The Wilmington morning star., 1946-12-29

RALEIGH, N. c. Dec. 28-P-
Here are the main items of debate
facing the 1947 legislature:
L. Greatly increased operating
appropriations requests.
2. Greatly increased permanen
improvements requests.
3. Teachers pay.
4. Whether to separate game ane
inland fisheries from the depart
ment of conservation and develop
ment.
5. The good health program.
6. State employees salaries.
7. Consolidation of the highway
patrol, State Bureau of 1nvestiga
ton and State Bureau of Identifi
cation.
8. The sales tax.
9. Proposed changes in solicitor
ial districts.
10. Liquor.
Not since 1888, when the sale.
tax was enacted, has a North Caro-
lima legislature faced such monu
mental tasks as will the one which
convenes here Jan. 8.
The state has millions of dollar
on hand, most of it sailed away
during the war boom. 1t has ear
marked $40, 600, 900 for a postwar
reserve fund and set aside $5l,
500, 900 for retirement of the state
debt.
Now, about every state institu
tion and department, plus thous
ands of teachers, r asking for
lot more money.
The teachers themselves are EN-
broiled in a fight. One faction, the
North Carolina education associa
ton, is asking for raises amount
ing to more than 20 per cent. An
other faction, the South Piedmon
group, is asking for at least Al
per cent, and actually wants more
Permanent Improvements re
quests, such as desires for build
ings, enlargments and renovations
total $88, 662, 800 for the next bien
mum.
General fund requests total $191,
900, 900 compared with $138, 900, 00'
for the current biennium. The Agri
culture department is asking fol
1920, 900 for the next biennium
compared with 81, 576. 900 for thu
current biennium. The Highwa,
department, faced with giganti'
programs, is asking for $108, 900,
900 for the 1947-49 biennium com
pared with $3.50, 900, 900 for the cur
rent biennium, but the difference
is made up with millions of FEEDER
al funds already allocated.
The states surplus now total!
nearly $50, 900, 900. Everybod.
seems to want part of it.
Sponsors of the good health pro
gram, who have adopted a pro
gram that reaches into every coun
ty, city and hamlet, are asking TO
millions of the surplus. They wan
a four-year medical school at tn
University of North Carolina, a re
lated hospital, medical centers il
every county, assistant to student
studying medicine, and assistanc
to the INDECENT who cannot affor,
hospital attention.
That those sponsors will hav
weighty representation in the 1874
legislature is we'll known. Anon
them is DR.. Frank P. Graham
greater University PRESIDENT: d.
Clarence Poe, editor of the Pro
gressive Farmer and innumerabl
organizations throughout the state
The game and inland fisherie
fight will be one of the most bite
in the next legislative session.
actually was inspired before tn
1945 assembly. Then, a special les
islative committee was appointe
to inquire into the feasibility c
separating the division from tn
department of conservation and dc
velopment. 1t reported, unanl1nou
ly, that the division should not b
separated. But since then the Mort
Carolina Wildlife association ha
promoted propaganda, has forme
clubs, all seeking separation. 1
the meantime, the department ha
not been asleep and has concer
trated on improvements of it
game and fish program.
Commissioner John D. Findla
has employed new personnel, ha
sponsored changes in regulations
has altered enforcement policie!
and has gained citations fro mn;
tional groups for his endeavor'
State employees, noting Governc
Cherry's public utterances thu
their salaries should be raised, ar
expecting increases approximate
20 per cent. They say the cost {
living has increased ever NOR
They have almost unanimous SUI
port of legislators who, incidenta
ly, cannot get more than $40
= day for their services. A propose