The sun. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1937-1972, September 12, 1963, Image 2
/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,