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PAGE POUR THE NEWBERRY SUN FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 1949 xm 1218 College Street NEWBERRY, S. C. 0. F. Armfifld Editor and Publisher PUBLISHED EVER# FRIDAY Entered as second-class matter December 6, 1937, at the Postoffice at Newberry, South Carolina, under the Act of Congress of March 3, 1879. SUBSCRIPTION RATES: In S. C.* $1.50 per year in advance outside S. C., $2.00 per year in advances COMMENTS ON MEN AND THINGS BY SPECTATOR Our General Assembly has disregarded the recommenda tion to establish a Central Pur chasing Agency for the State. My association with bureau crats forbids that I put my whole trust in any plan of it self; no plan is self-operating but must depend on the men and women who operate it, or operate within it. Even a plan may have possibilities, though no plan will bring within reach a new heaven or a new earth. I do not know exacts where the waste is, in the matter of purchasing; I can’t put my fin ger on it at the moment. And 1 feel like pinching pennies in seeking economy or savings in the purchase of supplies when the big waste goes merrily on. We might properly reduce the welfare by a million dollars; and we might scrutinize other 'far-flung services, such es ev erything connected with the schools, the public health, and other departments. It may be taken as a work able guide, that any depart ment, whether public or pri vate, will be better for a close' survey, of its methods. We must not assume that beeause a service is good it is most competently administered; or that It is prc$»erly organized. Every public department of a dozen employees tends to at tract drones, favorites, puffed up people and blunderers; all departments tend to fill their ranks with “yes-men” and some others whose chief ac complishment is handing the boss a line of praise that Will swell his ego into the world- conquering dimension. Just looking on the surface we see that the State buys coal for many institutions. And it buys many other articles which are common to many in stitutions—groceries, etc. Years ago I learned that each institution strongly believed in home rule—a sort ef diminu tive application of S t a t e s’ Rights within the pantry. In the Farmers and Taxpayers League we labored long and hard over this. The inertia of the public is like an immov able block in the way. I tried to recoincile these ideas; that buying in large quantities should result in savings. Should result in savings—yes; but that means that the buying must be done with knowledge and skill. Buying well is not the re sult of politics; it requires real knowledge of goods and mar kets—and prospects. Merely to add all the needs of several in stitutions into one order does not guarantee the most eco nomical buying. So we per spired over that. Finally we hit on a scheme that would safeguard the State and yet mollify all the ruffled spirits within the service. Here is what we thought and recom mended: that all the Institu tions of the State be required to submit to a Board of Execu tive officers a list of all re quirements lor a quarter, six months or any given period. The Counties might be permit ted to do likewise. The Board would invite bids on varying quantities. The Board woul^ determine the maximum price on each article and would cer tify that price to each institu tion. Each institution might then buy at the price indicated. But if any institution found it self able to buy the same qual ity for less it should inform the Board so that all others might shar e the benefit of the better price. I A ink that plan would save everybody’s face and dignity and power. It would also ob viate the expense of another department of government. What always stands in the way is a mingling of jealousy and fear. The departments want to hold all their powers; bureaucrats, big and little, crave power, and the perqui sites of power. They also fear that a buyer for the State would be like a United States Army or Navy buyer. The man who wants a number one lead pencil does not want a num ber three; and he groans in spirit over the possibility that all the pencils will be number three-and-a-half and in great numbers. Something could be done; whenever a remedy is needed the need itself suggests the remedy. I have spoken at many fun erals; and I have written ap preciations of many friends who have entered upon the un changing Life. Down in Peru custom was that the highest official attending the funeral of any one in his Deppartment or branch of the service mrftt speak over the body of the de ceased, just before the casket was placed into the niche. Very few people are placed in graves; most axe in sealed niches. Here some great spirits honored their State so richly that I expressed the general re gard in my letters and broad casts. Now I have a pleasure, in deed, for I join those thousands who acclaim one of the finest gentlemen I’ve ever known. Just think of this: A steady, steadfast sdldier of righteous ness; a worker in every good cause; a citizen always ready to serve; a friend who never changes; a public servant who loves the public —i Homer M. Pace, who lives in Charleston but tries to help every part of the State. Mr. Pace has just received recognition *i a notable man ner; a medal has been award ed him by the University of Tampa for outstanding achieve ment in promoting the applica tion of science to Southern in dustry. Three of us who are close friends sit together frequently when I have the pleasure of spending a day in Charleston— Mir. C. Norwood Hastie, Mr. Pace and I. I take the liberty of quoting Mr. Hastie’s frequent H0TP0INT REFRIGERATOR for 1949 COME IN AND SEE Hot point's eight new refrigerator models for 1949. 