Henderson daily dispatch. (Henderson, N.C.) 1914-1995, 1939-01-16
III as we may regret that

as much as we may regret that
course"
In his explanation of the budget
commission report before the Joint
finance committees last Tuesday, Re-
preventative Victor Bryant, a mem
Der of the commission, emphasized
the fact that if the budget is to be
balanced less money will be available
from the general fund for institutions
of higher learning, and that the de-
flclt must be made UP in additional
tuition fees. Almost Immediately, the
protests began coming in from homes;
and campus. First professionals receiy-
ed courteous explanation of the neces-
sity of the increase but later in the
week efforts to explain were aban.
doned and legislators began maxine
definite promises to oppose that iter.
1t can be authoritatively stated that
the governor himself is now agreeable
to letting fees remain whore they are
Compromise on Professions.
One compromise idea being worked
out for presentation to the committee
early this week provides for no in
crease in tuition for the academic
Iesslonal schools. Proponents of this
idea suggest that many Of the aca
demic students have no definite puz-
pose to which they expect to apply
college training, while students Of
law, medicine, theology, dentistry
etc., charge up college expense as q
capital investment for their lifa'e
work. Even this amendment will not
have the full support of adninistra-
ton leaders.
The House Agriculture Committee
has "rassled" all week with the Page
Underwood seed bill, which seeks r.
relieve small seed dealers of the SO
license tax imposed in 1897. One of
the major activities of the depar1-
ment of agriculture, with full sllpporf
or the whole administration, has been
directed toward improving seeds soil.
to the farmers of the State. Tho 500 !
dealers license provides the funds
Tor inspection, testing and certifying
seeds. Undoubtedly it also works :,
dlstlnct hardship on some rural store
keepers and on home-gardeners, since
the. 10 tax is prohibitivc for small
dealers. The bill reducing the tax
20 one dollar hit the hopper on tie
1lrst active legislative day of the se;-
sion. Three full committee mee+inos
and four heated subcommittee dis
cuss1ons have failed ct reconcile The
conflicting ideas, and Representative
Taylor, of Caswell, and Withrow If
Rutherford, are prepared to carry tho
Ilght for relief to the floor. They will
go so far as to introduce a bill re,
pealing the whole pure seed law car
~ this week unless adjustments in
the present act are made satisfactory
to them.
Sales Tax Move Surprises.
Another surprise for administrator,
forces was the Gregory-Curtis bill IN
the Senate, Identical with the Vogler
measure in the House. exemptino from,
the sales tax all foodstuffs sold for
home consumption, as well as fist,
nets, Irvine for making fish nets
horses, mules and farm i..ioiements
retailing for less than $25. Such q bill
mad been expected, and connection
herewith of Representative Vogler. Of
Mecklenburg, was no surprise Senator
Gregory was.
Canvass of the membership. par.;-
cularly in the House of Representa-
tlves, shows much stronger anti-salns
tax sentiment than had been expect
ca so early in the session. Whether
the presence for several DAYS of the
energetic F'aul Leonard, arch foe ,f
all taxes felt by merchants to be Dis
crlminatory, had anything to do with
1t is problematical. Certainly he did
the sales tax folks no good.
Border Men for "Use" Tax.
The few legislators remaining i
fNalelgh over the weekend are most
~ those from distant points, and live
close to other state lines. Some ~
them were laying plans to get all tn,
support possible for the "use tax" item
In the revenue act,( which requires
payment of the sales tax in this STATE
on merchandise bought in other states
Two motives promoted this action
First, these men think application
of the tax will help borderline noer-
chants; and, second, they believe en-
torcement of it's provisions (thoucl,
commissioner Maxwell says it is not
meant to be enforced) will make T., !,
whole idea of the sales tax SO re
pulslve as to bring about it's repeal
unacceptable conclusion from ex
pressed sentiment the last of the weak
is that the general membership CT
the House has no disposition to a2.
cept in it's entirety the finance com
mittee's endorsement of the sales tax
as a permanent policy of the State
Diversion and Elections.
Lines were more closely drawn or
the two questions of highway fund d.
version and election reform. Indica
tons are that the governors idea on
election reform might prevail, but o.
position to diversion is stronger thar
1t was when the General Assembly
convened. Even then it was recognized
as dangerous to the administration
program. No reversal O.. position On
absentee ballot repeal has been not
cd. From the first sentiment for ous