The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1945-02-20
RECORDER WARNS
OF 'DlCTAT0RS'
Continued from Page One)

Continued from Page One)
above the present allowable max
imum.
Claiming to feel no rancor to-
ward any Board member nor any
concern over the actual amount Of
his salary, Judge Smith indicated
that his chief reason for wishing
control of his salary to revert to
the State was that Every disagree
able circumstances could arise
from the necessity of making To-
cally unpopular court decisions
which his salary was subject to
change by local government ag-
ency.
Challenged by Commissioner
Gardner on why he felt more con-
fidence in the probity Of the State
Legislature than in that of the
members of the County Commits
sion, Judge Smith affirmed that
he felt mo lack of confidence" in
the present Commission, but that a
160-year precedent and the present
example of nearly all other North
Carolina counties stood behind the
practice of having salaries fixed
by the State.
He stated his belief that Rep. j..
@. LeGrand would rescind pend
ing salary-revision bill and effect
the repeal of the 1941 bill giving
the Commission wage fixing pow
er if the Commission were to re-
quest it. He explained further that
he thought all appointive County
employees should nave their W>2es
fixed by the Commission, but the
elective officials pay should be set
by the State.
A brief dispute over whether or
not the Recorder Court was tax
supported or maintained by the
fines it 1evies was resolved by
County Auditor j. A. Orre1, who
pointed out that all court tines
in North Carolina were devoted,
under State law, to school funds
and played no other part in. County
financial balances. Judge Smith
conceded readily that the profit
from court fines never was intend
ed as measure of the courts value.
During the passing of the motion
to leave salary-control as It now
stands, Commissioner George
Trask suggested that if: other cleo
tive County officers were equally
dissatisfied with present arrange
rnents, the Board should entertain
protests from them. Judge Smith
left the board room after reaffirnl-
ing his lack of personal animus to-
ward any of the Commissioners.
After County Attorney. Marsden
Be1lanv had called attention to the
fact that no current County build
ing insurance covered wind or
storm damage, Chairman Adolf
son Hewlett, Sr,, was appointed TO
investigate the premium rate on
storm coverage policies,
A bill drawn for submittal to
the State Assembly and presented
bv w. L. Farmer, attorney, en-
towering the Commission to dis
charge, or, forgive, the old taxes
accumulated on the Third and Dock
street property bearing the Aneri-
can Legion's new home was re
fused unanimously by the Board
after it had been made clear that
the Legion had purchased the prop
erty at a reduced rate, in view OF
the subsequent necessity <ot paying
its back taxes.
Commissioner Louis J. Coleman
explained that. discharge OF the
taxes would be equivalent to max
ing the Legion donation from
public funds, an action. for which
the Commission simply did not
have authority Mr.. Hewlett sof-
tened the refusal by predicting that
should the matter be put to the
public, a ready response IN con-
tribution might be forthcoming in
view. of the Legion's expressed IN
tention of putting the new building
at the disposal of agencies working
to assist veterans of World War II.