Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1875-09-24
REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES.

beers of the Convention, Messrs. Will
cox. Wilson, Badger, McCabe and
Byrd.
| REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES.
Messrs. Bennett, from committee on
Judicial Department Clingman, from
Legislative Department Manning,
| from the Committee on Rules, made
| reports from their several committees.
INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCES AND RES
OLUTIONS.
By Mr.. Reid, an ordinance reqnir-
irc twelve months residence III the
county to en'itle person to vote.
By Mr.. Green, an ordinance pro
posing am! ndments to Art 4, Sec IA
of the Constitution, requiring the
Judges to reside in their several
districts, but they shall rotate. Re
! ferred.
| By Mr.. Cooper, a resolution fixing
the salaries of Judges of the Sn-
perior Court at $4,000 per annum.
| Referred.
By Mr.. Hinnant, an ordinance to
amend secs. and 7, art. 9, Of the
Constitution. Providing a separate
| school fund for each county. Re
| ferred.
By Mr.. Reid. an ordinance to amend
sec 3, art 7, of the Constitution. Pro-
vides that no city or town shall
have the right to tax any credits or
| property without the corporate limits.
| Referred.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS.
The ordinance relating to the per
| dicn1 of the members of the Legisla-
| ture was taken up as unfinished bust
ness.
Mr.. Altman offered a substitute for
| the whole question to the effect that
/ the members of the General AS ,embly
shall receive per diem of 81, for
period not exceeding 60 days, and 10
cents mileage each way, the distance
| to be computed by the nearest route
of public travel, the presiding officers
to receive Sc, per day and should
the Assembly remain in session for
longer period than so days there shall
| be no compensation allowed therefor.
The amendment of Mr.. Tourgee,
| giving 81 per day and 10 cents mile
age each way, with so days session,
and providing that any Legislature
may change this law at any time,
such change not to go into effect dur
ing the then term of office of the mem
beers of such Assembly, was first con-
! sidered.
Mr.. Tourgee argued briefly in favor
| of this amendment.
Mr.. Clingman objected, upon the
| ground that the fact of leaving the
question to Legislation hereafter would
seemingly delude the people into the
| belief that something had been done,
| when such was not the case.
| Mr.. Tourgee's amen tnent was lost
by vote of % ayes to rs nays, sew
eral of the members being paired oil.
Mr.. Bowman moved an amendment
| to the per diem of both the presiding
| officers and members -. Lost by Il
vote of Is to 90.
The substitute of Mr.. Altman was
then taken up. and adopted by vote
of 80 ayes, % nays,
In explaining his vote Mr.. Dockery
said he had taken no part III the con-
sideration of this question, as he did
not think the Convention should legls-
la,e upon it at all he was opposed to
| the "Cheap John SYSTEM" but he
| should vote aye.
The main question was then put
and adopted by a vote of 81 ayes, 81
nays.
! VENTION.
| Mr.. Wilcox, from the Committee Oh
| the Per Diem of the members of the
| Convention, reported bill providing
that the Presiding Officer shall receive
| So, the Principal and Assistant Clerks
| Sc, and the other officers and members
SIS.
On motion, the whole matter was
re-committed to the Committee.
THE SUPREME COURT.
Ordinance to make the Suprem
Court consist of a Chief Justice and
two Associates.
Mr.. Tourgee, Rep, opposed the
measure. The amount of work now
before the Supreme Court required
the services of more than three
Supreme Court Judges. To reduce it
to this number, would be to work a
hardship upon the members of this
Court.
Mr.. Manning, dem, of Chatham,
supported the report of the Commit
tee. The empire States of Georgia
and Mississippi, and some II states Of
the Union had only three Judges upon
their Supreme Court benches, and he
could not see the necessity of North
odIOllL1tt I1df1uS i've u uOPCS. w men the
Supreme Court of North Carolina was
composed of only three Judges their
decisions were quoted as extensively
and respected as highly as has been
the case since it was increased to five.
He thought Supreme Court consist
ing of three members would give as
much satisfaction as it had done with
five members. Much of the work
that has come before the Supreme
Court during the last few years has
arisen from the incongru1ties of the
Constitution under which we have
been laboring and the want of conf
dence that exists in the Judges occu-
plying the Superior Court benches of
the State.
Mr.. Bennett, dem, said the new
feature of five members of the Su-
preme Court only passed the Conven-
ton of 1868 with all its higher law !
actions) " one majority. He argued
at some length, bringing authority to |
support him, that large number of |
Judges would always prove of disad-
vantage, and served only to retard |
business rather than advance it. He |
claimed that the members of the Su- |
preme Court were the best paid Off |
GERS of the State, and he could not, |
from any standpoint, see the necess1- |
ty of having more than three members
of the Supreme Court.
MIR. Barrlnger was not prepared to |
discuss this question, not knowing that |
it would come up. He wished to CO.
operate in many of the changes pro-
posed, but he thought the Convention
was moving rather fast, as the matter
of Superior Court Judges and inter
mediate Courts should first be con-
sidered. He held the old system of
county Courts as a nuisance. He did |
not think under the present system.
however, it paid either the lawyer or
client to go to law. He was not here
to defend the Convention of 1868.
yet he would say that he believed it
was absolutely necessary for the good
of the state that ''carpet- baggers" and
negroes should have been admitted in
to it, as they gave to the Convention
many valuable ideas that could not
Ot barwiSa have bnaD obtoipoJ JT,4;1 |