Henderson daily dispatch., 1939-01-11
unless it should become absolutely

unless it should become absolutely
necessary
According to the Bryant statement
the June, 1889, transfer would be
made, not because there will then be
a deficit, but in order that the gen
eral fund may start the next year
with a surplus large enough to meet
estimated expenditures for the fol-
lowing year.
Altogether the announcements of
| the Durham representative, who is re-
earded as speaking for the admins
tration because of his budget COM
mission membership, frightened lines
in the diversion fight.
B.oodiest Battle.
Every indication of the still-young
General Assembly session points to
diversion of highway funds and a con-
stituticnal amendment banning the
practice as the issues over which this
years legislators will wage their
bloodiest battle.
1t is the one issue so far brought
into the light which gives real prom
Use of sustained, determined fight
against Governor Clyde r. Hoey and
his administration forces.
Early signs are that the governor
ND his friends have adopted the
philosophy that the best defense is q
strong attack. with the result that
'he proponents of an anti-diversion
amendment have been placed squarely
on the defensive. where they had
hoped to be the attacking army.
Governor Fights Early.
To accomplish this, the governor
has lost not one chance to drive home
his contention that the present ZAP
plication of the sales tax to gasoline"
policy should be continued, while at
the same time reiterating his opposi
ton to the amendment
Which means that the anti-diver-
sionists have found themselves divert
ed from drive for the amendment to
desperate effort to wipe out tho CON
tingent diversion possible under the
"sales tax on gasoline theory,
So far all the firing-artillery ma
chine gun and rifle-has come from.
he administration side of the battle
line, the antidiversionists haven't
opened up. The governor started the
'3arrage in his address to the Assem-
Wy AcAoI WCGlN, oCNOIlAS t1IllC W
the diversion question than any 9TH
er single issue upon which he touch
ed. He kept it up in the budget re-
port and the budget message he made
Monday night. Here again the diver
sion issue was made almost para
mount
Committees decentralization.
The appointment of Senate and
House committees likewise stressed
the Importance of the issue, though
here the anti-diversionists seem to
have drawn about an even break.
The Senate Constitutional Amend
ment Committee appears heavily load
I'd with administrationists and conse-
tuently packed" against the amend
nent, in the opinion of many of its
proponents. On the other hand, the
Senate Roads Committee headed by
Jones county's John D. Larkins, Jr,
is termed Completely satisfactory
by most of those opposed to diver
sion and favorable to an amendment.
On the House Constitutional Amend
ment Committee there does not seem
to be such heavy preponderance IL
gainst the diversion measure On the
face of it's composition subject to
change as pressure is brought to bear
from one source and another-ther
seems almost an even chance thot +
might report favorably an anti-diver-
sion amendment.
AS for thes House roads group. the
chairman, Clarence Stone, of Rock
ingham, is listed among the strong
opponents of diversion, and the COM
mlttee makeup does not offend those
who are of the same mind
SO far the fighting has been con-
fined to the preliminary artillery bar
rage and oratory and advice from the
governor. The hand-to-hand and head
to-head combat stage is still a long
way off.
But when the anti-diversionist for
ces really go over the top in their
drive, it's going to be interesting to
sit on the sidelines and act as a war
correspondent.
Propaganda Pressed.
Two years ago the ants almost I'D
set the administration applicant on
the contingent diversion proposal.
Since then the State has been the
arena of one of the best organized
financed and directed campaigns of
propaganda it has ever seen. Anti
diversionists, headed by the powerful
petroleum industries lobby, have
sung their siren song in every Sec
ton and the administration will have
no waik-over. The governor knows It.
md that's why he is fighting so hard
even thus early in the session.
Arm operations such as that per-