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/i RASE TWO THE NEWBERRY SUN, NEWBERRY, SOUTH CAROLINA THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, IV63 1218 College Street, Newberry, S. C. PUBLISHED EVERY THURSDAY O, F. Armfield, Jr., Owner Second-Class Postage Paid at Newberry, South Carolina. SUBSCRIPTION RATES: $2.00 per year in ad vance :Six Months $1.25. THE “SPECTATOR’S” COLUMN Recently I have had requests for my radio broadcasts, the in terest being in my discussion of the Constitution of our Nation. One letter came from a citizen of New Jersey who tuned in while driving from Florida and wrote to the Charleston Station (WCSC) asking for a copy of the talk. Another station, WFIG (Sum ter, Mr. Douglas Youngblood) frequently sends my talks to prominent figures in New York. My talks, friends, and my Spec tator letters, are my own reflect ions and I and I only, am to blame if I fail to present current topics fairly and persuasively. I do my best. Iread in the State, our great Columbia daily, an account of a very significant conference in Columbia recently. I quote The State’s news account: “South Carolina’s three major electric power suppliers Tuesday proposed to buy all of the state’s cooperatives for $67 million to solve the problem of how much taxes the co-ops should pay. John Hiers, secretary and gen eral manager for Duke Power company, made the proposal be fore the South Carolina Tax study Commission. Hiers repre sented his own firm and Carolina Power and Light Co. and the S. C. Electric and Gas. Co. Hicks said the state currently imposed unfair tax structure on private owned electric companies while the coops enjoyed a tax-free status. He said 25 cents out of every dollar collected by the utili ties went to taxes with 11 c^nts paid as local and state taxes and 14 cents to the federal govern ment. Hicks pointed out that the co ops asked the commission to study their taxes and the private utili ties felt the cooperatives should be taxed the same way power companies are. ‘We have concluded that our three companies would be willing to purchase all of the (22) coop eratives in South Carolina,’ Hicks said. He said the power companies were not trying to force the coops out of business but to show the commission the unfairness of the present tax structure. He said written offers would be sent to each of the cooperatives ‘today or tomorrow’ but he had no indi cation they would accept. The attorney said based on 1961 figures, the latest available to the power companies, if co-ops were taxed at the same rate private power firms were they woud pay $340,000 annually. He said this included $232,00 in property taxes to the counties and the remainder to the state. Hicks said if the three power companies owned all the South Carolina coops, rates could be re duced to 80 per cent of the coops’ customers and no rates would be increased. He also said every co op customer would receive an av erage of $110 as accumulated profit and services would be in creased and more dependable. All coop employees would be re tained with existing boards of di rectors of the coops asked to serve as Area Advisory Boards. Hicks said the coops’ proposed Conway Steam plant, to be built with a $33.7 million Federal loan, would not beneeded since private companies already had facilities in open., on to handle those needs. He sc ^ the proposed facility would be operated tax free by the coops but if such a plant were pri vately owned it would have to pay $450,000 in generating tax, $355, 000 in property tax and $55,000 in corporation tax. Hicks said an in come tax would be in addition. S. C. McMeekin, president of the S. C. Electric and Gas. Co., pointed out to the commission that private companies have never refused to supply power to any one.” A day after that news account I read an editorial in The News and Courier of Charleston, always an outspoken champion of sound government: “The offer of three tax-paying power companies to buy all the electric cooperatives in South! Carolina and put them on the tax i books is an opportunity that the public should not allow the poli- 1 ticians to neglect. Not only would coop customers be assured of pro fessional management, but the entire public would gain by having additional tax revenues collected that now are lost to state and lo cal treasuries. We do not question the serious nature of this offer from the S. C. Electric and Gas. Co., Duke Power Co. and Carolina Power & Light Co., the three privately own ed public utilities that serve the State. These are responsible cor porations, operated by people with excellent reputations. They mean what they