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If I seem to rhapsodize it is because of the thrill of being able to think of some one who neithe" falters nor stumbles nor fails, but stands four-square against the beatings and the buffeting of chance or circum stance. So we are learning to talk to the Russians? Hear what Dean Acheson said: “All four of the powers are in Berlin by the force of their armies.” That is the stuff; that’s the way to talk. It was a happy thought, to remember in a public recogni tion the attitude and character of Senator Walter George of Georgia and Senator Harry Byrd of Virginia. Those two senators enjoy the respect of the Nation; they are not seek ing Mr. Truman’s favor nor playing politics. It ig refresh ing to find public acknowledge ment of substantial worth in public service. It is said that one of our es teemed brethren of the Medi cal profession was alarmed at the possibility of Government or Socialized Medicine. Natural ly he thought it was the chief evil in a very evil time. He Was amazed that a friend in the housing business was not equally indignant at this mis chievous proposal. The hous ing man got even however, by asking “Say, where were you Doctors when all the Govern- m*it housing schemes were be ing, considered?” Well, where were they? The Doctors didn’t become aroused until Socialism touched them. The Doctors are ready to fight now, but fight what? All their ammu nition is to protect the practice of medicine. I agree with them heartily, but I, too, wonder at the Doctors who clamored for the New Deal and now want all of us to fight the New Deal’s proposal, but only as it affects Medicine. What do the Doctors say about these Government power projects? Are the Doctors awake to the possibility that Socialism is spreading? Do they know that the Santee-Cooper is as much a Socialistic enterprise as any scheme of Government Medicine? When Socialism takes over the power business it is ready to take over housing, then ev erything else. Socialism is So cialism. Unless we fight to gether as an army of citizens, we shall be picked off one by one. Now that the physicians are embattled and sniffing the powder let them join in throt tling Socialism on every front. Don’t think the masses of the people are eager for power; that is just a bit of fanciful imagining; the masses are not yearning for Government pow er; more of the people really want free medicine, cheap housing and the other things of every day: it isn’t power they crave. What sort of businessman is the Government? Well, let me quote; “The armed forces’ non-profit grocery stores cost taxpayers more than $4,800,000 last year, the House Armed Services Committee reported. The committee study was made public at the opening of (hearings on the military’s mul ti-billion dollar retail business. It showed that more than $4,- 800.00 was spent from govern ment funds for salaries alone at the groceries during 1948. This figure, said Chairman Vinson (D-Ga.), did not include the light, heat, trucking and other services furnished' free to the grocery stoses by the Gov- ernmnt.” Now just multiply that by a million and you will have a clear picture of the Govern ment as it would operate the business of the Nation—Social ism, in operation. I feel the call of the sea. Those of us who have spent much time at sea feel the urge to sail the briny deep. I’ve been nursing a plan to go to the Eastern coast of South Am erica, then across to South Af rica and up the coast of East Africa, coming through the Mediterranean to Spain and spending some time there. There is nothing now to pre vent my going, so my wander ing foot is itching again, after many years. My friend and comrade, George Brutsch, insists that we go to Alaska first. S» I’m at sea while still on the land. The offer to operate the San tee-Cooper on a non-profit basis for the benefit of the State, with a probable revenue to the State and the affected Counties ef about two million dollars a year, seems to have been shelv ed. Should it be filed away to rest in oblivion? It amounts to this; two millions instead of less than three hundred thou sand. You and I are inclined to think well of the two mil lions, especially since it would be supported by a contract with a responsible dbncem. True it is that two millions is like small change ih this period of easy money, but how would it strike you if the pro fit were distributed among the Counties directly instead of through the Stale? If this mon ey were distributed among for ty-six counties that would be a tidy sum for each county. As you know, the counties are usually poor. As I recall the proposal, the South Carolina Electric & Gas Co. offers to furnish power to all cooperatives either at a price fixed by the Santee-Coop er or at a price somewhat be low that quoted by Santee- Cooper. That being so, why should the Co-ops borrow eight million dollars? Why should all this money be spent on par allel lines which will become the property of the Santee- Cooper? Can you see through this? Sometimes I wonder if I’m dreaming: but if the Columbia Company will operate Santee- Cooper as a non-profit affair, yielding to the State and coun ties two millions a year (on basis of 1948); and if the Col umbia Company will bind it self by contract to furnish steady, reliable, constant, un limited power to all Co-ops (not just a few); and if all this is offered at attractive rates, why should th e Co-ops go into debt and mortgage their busi ness to Santee-Cooper? And since the Courts have forbidden Santee-Cooper to buy other lines, how can the San tee-Cooper make a contract that would ultimately give it control of all the Co-op lines criss-crossing the State? But I want some one to think this out; Why not let this two millions go to the Counties? What say you? Fop Expert Repair Bring Your Radio GEO. N. MARTIN Radio Service SALES and SERVICE 1014 Main Street Opposite Memorial Square 24 HOURS SERVICE elephone 311W Flowers and Gifts for All Occasions CARTER’S Day Phone 719 — Nig-ht 6212 BEAUTIFUL TILE k FLU go on right oyer old walls! Flintkote Insulation Board Tile and Plank may be just what you need to beautify those dingy, cracked plaster walls and ceilings. These wood-fibre products can’t crack.,. can't show lath marks! They help keep rooms com fortable on less fuel, because they insu- /afe/ Pre-decorated in attractive colors, they requirfe no painting. All nailheads concealed. Many interesting patterns and color combinations are possible. 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