was as a paid at
torney and his argum 1T against di-
version cannot, therefore, be held to
bind him during the governors cam
paign, though it is difficult to con-
ceive him taking directly opposite
position with that argument in the
records.
Willis Smith, second Raleigh at
torney who is regarded as a certain
entrant, is generally understood to
oppose diversion; but he has had lit
tie or nothing to say on the subject in |
public and would be free, of course.
to take whatever track he chooses.
Lieutenant Governor w. p Horton |
is basing his hopes very largely on
becoming heir to the Hoey strength
and it is not likely that he would
openly take stand against the prin-
ciples advocated by the governor.
Wllmington's Mayor Tom Cooper is
as an anti-diversionist in
but during the recent Cen
eral Assembly he had nothing but |
praise for Governor Hoey and there's