say when they offer to buy and pay for the co-operative facilities, and to guarantee pres-; ent or even cheaper rates to con-1 sumers. On every hand, we hear daily complaints by citizens who deplore the encroachment of socialism in this Republic. They curse the Fed eral government for interference with business and other matters formerly held to be outside the sphere of political control. Here is an opportunity for these complainers to take action in their own State. Sale of the coops would abolish a measure of socialism and ! inform the world that free citi zens still are capable of running their own affairs. Should the purchase offer be turned down by the operators of! the co-operatives—which are fin anced with taxpayers’ money at interest rates below cost—then the State should insist that the cooperatives pay their share of State and local taxes.” (And be regulated by the Public Service Commission. It is true that we need more money for the State, the counties, the schools, the towns which have ever-increasing responsibilities for maintaining public order and the multitude of other public services. Where is the money coming from? We must police our towns and counties; we must provide in some manner for schools, colleges, public health and the number of other needs of the day. Shall we increase taxes? Only by taxes can we provide service to the public. Are you enthusias tic over the prospect for heavier taxes for the State, the schools, and the colleges—the counties and towns and cities? Are we, all of us, paying our fair share of the tax burden? Frankly, friends, the business operations are heavily overtaxed, when you add Federal, State, town and school taxes, adding various licenses and what-not. Many years ago I was in busi ness and know at first hand the struggle to meet payrolls. But in my time we had no income tax; no unemployment compensation tax; no Social Security tax; no corpor ation tax—52 per cent tax; no coffee-breaks and no vacation pay —and other taxes by whatever name. Wouldn’t it seem glorious if you could operate on that old plan? You can’t friend, so let’s see where we stand and what’s what, why and wherefore and then let us look at the facts frankly, with a clear vision and sound judgment. Surely we should not increase the taxes. So what? If all the sources of revenue are about to be exhausted, are there new sources, untaxed sources, which should now bear a fair share of the tax load? We have quite an appreciable amount of business paying noth ing or virtually nothing. Our friends and neighbors who operate cooperatives enjoy all the benefits which the tax money pro vides. They borrow money from the Government at 2 per cent al though the government borrows it at 4 per cent in order to lend at 2 per cent. How’s that for special favoritism ? Is that sound govern ment ? I quoted the news account from The State and the editorial from the News& Courier. You may re ly absolutely on the offer of the three great electric companies: they are managed by men of high calibre and character who will do what they offer—and more You know, of course, as a well- informed citizen, that the Electric companies are under the control and supervision of the State Pub lic Service Commission. That Commission knows exactly what each company earns and the Com mission requires reductions in rates whenever the profit exceeds 6 per cent. Don’t be confused a- bout this: the Commission does not guarantee one cent of profit: it acts to prevent more than 6 per cent of profit. Six per cent friends is not a heavy profit. The Electric companies are paying to their stockholders not 6 per cent, but about 3 1-2 per cent. Quite a dif ference! Can you rely on the assurances given by the heads of the three Electric companies? Yes, abso lutely. I know the three companies and I know that any assurance given by them will be faithfully carried out. Besides that th,e Pub lic Service Commission is your public servant. So now, we find a new source of revenue for our schools, public protection without increasing the burden now borne by the taxpay ers. There was a time when some power men lost the confidence of the public: that was 30 years ago. Since then our Electric companies are completely managed by our own people. Now if we can seize the oppor tunity to enjoy excellent service at no higher price, but put millions into the public treasury for the improvement of our public service. What say you ? be rry George Ellerbe Miller, New'ber- ry. Fred L. Vigodsky, Newberry. Mrs. Rjsalyn Cumalander. Lit tle Mountain. Simpson Burton, Sr., Newberry. Sidney W. Chapman, Prosperity. Sherrie Ann Cromer, Pomaria. Tinsley