Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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PAGE TWO THE NEWBERRY SUN THURSDAY, MARCH 24, 1955 1218 College Street NEWBERRY, S. C. PUBLISHED EVERY THURSDAY O. F. Armfield, Jr., Owner 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: $2.00 per year in ad vance; six months, $1.25. COMMENTS ON MEN AND THINGS By SPECTATOR Should we revive the Farmers and Taxpayers League? Most men in public life were not holding office in the early thirties, when the Taxpayers' League was vigorously in a campaign to curtail public expenditures and reduce taxes. Did it succeed? It did; many an office-holder became a private citizen, and taxes were reduced. I know that the State and the Nation can reduce ex penditures without sacrificing desirable service. We have some excellent men in our public service, in cluding all branches; but they are almost at the mercy of pressure groups. There, again, most pressure groups are composed of good citizens; but good people sometimes spend too much; then we find good people who, with splendid zeal and high purpose, advocate some new expenditure as the one indispensable measure to redeem us from dense ignorance or other lamentable condition. We must add all the demands to see, as father has to see, that the income will not permit all the good and desirable, things that son and daughter have prevailed upon mother to suggest to dad. Let’s look at our State calmly and intelligently: Should we tax our people for eight millions more? Eight million dollars! The bill from the Ways and Means Committee of the House calls for eight million dollars more. Do we need eight million dollars more? We do not. Of course we could easily spend eight million more; we could spend ten million more; fifteen million more; twenty five million more; we could spend twenty five million more, if spending, spend ing honorably, is our aim and purpose. ^Couldn’t every father spend fifty per cent more, and spend it well? He could; but can he reach out and grab the additional money just be cause he finds a need for it? If our State means to add all ^he demands and then pile on the taxes then our legislators will be departing seriously from the course they follow in their own affairs. "THIS PRESENT-DAY WOMAN Strom new or additional burdens on business, thereby showing ourselves as foolish as the woman who killed the hen that laid the golden eggs. The Black Diamond, a magazine of the coal business, has an appreciative sketch of a great South Carolina enterprise and its management. I have read it with special interest and think my readers and radio friends will find the arti cle appealing. I think of it as the great vision of a Clemson man, a son of old Fairfield, and its splendid realization. “A S. C. UTILITY EXPANDS WITH AREA’S GROWTH. One of the most discussed topics in the business world today is South Carolina’s spectacular post-war industrial growth; and keeping right in step with this expansion is South Carolina Electric and Gas Company, whose head quarters are at Columbia, S. C., and whose revenues come from the sale of electric power, gas, and transportation. This utility, under the leadership of Silas Calhoun McMeekin as president, has paced its development not only to take care of the current needs of its customers, but also to be in a position to provide its share of the future power and heat requirements of the area it serves. That The South Carolina Electric & Gas Co. is accomplishing as much as it is in this regard Is largely due to the foresight of Mr. McMeekin and his associates in anticipating the remarkable growth of this section of the country. Since World War 11, over 1,000 new industrial plants, worth close to half billion dollars, have been completed, or are in the process of building. In addition to this, already established companies have spent more than $350,000,000 in expanded operations. Also for the first time in history. Now, as to South Carolina: We have been attracting new j employment in the state is about equally balanced between m # business, $500,000,000 (five hundred million) within a few years; better, still, the enterprises which have been with us for years, during some lean years, too, they spent $375,000,- 000 expanding and modernizing their plants. New business, increased business, has brought in a lot of additional reve nue, directly and indirectly. New and increased employment brought in millions of dollars in sales taxes. We are trying, with considerable suc cess, to bring in new enterprises. Shall we greet them with new or increased taxes ? Must we Anglo-Saxons have to learn from Puerto Rico, that if we can bring business here our people will prosper? Puerto Rico advertises tax-free invi tations, in American papers of national circulation. South Carolina can draw additional revenue from in creased business, if we have the sagacity to look below the surface. One man, a native son, has built two towns, two new mills, in recent years — James C. Self; another great en terprise not only has done a lot of building and modernizing, but has made such new adjustments as to develop a higher grade of out-put, with greater security for its loyal work ers; it has been paying bonuses of more than $200,000 a year, sharing its profits with all the workers — that is the Joanna Mill of the Regnerys. Now are we to make business more difficult? It that the road to prosperity? in the plan to raise money I observe the increase in Corporation taxes — all Corporations; then I notice a special tax on Electric Power Generation. Who will pay that? Power generated by a private Company in South Caro lina. If the power is generated out-side of South Carolina and delivered to customers in this State it pays no Generat ion Tax. Electric power is the life-blood of industry. Any enter prise which considers coming to South Carolina consider our people, our climatei, our laws, our