Henderson daily dispatch. (Henderson, N.C.) 1914-1995, 1946-08-02
In Clover

is in clover today, thanks to the
prosperity and wealth of its people
as experienced during the lush years
OF war. Prediction just few years
ago, had il been made then, that a
surplus of about hundred million
dollars would exist in 1916. would
reasonably have been regarded as a
fairy story. But us of the fiscal
years end month ago that happy
dream had become reality.
On June 30 the general fund had
Il surplus of more than ST millions
and the highway surplus was i'll cN-
cess of $50 millions. Nor does the
general fund surplus include post
war reserve fund of more than $50
millions. There is, i'll addition, the
So millions set aside several years
ago 10 offset the entire general fund
debt. ST. that no longer will those
obligations have To be considered as
4 factor i'll tax programs.
What 10 do with the huge surplus
will be one of the major problems
uf the 1917 legislature. There will,
Of course. be plenty of hands out
stretched 10 receive any part of II
that may be dropped into their
grasp. But there will be one group
which will be entitled to priority i'll
consideration but which will no,
have Il lobby. and may not receive
much attention. That group is
the general public-thc tax payers
who have made the enormous sur
plus possible.
II the legislature is wiSc-and that
may be too much to expect III this
particular instaucc-it will provide
for the most urgent existing needs,
thumb its nose at the spcndcrS and
uplii,crs. and pass along subStan-
tIal fax reduction to the people who
pay. which means most Of us. Frank
ly. we do not expect such good for
tune. Governments are no longer
run solely i'll the interest of those
who support them. but too much for
those who can muster the biggest
lobby and make the best showing
and the most noise before APP
prOpriat!ng bodies. We are fearful
that there will be Scant deviation
from this modcrniStic trend when
the lawmakers get 10 Raleigh in
January. Unprecedented demands
already are being made upon the
budget commission. as is nearly al
ways the case. To listen Ia some of
the mpOTtuniStS. il would seem tina,
the very sky itself would fall unless
their dSklngS are granted in full.
The business uf the budget body *
Ia hear and then Sift these requests.
but there is none too much asSur-
anvc that even these honorable gen.
tlCmcn will be able To forget tn"
existing SURPRISES but instead will
yield To the temptation To dig deeply
into them.
one of the greatest dangers is that
the State will ovcr-cXtcnd itself by
reason of lis heavy balances. New
ventures may seem small now and
easy To provide for. but il might not
be So simple Il matter later. II COM
mItmcrtS are made now. there will
be slight chance of turning back
when the shoe begins To pinch. But
even II II ncvcr begins To cramp.
there is a limit beyond which the
States obligation does not extend.
and when that point Is reached there
should be Il halt. Ii is reasonable To
assume that such a limit has already
been reached. except for reasonable
provision tor necessary activities al
ready being carried on.
Most of the surplus money ough,
To be conserved for future need. and
tax payers deserve to benefit from
their generous support in recent
years.