NORTH CAROLINA
This Idea Never Gol Going
Twenty-six years ago one Samuel E.
Leonard proposed the elimination of
80 county governments in North Caro¬
lina. and setting up 20 district govern¬
ments. His plan suggested the divisions
shown on the accompanying map.
Since then (1934) there has been
no progress, so far as we can sec. in
creating sentiment in favor of such a
move. But it is an interesting conjec¬
ture, and we present here the Leonard
proposal of 1934:
If I were a member of the legisla¬
ture. 1 would introduce a bill on the
first day that would make the face of
North Carolina look like the accom¬
panying map. In other words, there
would be only twenty districts of gov¬
ernment. instead of one hundred
counties.
The most stupendous task of the
legislature will be a solution of the
tax problem. But for that one prob¬
lem the men going to Raleigh in Janu¬
ary could return to their homes and
places of business in less than the
proverbial sixty days.
Paying I he Bills
Some of our representatives were
elected on the ridiculous platform of
reducing taxes and increasing expendi¬
tures, particularly salaries of school
teachers. And yet that is exactly what
ought to happen. There is no question
but that government is costing too
much; there is too much outgo.
Recent consolidations have shown
tremendous savings and increased ef¬
ficiency; namely, roads and schools.
Both of these, however, have been
taken over by the state, and that
savored of centralized government.
The proposition 1 am advocating does
not take anything to Raleigh, but
leaves the local governmental units
distributed over the state as hereto¬
fore, but in larger units.
Only Twenty Units
The map shows twenty units, or de¬
partments. or districts. Each district
follows county lines, which would
eliminate surveying new lines, as these
lines are already established. Senti¬
ment could be largely overcome by al¬
lowing counties to retain their names
and boundaries, making the district the
unit of government instead of the
county. By doing this, the lady from
Halifax County could still say she was
from Halifax. The lines could also be
used in various phases of government;
such as voting, school districts, etc.
The first saving would be the elimi¬
nation of eighty units of government.
Consider the cost of the average court¬
house: — The Clerk of Court, the
Register of Deeds, the Sheriff, the
Treasurer, the Auditor, the Tax Col¬
lector, County Attorney, the Superin¬
tendent of Schools, the Department of
Health, the Department of Public Wel¬
fare. the Home and Farm Demonstra¬
tion Agents, the Coroner, the Boards
of County Commissioners, School
Boards, the County Court, etc. Of
course, elimination of all these would
mean some additional deputies, but
deputies cost much less than the heads
of departments. Without any change in
the number of superior court judges, a
court could open every Monday morn¬
ing in every governing unit of the
state, thereby eliminating all the nu¬
merous recorder’s and county courts,
and practically eliminating jail ex¬
pense. While I haven't the figures at
hand, I am sure that the saving in tax¬
payers’ money would be several mil¬
lions of dollars a year, and that is not
to be laughed at.
Must Be Done as a Whole
This consolidation will not take
place by piece-meal, neither will it be
done by a vote of the people. Past
consolidations could not have been
done that way. There are too many
controversial points. It will have to be
done en nuisse by legislative enact¬
ment. Of course, there arc a thousand
details I have not thought of, which
would involve changing the constitu¬
tion. many laws, the gradual elimina¬
tion of courthouses, etc. These will
take time and study, by the best minds
of the state. Legislative committees or
a board to serve between legislatures
could work out the problem to present
to the next legislature.
If North Carolina wants to be the
leader of the procession of states —
another first, if you please; if this
General Assembly wants to do some¬
thing outstanding and permanent
which would place it head and shoul¬
ders above other assemblies in the
past; if our Governor wants to crown
his administration with an outstanding
achievement, in my humble opinion
here is the opportunity.
THE STATE. January 7. t961
7