official attitude, our water, both abundance and quality; our transportation, rail roads, truck lines, public roads; our taxes, our schools; our churches, our electric power, both availability and rates. We have everything; and we are enjoying the fruits of planning, both by the State and by the go-getters in every Community. South Carolina has to compete with North Carolina and .Georgia in trying for business. Neither Georgia nor North Carolina has any Generation Tax, none at all; but we even plan to increase it! A South Carolina Company has to com pete with Companies which pay no Generation Tax, yet we seriously propose to increase the Generation Tax, thereby further hamstringing our own people. One South Carolina Company has spent one hundred and seventeen million dollars in eight years, developing new facilities to attractnew industries; and now we plan to pena- lyze it! Wisdom would suggest that we trim our budget to suit our income, as you and I have to do, rather than to impose industry and agriculture. Population has increased from 1.9 million in 1940 to close to 2. million today. (2,238,000). South Carolina Electric & Gas Company’s electric trans mission lines serve 23 of the state’s 46 counties, including its two largest cities, Columbia and Charleston. These lines run over the northern and southwestern parts of South Carolina, originating from eight generating plants, four of which are operated by water power, and four by steam. The newest of these steam plants is the Urquhart Station on the Savannah River, which, by 1957, will have a capacity of 475,000 kilowatts. Total investment in this plant is in excess of 50 million dollars. The U. S. government’s 315 square miles atomic energy plant along the Savannah River, near Aiken, is one of the largest new electric power users in the area. This operation, which will be operated by DuPont Co., has jcontracted with South Carolina Electric & Gas Co., for one-six of its total power requirement for the next 25 years. This is sufficient current to supply the usual residential needs for a city of 60,000 inhabitants. Total power requirements of this plant will be in the neighborhood of 170,000 kilowatts. South Carolina Electric & Gas Company is also counting on new customers for its electric lines. Its program is based on a continuance of the growth pattern of the past 7 years. In 1948 there were 98,709 electric users on the E & G lines. Today there are more than 151,000. Loads of 498,000 kilo watts in 1958 and 756,000 kilowatts in 1963 are forecast. . Hydro power is now responsible for only 3Q percent of the company’s total generating capacity, while steam provides the other 70 percent. LOW WATER SUPPLY The question is often put, Why the emphasis on steam generator plants in a region with normally adequate water supplies? The answer is because drought conditions in the past few. years have cut water flow below normal and have lowered the capacity of the water* powered generators on the Savannah, Saluda and Broad rivers, and the Columbia canal. Water powered generators can produce electricity at a cheaper rate than steam fired units, fired by gas, oil or coal. However, if the water flow is low, steam has to be depended upon. For example, in 1952, the steam plant which made up 56% of E. &G’s total current capacity, had to supply 71 percent of the electricity required. - One of the tough problems that confront E & G’s manage ment is the competition from public power projects. Within and adjoining the area served by the company, are the only government-owned generating plants and transmission lines in the state. % To date, the company contends, it hasn’t lost much busi ness to the state franchised and operated South Carolina’s Public Service Authority. Also it has not suffered greatly from competition from the Federal Government’s near-by Clarks Hill plant. However, two big industrial customers, The Tariff Fight More South Carolinians are in terested in H. R. 1—the Recipe rocal Trade Agreements Bill—than any other piece of legislation like ly to be considered by this ses sion of the Congress. Thousands—at least 6,000— tex tile people have written, called or wired me about this (bill, asking that I work to get it amended so as to protect the jobs of the employees and the continued healthy activity of the textile in dustry. And that is just what I have spent the most time on this past week. Senator Byrd and the Finance Committee of which he is chair man gave me sympathetic attent ion when I presented the problem to them. A group of us Senators from the States in which textiles are produced met and agreed to work for specific amendments to H. R. 1 which we believe essential for protection against cheap textile imports for Japan where wages are one-tenth or less than the rate in our State. Also, with new machinery and greater experience, the Japanese might soon be coim peting in higher grade fabrics. The experts who know most about, the probable effect of H. R. 1 fear most some unpublicized provisions of the (bill. They don’t fear too much giving authority to the President to make up to 5 percent per year cuts in tariffs for three years. Under present law the President has authority to make up to 50 percent reductions in the tariff rates. And right now in Geneva, Switzerland, a conference (GATT) is in progress at which a great many basic textile products are being negotiated with other coun tries for the purpose of reducing present tariff rates. I am seeking an amendment to prevent the pos sibility of any such 50 percent re duction. iA. provision of H. R. 1 would exempt Japan from the limit of 15 percent reductions in the next three years and leave products of that chief textile competitor open for up to 50 percent tariff cuts, or possibly more. (Of course, that does not mean the President would, make such cuts). „ Still another provision which disturbs me would permit greater than 5 percent