Marion progress., 1949-03-10

news of the week.
Education hackers sent in an a.
mendment (in the joint appropria-
tions committee) that would add
$40 million year to the school bud
get. 1t would be used mainly for
increased teacher pay.
MORE FUNDS ASKED
The school machinery act was in
troduced to both houses.
Two more bills asking $50 mil
lion for school building aid to coun-
ties hit the hoppers.
Wednesday night, Governor Scott
took the air lanes to put personal
okey on increased spending for
Ischools. He also called upon North
Carolinians< to come to Raleigh the
next day and let their legislators
know what they thought about it.
AS one person put it, "He told US
to come, so we came"
And they did come. Some 4,500
iof them.
1t was the largest mass. meeting at
a legislative hearing in the memory
of veteran legislators.
The hearing was held to discuss
the school machinery act. But that
wasn't even mentioned. Instead,
spokesman for the crowd told the
joint appropriations and education
committees that they wanted more
money for teachers, more money for
school building.
They said they didn't care what
the cost was, it would be worth it.
They added that they were perfectly
willing to pay higher taxes. If ne
cessary, to improve the school sy
stem.
They said they wanted the best
for North Carolina children, on an
equal basis - and now.
The joint finance committee came
out with it's revenue bill. 1t would
add about 100000 year to anti
cipated revenue, House Committee
Chairman Larry More of Wilson
said.
Several bits of sniping were taken
at Governor Scott. The finance COM
mittee postponed indefinitely action
on a proposed tax of soft drinks.
The same group said it would not
consider the proposed S2O8 million
rural road bond issue until after
the revenue bill had been passed.
The Senate killed 28-14 bill
that would have given the Governor
authority to appoint public repre-
sentatives on 10 of the states 81 Ii
censing boards.
SCOTT'S GAINS
On the favorable side of the ledg
er, a Senate judiciary committee a
mended and favorably reported a
Scott-suggested measure setting up
"a personnel department.
Probably the most important pos
tive action taken was the quick
passage by both Houses of a bill
giving teachers and state employees
ia 20 per cent raise retroactive to
October l ) 1948. The raise is eff
fective for the rest of the current
fiscal year.
Both Houses also passed bill ap-
proving the Governors signing a
pact with other southern states to
establish regional schools. Also key
ed by the Senate and House was a
measure giving the state treasurer
broader powers to invest state
funds.
| The House passed a bill to allow
| life Imprisonment in all capital cas-
es, upon recommendation of the
jury. 1t killed a measure that would
have done away with drivers license
exams and set up ''mail-order" IL
cense system.
The Senate passed bill cutting
the tax on oleomargarine whole
salers and permitting serving of col
ored oleo in public eating places.
An attempt to put some sort of
motor vehicle inspection back in the
law books wound up with the Senate
roads committee okeying a bill call
ing for the State Highway patrol
to spot-check cars. The same group
killed an attempt to have an annual
inspection with one lane in every
county and a limited list Of items