The Wilmington morning star., 1945-03-04
REVENUE MEASURE
RUNS INTO SNAC

RALEIGH, March 3-R-Ma3or
administration measures - lncluo-
Ing the $12s, 900, 900 revenue bill
ran into snags during the legs
1ative week ending today ana
veteran lawmakers predicted I'M
nj adjournment would not come
before March II, it then.
Meeting opposition were the I'm
.nce measure, which still was on
second reading because OF an
amendment placing a 81 per gaAon
additional tax on wine; the eou-
sational fiscal control bill, winch
vo,,ld recreate the office OF comp
troller: and the liquor referendum
bill which had received Governor
cherry's endorsement.
Administration support of the fin
ance bill, as approved by the
Joint money-raising committee, re-
lated to Governor Cherry's inaugu'
raj commitment against raising
current taxes unless necessary. The
bill as approved in committee
would have reduced certain phases
of taxation substantially, despite
the addition to the House appro-
pritions bill Of a contingent EN-,
Urgency salary raise tor school
teachers and state employees.
Too, the amendments to the bud
get bill, as approved in commit
tee, had brought from Governor
Cherry and leading money ralsers
assurance that a balanced budget
policy could be maintained despite
approval of additional expenditures
totalling more than $l0,000,O00 by
the appropriations committee.
The additional wine tax, introduce
ed in the house Friday by T. Clar-
ence Stone of Rockingham, would
produce more than So, 500, 900 year.
ly. The wine amendment, despite
opposition from key administra-
ton supporters, was supported by
a majority Of the house and may
get the same reception when the
bill goes to the senate for 3 read
goes to the senate for three read
ings late next week. However, the
amendment served to throw final
passage of the measure back at
least three days, thus definitely
lengthening the session.
Ranking with the controversial
finance bill in quick developments
was the liquor referendum bill,
which virtually was killed when
the Senate Finance committee
gave the measure an unfavorable
report. Advocates of the measure
said a minority report probably
would not be issued. Thus, it would
take a majority vote in the senate
and a two-thirds vote in the house
to take the measure off the I'M
favorable calendar for floor ac-
ton.
Meanwhile, trouble also brewed
for the educational fiscal control
bill and, in an attempt to iron out
differences between the two hous-
es, the measure now will be stud
led by a joint compromise com.
mittee. Under the original meas.
ure, the proposed new state board
of education would control fiscal
public school funds, and the super
intendent Of public instruction
would be delegated to supervise
the public school Institutional
program.
However, the house education
committee adopted several amend
ments to the bill, two Of which
would have set up school atten-
dance officers in each Of the eight
proposed educational districts, and
eliminate provisions requiring the
board to hold public meetings. The
bill passed the house as amended.
The bill then ran into difficulty
In the senate, when a majority
OF the members there expressed
opposition to the amendments and
moved for passage of the bill in
its original form. The CO. ference
committee resulted.