Henderson, Newberry. Eerley Rabb, Saluda. Albert Singley, Silverstreet. The first home loan by a savings and loan associa tion was made to a lamplighter in Fr&nkford, Pa., In 1831. The home is still standing. Thanks a hundred billion! This month the savings and loan business passes the 100 billion dollar mark in assets. We are proud to be a part of it. The savings and loan business is built on the right and incentive of human beings to better themselves. Its assets have grown from the thrift of its 35 million savers who are building sound financial futures for themselves. We join all savings and loan associations in saying to you, our cus tomers, “Thanks a hundred billion” for your confidence in us. Today savings and loan associations make more than a million home loans a year ... more than all other financial institutions combined. up* avinos and Loan Association J. F. CLARKSON M. O. SUMMER Savings institution - icouNDtD •••• 9OUL90U mvmmi DIRECTORS G. K. DOMINICK J. K. WILLINGHAM ; BRANCH OFFICE — Bafesburg, S. C. r. m. c. E. B. PURCELL W. C. HUFFMAN y J “It is written that man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God" —Deuteronomy 8:3 Many times, by teachings and example, Jesus brought forth to His disciples and followers the importance of finding faith and strength in the words of God. Once, urged by His disciples to rest from His teachings and partake of food. He reminded them of the importance of the fruits of His labour. Tempted by the devil to turn stone into bread, Jesus refused, answering that it was written man lived “not by bread alone, but by every word of God.” Even in this modem world to day, bread alone is not enough. A man may achieve fame and great wealth, only to discover something still “missing” in his search for happiness. Whatever his means, the man who lives by the words of God is richest of all. r * ftfuiati !!k„, ^ m m.%!i l "Know ye not that your body if the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?"—I Corinthians 6:19 This quotation from St. Paul's letter to the Corinthians expresses his alarm that the members of the church at Corinth have con doned sin among its members. He is telling them that the body of man is not his own, but the temple of the Holy Ghost, and is not to be desecrated. You, no doubt, have heard someone say, “It's my life and I'll live it as I please. I'll do what 1 want and it’s no one’s business.” Translated into modem think ing, Paul's answer is as good to day as it was then. Your life is not your own. Your body is not your own. God gave you life and the body is the temple. You have no more right to destroy either life or body by sin than you have to destroy another man’s prop erty. Read your BlftLI dolly and OO TO CHURCH SUNDAY PATIENTS IN THE HOSPITAL Mrs. Thelma M. Hamilton, New berry. Robert R. Bruner, Newberry. Mrs. Avalee M. Brooks, New berry. Miss Clara L. Bowers, Newber ry. Miss Katie Bell 'Bickley, New berry. Ephriam G. Cope, Newberry. Mrs. Ella Kinard Cook, Pros perity. William Alonzo Foy, Newberry. Mrs. Priscilla Griffith, Pomaria. William Lowrey Griffith, Sr., Saluda. Joseph H. Hawkins, Saluda. Gamer Morris Johnson, New berry. Cecil Ernest Kinard, Newberry. Mrs. Margaret Lake, Saluda. Julian C. McLeod, Newberry. Mrs. Glenda Metts, Saluda. Allen W. Murray, Newberry. Mrs. John A. Mayer, Pomaria. Louis Morris, Newberry. George Elmer Pitts, Newberry. Belinda Pitts, Newberry. Mrs .Annie Bell Quattlebaum, Newberry. Lance Reid, Newberry. Mrs. Martha B. Sligh, Prosper ity. Mrs. Mary Turner, Newberry. Mrs. Ella M. Trammerll, New berry. Mrs. Betty D. Williams, New berry. Miss Peggy Jean Werts, Silver- street. Robert Earl Summer Jr., New- for the UUlJUdUlJ ITEM: Meat tenderness in beef has been related mainly to aging and the amount of connective tis sue and marbling across the meat. But the basic reasons why some beef is tough and some tender have not yet been determined. For the next three years, Oregon State University scientists, under a $60,006 grant from the U.S. De partment of Health, Education and Welfare, will investigate change* in mineral makeup in meat tnat appears to be linked to basis pro tein structure. Tender roasts and chops may one day be guaran teed! • • • ITEM: An electric iron gives best service when its sole plate if clean. Wipe the sole plate with a damp cloth after each use. An other suggestion is to rub it once a month with a good grade at paraffin or beeswax, and wipe off on paper or cloth. • • • ITEM: Bath and shower walls can now have the same durable beau ty as kitchen counter tops. It’s possible with attractive panels at decorative plastic laminates. The panels