cuts on items which are now being brought into this country in “negligible” amounts. It is possible that if the tariffs were cut by 60 percent on such items. Imports then might be so large as to destroy the sale of the same American-made items. So, you see, this dry subject is one of greatest importance to the good of South Carolina and the nation. More than a million peo ple are employed in the American textile industry, 127,000 of them in South Carolina. Sixty-eight percent of industrial employment in South Carolina is in the textile plants of the State. These plants provide 71 percent of the industrial payroll of the State v I hope we can secure the amend- FTom the Morris town Wo.'ld, McIntosh, South Dakota: We are not suprised to learn that Corson county has been put out of limits to Russian travelers. About 27 per cent at the United States is in cluded with Corson County in die off-limits order. Some people say the State De partment declared • part of the United States closed to Russians because part of the Soviet Union is restricted’ from American travel They say the United States is setting even. The truth of the matter is the State Department wants to keep the Russian spies away from South Dakota 65 running from McIntosh to Isabel, the Metigosbe trail The government is afraid that if tike Russian spies see 65 they will report the United States as being a backward country with few mod em conveniences and they might underestimate our strength and attack. We have wondered why nothing hat been done to improve 65. The new State Department order gives meuts we have agreed upon to • vs a clue. The Federal government make this bill a protection instead of a danger to our State and national good. Drought and Irrigation In a recent meeting with Agri culture Secretary Ezra T. Benson, I submitted a list \ of recomen- dations for improving the drought aid program and for further de veloping irrigation facilities in South Carolina and the Southeast. We also discussed the tornado and hail storm that struck several counties in South Carolina. The Secretary promised every possible assistance. The next day he an nounced that emergency govern ment loans will be made available in the disaster areas. In order to guard against any future peach crop losses as ex perienced recently in South Caro lina, the Agriculture Dept, has agreed to send representatives to meet with South Carolina peach growers in April or May to dis cuss the possibilities of a govern ment-sponsored crop insurance pro gram. It is my opinion the Secretary is very interested in irrigation facilites and watershed projects for the Southeast. He gave parti cular attedtion to my proposal that additional soil conservation payments be made available to in dividual farmers to install irri gation facilities. In discusing the drought aid program, he indicated there is a possibility the program may be extended to cover hogs, poultry, and farm workstock in future emergencies. He also gave a good reception to proposals that re quirements for Farm Home Ad ministration loans be relaxed to make it easier for tenant farmers to qualify for government credit. has ordered the South Dakota Highway Department to preserve it as a secret weapon. In the event Russia ever gets an army into the United States our armies have an order to retreat over highway 65. When the Russians get on 66 we're going to turn' until the middle of June. loose with a battery of rain-mak ing generators and douse the gum* bo on 65. The Russians will be caught like flies on sticky paper. By the time they have fought the mud for a while a Boy Scout troop will be able to go out and pick up their guns. They’ll be glad to surrender if we will turn off the ram During the late difficulties . . . in the Pacific we would bomb the Jap air bases on the islands. Then after we had chased the Nips oat we bad to fix up the runways again before the islands were any coed to us as bases Comes another war we are going to do tilings differently, Pianos will load up dirt from 65 and bomb the runways with It The rain makers wfil turn loose and spray the fields and they'll be out of commission. When we take them over we'll let them dry off. sweep off tiie dirt from 66 and they']) be ready tor use. There was some talk of mixing the mud in planes and dropping a ready-mix but air. force scientists vetoed the idea. They were afraid the gumbo was so sticky It would just hang up in the air. They could use 65 as a prison too Put the Russian prisoners about in the middle of 65 in the winter and they could forget about Hf M = i n ct o n Q—Can yon give me the origin of the - of Representatives? : *j|| A—The word “Speaker” goes back to tbs 16th century in the Commons when one man was literally forced to become a on behalf of the common people to the body before the kings and queens of England. Q—Has the Congress dans anything i cotton acreage? d Ar-Yes, the House has passed a bffi (H.R. 3962) which would increase cotton acreage by 3 per cent to provide each cotton farm & mum at five acres, or the largest acreage grown in m past three years. The bffl Is in the Senate Agriculture Q—What is an act of nnlUficatAnn? A—The state resorts to acts of nullification when it refuses to an act of Congress. Some states practiced nullification when failed or refused to enforce the 18th amendment As far ba 1799 Virginia and Kentucky passed resolutions preventing ment of the alien and sedition laWt. Some authorities states today to prevent anti-segregation in public schools, tSKMlot nullification. Other authorities say this action by states is "recall at judicial decisions.” Colorado has a recall procedure. Theodore Roosevelt advocated recall at Supreme Court in 1912 declaring the people should have right to _ opinions of Federal and state supreme court decisions. Q—What official la next in line to the Attorney Department? A—He is the solicitor general m ■ INtfCARNGSfflE AUTHOR