The Lincoln times., 1955-04-28

sion constitutional amendment
received committee approval in
the House the past week, and
chances of it's passage. and pas
sage of some kind of legislative
pay raise, are considered excel
lent. Meanwhile, committees. SUBJ
committees, and subcommittee
committees, and sub-Subcommit-
tees worked feveriShly to ready
appropriations and revenue bills,
the twin keys to adjournment.
The end of the second week of
May is still the best guess as to
an adjournment day.
APPROPRIATIONS
Five weeks ago a joint appro-
priationS subcommittee was ap-
pointed. Late last week it was
announced that their recommen-
cations for state spending for
1955-57 may be ready for presen-
tation to the full committee next
Tuesday. The subcommittee has
voted numerous increases and de-
creases on the $637 million bud
get recommended by Governor
Hodges and the Advisory Bud
get Commission, with a net reduc-
ton of about 1i2 million dol
lars. Action taken by the sub
committee included: Cd cutting
$473,000 from salary increment
funds for certain state employees
primarily college teachers, hos
pital staff members, and en-
ployeeS of special boards and
commiSsions-who do not come
under the State Personnel Act:
90 replacing s350,000 of $550.OO0
taken from school
health funds: (3) recommending
tuition increases for nonresident
so as to reduce appro-
priations to the colleges by an
estimated 100000: "a approving
an increase of $75O,o00 in state
old age assistance funds: and go
transferring $43,690 from the
State Auditors office to the Bud
get Bureau Elsewhere on the
spending front, bills were intro
duced to reduce the number
of publications to be prepared
and distributed by state depart
ments and agencies. For example,
copies Of Session Laws would no
longer be distributed to UPS, sher-
IFS, registers of deeds, and coun-
ty commissioner chairmen.
TAXES
The week saw an apparent
break in the taX-jam. as House
and Senate subcommittee reach
ed agreement on certain new
taxes. However. this action must
still be approved by the full COM
and then by a majority
in each house. Last week the Sem
ate Finance Committee, in straw
voting, approved the tobacco tax
by a two-to-one margin; the
House committee, in a straw vote,
it by the same margin.
Thursday of this week, the House
Finance subcommittee, by one
vote. changed over to the Senate
position and approved the tobacco
tax. Friday, the tax subcommit-
tees of both houses met in Joint
session and agreed upon new tax
eS. with estimated annual reve-
nue.: Cd tobacco tax, $8.520.000:
(2) increase in liquor tax to 10
pct, 100000; 90 increase in in
surance agents fees, Sl30,000;
"a increase in notary public and
JP fees, $4,000; (5) gross re-
ceipts tax on hotel and motels,
ST 100000: (6) Cooperative tax,
100000: ca l pct sales tax on
motor vehicles with $50 limit.
s1,250,000; (8) increase in forti-
fled wine tax, 100000; go in
crease in insurance company
gross premiums tax. $3.50, 1000:
(l0) tax on non-profit hospitali-
zation firms. $4,000: uD 3 pct.
sales tax on building materials.
$3,000.000: Q2) repeal of SIS IL
NIT on sales tax, $l,000,000 u3)
repeal of fleet owners exemption,
100000.
ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES
North Carolina will have no
statewide liquor referendum for
at least another two years. Des-
pite approval from Governor
Hodges. the House Local Govern
ment Committee gave an unfavor-
able report to the bill which
would have allowed the people
to choose between ABC stores in
all counties or in none. Referen-
dunn proponents were unable to
muster even the handful of votes
necessary to bring the bill before
the House on a minority report.
A bill introduced Friday would al
low High Point voters to decide
whether their city should have
ABC stores. cat present 80 coun-
ties and an additional six cities
have stores0 The "weak BEER
bills reached the House floor last
week. The one allowing a city to
vote in 80 beer after the county
has voted out regular beer
squeaked by. Attempts to destroy
the bill by amendments we're beat
en- down amid a flare of legisla-
tive tempers. A public hearing on
the proposal has, been scheduled
for Tuesday by the Senate Com
mittee on Counties, Cities. and
Towns. It's companion bill, which
would automatically legalize 80