come in ten colors and pat terns, have core of moisture-re sistant polystyrene foam. * • * ITEM: Rural families should be interested in the fact engineers of the U.S. Department of Agricul ture and State Land Grant Uni versities have developed plans for a new, easy-to-build fruit and stor age cellar that will also serve as fallout shelter. The office of civil Tense says the structure—rein- ced concrete, covered by 3 feet earth—offers excellent fallout ation protection. SENATOR STRO HURMOND Reports PEOPLE Are Explanations Needed? SECRETARY OF STATE Dean Rusk has stressed the need for the Government to make every effort to explain U.S. for eign policy to the American peo ple, for, as he says, “foreign policy is everybody's business.” THE GOVERNMENT has ac cumulated an incredible amount of power; but not even the frightening array of power held by the Government is enough to satisfactorily explain to the av erage American some of the flagrant contradictions of U.S. foreign policy actions. Two events which occurred this year illustrate the point. ON JANUARY 3, 1963, 32 “evangelical” Christians pre sented themselves at the gates of the American embassy in Moscow with an appeal for ref uge. There were 6 men, 12 wom en and 14 children, who had traveled 2,400 miles from their homes. They were seeking re ligious liberty. The officials of the American embassy fed these religious refugees, refused them refuge and turned them over to Soviet officials. WE DO not know what hap pened to these 32 Christians who fled religious persecution. The communist official said they were put on a train and sent back to their homes. We do know that the government of the Soviet Union is communist, and adheres to the fervent belief that “religion is the opiate of the masses,” and have persecut ed and terrorized persons of all religious beliefs. THE SECOND occurence was 8 months later in Saigon, the capital of the southeast Asian nation of South Vietnam. TWO BUDDHIST “monks” applied to the American em bassy for refuge. The refuge was granted over the protests of the Vietnamese Government. Subsequently, the U.S. State De partment, and even President Kennedy have taken the Viet namese Government bitterly to task for “religious persecution.” SOUTH VIETNAM is a poor nation of some 14 million people. Its government is anti-commu nist, and is actively engaged in daily conflict with communist forces. With U.S. help, it is fight ing for the survival of all south east Asia from communist ag gression. In every practical eense of the word, this nation is a U.S. ally. THE GOVERNMENT of Viet nam does not have a history of religious persecution. It is a virtual dictatorship, probably every bit as authoritarian as that of Tito in Yugoslavia. It was initially set up with U.S. support and has continued to rule by virtue of U.S. support and assistance. THE PRESIDENT is Ngo Dinh Diem, a Roman Catholic. The majority of high govern ment officials are non-Christian. Recentlv returned U.S. Ambassa dor F. G. Nolting says there is no religious persecution in Viet nam. The current strife between the Buddhists and the Vietnam ese government began with a row over whether the Vietnamese or the Buddhist flag would be flown over pagodas, the places of worship of the Buddhists. Prior to this, the Catholics had the same dispute, and had to make way for the Vietnamese *THE DIFFERENCES be tween the Vietnamese govern ment and the Buddhist monks have grown violent. Some Budd hist monks have martyred them selves by becoming human torches. The Government has re sponded to Buddhist demonstra tions and agitation with strong police measures. The Vietnamese government claims the demon strations are more political than religious. It is worthy of note that anyone can become a “monk” by the simple decision to do so. WHATEVER THE merits of the decision to give refuge to the monks in Vietnam, the con tradiction remains. IF INTERNATIONAL law and custom permits giving hav en in our embassies to religious refugees, as was done in August in Vietnam, why wasn’t refuge given the Christians in Moscow in January? If international law precluded our giving haven to Christians in January, how did it permit us to give haven to Buddhists in August? COULD IT BE that we were not inclined to offend the Soviet Union, but that we were not so timid about offending the weak nation of Vietnam ? Is it our policy, as has been charged, to be “neutral to oui enemies, friends to the neutral * and en emies to our friends?” IT MAY be that the Ameri- ican people don't need these questions answered by the UJ3. government. It may be that the facts speak for themselves. Sincerely,