OF “HOW TO STOP WORRYING AND START LIVIN •m fOSEPH J. GRINERICH, 3716 W. Branting Lane, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, says that ha has never really conquered fear and' worry, but here brings out three personal observations why he has no reason tor having either. He was one of three children which his mother reared aa a widow from the time he was tea years of age. She was left with a tonne half-paid for, a few hundred dollars in insurance and a $35.00 a month widow’s compensation allowance. First, she managed to send one daughter through nursing school the other through business college, and Joseph through an engineering school and she did this on the strength of a fourth grade public school education. Joseph doesn't feel that he has reason to worry tor lack of a suitable education or to Worry about any situation of his aa compared to hers. A The second observation was made during the depression thirties. Joseph had a temporary job as a census enumerator which gave him the opportu- CARNEGIE nity to see how difficult it was for so many families during that trying period. Homes in which families were dead-broke and on relief, people who were in despair, without much hope-—except that prosperity was always just around the corner. , The third observation is based on the last war. All he needs do Is to remember the ruins, the effects of starvation and some of the other results of man’s inhumanity towards his fellow man to realize how fortunate he is to live in the United States in a time of relative peace. So with these three thoughts in mind, he says he feels that ha has no reasonable right to worry. Instead he counts his blessings instead of his troubles. T HE writer of this column hap pened to be in the press gal leries of the Senate the other day as the Senate convened for the day's work. We listened to an inspirational prayer by the Rev. Frederick Brown Harris, D. D., the Senate chaplain. There were more people in the press gallery than there were Senatora on the floor of the Senate . . . possibly seven or eight Senators present This is nothing unusual^for there are sel- Pittsburg Metallurgical Company and Virginia-Carolina Chemical Corp., located at Charleston, buy power from the Public Service Authority. This latter utility also provides electricity for a string of rural electric co-ops within the state. ^ , Silas C. McMeekin, the 52 year old president of South Carolina Electric and Gas Go., has spent his entire business career in the utility field. He was graduated from Clemson College in South Carolina in 1923, with a degree in electrical engineering, and his first job was shoveling coal in a hand- fired steam plant. After a short time at this work he joined a predecessor company of South Carolina Electric, and has been with this firm ever since.” dom more than this number pre ent a* the Senate convenes. More than likely there were more Sena tors to the cloakrooms than on the floor. Here is a phrase from the Chaplain’s prayer: “. . . May those who serve in tiie ministry of public affairs be conscious of a Divine mission, act ing always from tiie severest sense of duty, indifferent to praise or blame, devoid of jealousy, un swayed by passion or prejudice.'' And if struck the writer forcibly in listening to these words that in the Senate of the United States particularly, where foreign policy is approved, that in our foreign policy there is a Divine mission,- a moral issue, teetering in the balance as between tiie aggressive atheistic forcea of Communism and the Christian world, of which this nation ig a leader. There is on the lips of our leaders in this nation such rationalizations as “co existence” with Communism, that the world is big enough for thel^ried. insatiable aggression of Commu nism and the free world to live side by side. As a result our foreign policy as thus far evolved in Eastern Europe, in China, in Formosa, in Korea and ih the countries of Southeast Asia has been one of “prudent diplomacy" ; that this so- called prudent diplomacy consists of backing away, step-by-step, on the theory that wo can satisfy the demands of nism and thus live co-existent with the Communists who are in A trol of Russia and Red 'since the essence of as expounded by their leaders 3 Lenin down to the present consists of such dogma as therefore reject every impose upon us any moral whatsoever . . the question has been posed and will be often as crisis after crisis “Where is the Divine mission ,of which the Rev. Brown spoke in his prayer before the Senate? It does not lie in a step-by-step re treat. because by every retreat we deny the existence of God flrom whom tills divine mission flows, and we further deny man’s inalien able rights, the basic truth upon which our Republic is founded.' Some of the most profound thinkers at our times have pro nounced the times in which’toe m live, tiie cold war as between ktfae- istic Communism and so-called Christian nations, a war to the death as between Communism and Christianity. In summing 19 this battle between ideologies, G. K. Chesterson said; “Christianity has not been tried and found wanting; it has been found difficult and not The great trouble is that Communism practices its ideology seven days a week; Christianity has devolved into what is called secularism where we spend Sun day practir- g our Christianity and six days a week excluding Chris tianity last week, Corporations pay $6.35 to the Government for every $2.75 they pay to their stockholders. Even al money retained in the business, counting all the the Corporation, the taxes are twice as much as the net Do we treat our businessmen right; do we impose unduly on them? Yes, we do. I have some interest in farming and know the farmers’ great part in our life. Suppose the farmer j ings. Is that right and fair? • whose income is $2000 had to pay $4600 in taxes ? As I cited How would you like to do business on that basis ?