Henderson daily dispatch. (Henderson, N.C.) 1914-1995, 1939-02-11
Henderson Again Splits Two Games With Roxboro
Agriculture
Row Revolves
Around Money
In the Sir Walter Hotel.
Daily Dispatch Bureau,
BY LYNN NESBET\

Raleigh F eb. 11.-With the sub
committee to study the question TAX
ing a week. end holiday, the matter of
duplication of activities in agricul-
tural work is attracting more notice
from the general membership of the
legislature.
Attention was focused on the issue
by the very frank statement of Chas
F. Gates, member of the board of
agriculture and also of the board Of
trustees of the Consolidated Univer,
sity, that some cleaning up should be
done at State College, a unit of the
university, before additional money or
duties were allocated there.
Commenting on that statement last
light, Representative L. L. Burein. of
Henderson county, an apple grower
and dairy farmer, said: 81 was very
instrumental two years ago in getting
the policy-making authority for the
department of agriculture taken out
of the hands of the commissioner
and placed in the board of agriculture
L did not like the idea of one man
having the complete say-so on such
important matters. 1 am delighted
at the way the board has handled the
departments affairs, and think the
record of the past two years justifies
my position
Mr.. Burgin futher said that he
would like to see a committee named
out of the board of trustees of the
university which would do for the ag-
ricultural school at State College just
what the board of agriculture does
for the department He pointed out
that at present the dean of agricul-
ture, who also is the director of ex-
tension work in cooperation with the
federal government, and acting di-
rector of the experiment station, is
virtually a car because the 100
member board of trustees cannot give
necessary attention to purely agricul-
turaul problems
This whole trouble, like most 9TH
ers, gets back to- money-its source
and the purpose for which it can be
spent. letters received in Raleigh
this week indicate that the proposal
to divert" funds from the depart
ment to the college may seriously en-
danger the entire set-up for agricul-
tural inspection and regulatory work.
These letters point out that under
the United States Constitution moneys
deriving from fees charged for in
spection or regulation cannot be
spent for anything else. The case cit
ed was brought by a railroad COM
pany against the State of Washing
ton and was decided by the high court
some two years ago.
It is pointed out that under this de-
cision statutes imposing an inspection
fee may be void CD if it shows on
it's face that some part of the fee is
to be used for some purpose other
than supervision and regulation, or
ca on account of it's actual operation
in that way, though it be fair on it's
face. This Interpretation would pre-
clude use of fertilizer and feed in
spection tax money for research work
at State College, and might also pre-
clude it's use for marketing promotion
the two purposes for which the ex-
ira levy has been asked. The supreme
court decision makes it clear that no
such earmarking OF the tax money
would be acceded to by those who
pay and collect the tax.
Of course, there remains the alter
native of including fertilizers and
feedstuffs in the three per cent gen
eral sales tax and getting the money
for research, regulation, inspection,
marketing, teaching, ct cetera, all out
of the general fund. Such a course
would greatly increase the costs of
these products to farmers and would
be vigorously resisted.