The coastland times with which is combined the pilot and herald of Belhaven and Swan Quarter. [volume] (Manteo, N.C.) 1959-1973, 1961-03-03
THIS PLAN COULD BUILD
BIGGER POLITICAL MACHINE


well that the tax rate is higher
than need be; in fact with certain
economies that might be easily
practiced, the rate could be reduc-
ed. On the other hand there is a
growing movement toward spend
ing more money, chiefly by setting
up new offices and employing more
people. In this movement, when
officials are relieved of certain du-
ties, they continue to receive the
same pay, while the new offices
call for expenditures of several
thousand dollars a year.
During the past few years, a
secretary, working almost full time
has been employed, thereby reliev-
ing the Register of Deeds of the
bulk of his work as Clerk to the
Board of Commissioners. The Of
fee of County Accountant has been
set up, to perform the duties that
were formerly fulfilled by the
Clerk of the Court without extra
compensation. Additional deputies
have been employed until now the
Sheriff's office costs about $4,000
year, the highest paid office in
any county of the area.
1t is now proposed by the Board
to relieve the Sheriff's office of
the responsibility of collecting
taxes, for which the people elected
him and which he had done by law
and custom for many years. In
stead of assigning some of the
work of tax collection to the sew
eral deputies, some of whom get
full pay for part time work while
working full time in their usual
occupations, one at least being fur
nished car in which to travel to
and from his daily work with gas
and upkeep furnished by the tax
payers, the County Board now
wishes to set up a tax collecting
department, which many believe is
to provide job for some political
favorite, and Rep. Keith Fearing
has been asked to pass legislation
in Raleigh to enable this tax col
lecting office to be set up. This
would take some responsibilities
from the most highly paid, and
most largely stated office in the
county, and add considerable adj
ditional cost to the people, by en-
ploying a tax-collector and of
course in time, assistants would
be added. The net gain in all this
movement predicts nothing more
than enlargement of an organiza-
ton of job-holders who might be
expected to perpetuate in power
those who hand out political jobs
in the county.
If Mr.. Fearing, being fresh
man legislator, should fall for this
sort of plan and pass the law re-
quested of him, he might easily
develop much risk of opposition
when election time. rolls around
again, for his support would de-
pend on the degree of vulnerable
ity which might attach to his hav-
ing become rubber stamp for a
county board which by its recent
actions has been developing con-
siderable degree of vulnerability.
The Board is now practically a
Board dominated by one man. The
readiness to accede to all his wish
es and demands has been won by
devious means. For instance one
member of the Board has been
made Chairman of the Welfare
Board in controls of welfare
grants in Dare County, which in
cludes grants of county money for
persons seeking direct relief, and
this puts considerable additional
political weight in the hands of
the Commissioners. It is against
previous policy adopted by the
Board, is in effect double office
holding, and doesn't look right in
principle, although it is legal in
policy.
Further, some members Of the
Board have surrendered their re-
sponsibility of serving the people
who entrusted them with their af-
fairs. 1t is a matter of record, that
two of them, not being interested
in remaining to attend full meet
ings, where they might be ready to
exercise their judgment in all mat
tiers that come up, have departed
the meetings early, giving other
members of the board permission
to vote in their names on anything
coming up after their departure.
If a Board member isn't sufficient
ly interested to remain on duty as
his people expect, then there is
need only for one member, merely
to cast the vote for all other mem
bers.
| We believe the people should
express their wishes to Mr.. Fear
ing. There doesn't appear to have
been any surge Of sentiment aris-
ing to demand more jobs be Gre
ated, or less work done by other
county officers than they have
been doing. There appears no de-