The weekly North-Carolina standard., 1869-04-07
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
WEDNESDAY. March 81. 1869.

WEDNESDAY, March 81, 1869.
The House met at 81 o'clock.
Mr.. AMEs, from the committee on Internal
Improvements, reported favorably bill in
relation tn the State canal from Lake Land,
ing on Mattamuskeet Lake to Yocking creek
Mr.. SEYMOUR, from the judiciary Com
mittee, reported bill to amend an act estab
lshing special court at Wilmington,
favorably with an amendment.
BILLS INTRODUCED.
By Mr. MALONE: Bill to authorize the
election of judges of Superior Courts by the
voters of the several districts.
Mr. FRENCH: Bill to incorporate the Will
mington and Seaside Railroad Company.
Referred to the committee on Internal Im-
provements.
Mr. JUSTICE of Rutherford: Bill to pro-
vide for a special term OF the Superior Court
of Rutherford county. Referred to the Ju-
dietary Committee.
Mr. STIILEY: Bill to authorize the sheriff
of Beaufort county to collect arrears of taxes.
Referred to the committee on Propositions
and Grievances.
Mr. JARVIS: Resolution IN favor of the
reporters of the two Houses. Referred to
the committee ON Finance.
Mr. DAVIS: Bill concerning fisheries in
Carterct county.
On motion of Mr.. Robinson, the rules
were suspended, and resolution in favor of
Jacob Siler passed third reading yeas 50,
nays 6.
Or motion of Mr. MOORE, of Chowan. the
rules were suspended for the consideration
OF his resolution to investigate the affairs OF
line Ahemare and Chesapeake Canal Co.
Mr. BOWMAN moved to strike out the
clause appointing additional members.
The amendment was adopted and the
resolution was lost
On motion of Mr.. SEYMOUR. the rules
were suspended. and the bill to amend sec
tion 5, chapter Al, of the laws of the special
session, 1868, entitled "An act in relation
to punishments," passed third reading.
The substitute fora bill to provide a sys-
TEN of public instruction was taken up, the
pending question being on the adoption of
Sec 80.
The section was adopted.
The Committee on Education recommend
that section 33 be stricken out.
The section provides that 1.-The committee
of any township shall, when they deem it
advisable, call meeting of the voters, who
either reside orpay taxes in the township,
and submit to them the proposition for
continuance of the schools beyond the four
months required by law; and shall submit
to them an estimate OF the expense per
month for the continuance of said schools"
Mr.. BOWMAN favored the amendment on
the ground that the people could not pay
the tax to support schools more than four
months.
Mr.. HARRIS, of Wake, opposed striking
out the section, because it simply allowed
the voters of the several townships to de-
termine for themselves whether they would
have longer term than four months. The
majority would decide either way, and the
amendment to deprive them of the power
was carrying out the old theory that few
landed aristocrats shall govern. That idea
could not he sustained before the people of
the State, and he hoped the issue would not
be made.
Mr. ESTES said the property throughout
the United States paid the expenses of
schools, and the poor aud rich alike receiv-
ed the benefit of it. In well organized
States certain sum is appropriated for
school purposes, and the schools may he
held as long as that lasts, not to exceed
ten months. He hoped the amendment
would not be stricken out, and that the
townships should be allowed to decide for
themselves how long a school they would
have. He desired that New Hanover coun-
ty at least should be allowed to decide by a
majority vote how long a term they should
have. sf
Mr.. HoDGIN opposed the amendment
Most of the people of the State had long
been without schools, and they should now
be allowed as good opportunities as could
he made for them.
Mr.. MORRIS opposed the amendment
Mr.. PoU said the condition of the State
demanded that We should make taxation AS
light as possible, and to prevent expense the
section should he stricken out.
Mr.. SINCLAIR thought the difference among
members could be remedied by an amend
ment, which would make the section ucccp-
table, He moved to amend in line bv
| striking out ''either," and after the word
reside" strike out 'or'' and insert "and -
so that the question should be decided by
voters ''who reside and pay taxes In the
| township"
Mr.. BOWMAN opposed the whole section
unless the amendment could he amended to
read "voters who reside and pay taxes for
this specific purpose in the Townships
Mr.. FRENCH said that would submit the
vote to the real estate owners. and they
could cut off the schools, even if there were
a large surplus of money derived from polls
&c, in the county treasury.
Message from the Senate transmitted
House bill to authorize the Public Treasurer
| to supply temporary deficiency in the
treasury, with an amendment.