The Lincoln times., 1955-02-24
BUSINESS GOOD AGAIN

BUSINESS GOOD AGAIN
Business is good again, at least
in the General Assembly. After
five comparatively slow weeks,
this sixth of the 1855 session saw
prolonged floor debates which
forced legislators to be content
with sandwich lunches so they
might reach important afternoon
committee hearings on time. Con-
flicting committee meetings null
tiplied to such an extent that
Speaker Moore called his chair
men into conference to deal with
the problem. While this session
lags behind its recent predeces-
sor III number of bills introduc-
ed, the percentage of significant
proposals it has received for ac-
ton is high. New bills introduc-
ed this week illustrate the point.
PUBLIC SCHOOL
SEGREGATION
Since the decision of the
United States Supreme Court
last May declaring racial segre-
CATION in the public Scbols un-
constitutional, reaction in North
Carolina has been varied. In gen.
eral, among state and public
school officials, an attitude OF
study and caution has prevailed.
With word yet to come from the
Supreme Court on when and how
its decision is to be put into ef-
feet, the executive branch of
state government decided last
fall that it was wise to file an
argument with the Court asking
that southern states be given
time in which to work out Solu-
ton to the problems presented
by the May decision. In his first
message to the 1855 General AS
sembly Governor Hodges COM
mended to the legislators a re-
port of the Special Advisory Com
mittee on Education appointed
by Governor Umstead.
The only legislation recon-
mended by that committee, pend
ing the Courts implementing de-
cision, was that introduced some
weeks ago designed to transfer
to local school boards complete
authority over the enrolment
and assignment of pupils in the
public schools and on school
buses. Following introduction of
that bill interest in the school
segregation question cooled until
Thursday, when Representative
Worthington of Pitt introduced
lib 29l. The constitutional
amendment proposed by this Dill
provides in a few simple, easily
understood words that, notwith-
standing ony other provision of
the State Constitution. the Gen
eral Assembly may provide for
grants of state. city, or county
funds to citizens for educational
purposes. and that such action
should be a discharge of every
obligation of the state to provide
education for its citizens. This
amendment, if the bill is passed,
would be voted on by the people
at the 1856 general election. Rep
reSentative Worthington'S propo-
sal is similar to that adopted by
neighboring states in that it need
have no immediate effect, but
leaves with the General Assembly
full power to abolish the public
school system and replace it with
subsidies either to private schools,
to the families of school children
in the form of grants, or to both.
This bill is not concerned with
the details of any such plan that
is left for development when
NEEDED and desired. The question
of whether such a constitutional
amendment could Withstand a
test in the United States Su-
preme Court is already a disput-
ed issue.
REVENUE
Two revenue bills of major i'm
portance and interest to North
Carolinians were introduced this
week. A Senate bill proposes
method of withholding state in
come taxes from salaries and
wages, beginning January l, 1856,
which is quite similar to the fed
eral income tax withholding me-
thod. An employer making the re-
quired deduction would allow for
personal exemptions claimed by
the employee and for deductions