The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1891-03-19

The above is a pretty good sum-
mary of the POSITIVE work, with
reference to general laws, done by
the late General Assembly, but by
no means shows all or half of the
| work of that nature done for the in
terest of the State and its citizens
generally. 1t has been said that the
most important work that a Legisla-
ture can do, is in checking and kill
ing bad legislation. This kind of
legislation is NEGATIVE in its action,
but highly POSITIVE in its results.
So here and now we wish to congrat-
ulate the General Assembly Tor rath
er with becoming modesty we should
say the OTHER MEMBERS Of the
General Assembly, not only for
what it did, but also for what it had
the courage NOT TO Do. There were
dozens of such bills that were killed
out right or altered and amended so
as to be rid of objectional features.
But as an illustration of this class
we will give only one, viz. 1.-The pro-
position of the w. & w. Railroad to
pay Il certain rate of taxation, (much
lower than that paid by the ordina-
ry citizen), On the express condition
it be allowed certain extraordinary
privileges which the Legislature
would not think of granting to a
new and weak road, which would
most need privileges. This was kill
ed on the ground that it asked the
State to recognize one system or ba-
sis of taxation for the Individual and
another lower basis for a corporation,
one too that was immensely wealthy.
This bill never got to the House. It
was killed in the Senate by vote of
% to IA. 1t is true that some Of the
best men Of the State advocated this
proposition, but we of course must
admit that they were honestly mis-
taken. If this bill had passed, the
bill last referred TO in the summary
above, could not have passed-a bill
which will probably within two
years make the W. & w. Road pay
taxes in full.
There were a few bills that passed
that should not have passed, but they
were slipped through in the rush Of
business toward the last, when it
was impossible for every measure to
be carefully examined. But such is
and has been the evil of the Legisla-
ture being crowded with local and
private legislation; and thus it al
ways will be till such legislation is
restricted. We hope the next Gen
eral Assembly will see the wisdom
in doing this.
There were number Of bills that
failed to pass that should have pass
!, ed; but most of these failed for
want Of quorum in the House on
the two last days Of the session. For
instance, bill would come up from
its place on the calendar, forty-two
men would vote for it and only five
, against it, but one of the five would
call attention 20 the fact that there
was not quorum (61) in the House,
, so the bill would fail to pass beca use
7 a quorum did not vote on it. One
: Of the many bills that was killed in
:, this way, that should have passed,
, was the one regulating the damages
f to be awarded parties whose stock
was killed by railroads. The defeat
' of this and other equally important
bills which failed to pass on Satur-
D day and Monday in the House after
: having passed the Senate, rests upon
: the heads of those who deserted theil
E posts of duty and went home before
: the General Assembly adjourned
: but be it said to the credit of Messrs
5 Pigford and Bell, SIMPSONS worthy
and faithful representatives, tha
0 this does not apply to them, fo1
i Sampson never sent to the Legisla
: ture truer and more faithful and dill
:. igent Representatives than they
Q Rep. Pigford was taken with pneu
: monia on Thursday night, but want
s ed to attend the session of tht
? House on Friday against the posi-
l. tive orders of his physicians. Or
l. Saturday he was much worse anC
!; advised 30 go home Immediately
u but was unable to come alone. Tn
o der these circumstances Bep. Bell
@ from a sense of duty, left on Satur
l. day, though requested and wished
); that every other representative,
: Z should remain till the gavel fell OF
J. Monday. 1t gives us pleasure t.
II have had the honor to have served
1 in the General Assembly with tw,
:, such men.
o. Such is a bird-eye view of tn
v work of the General Assembly o
v 1891. From time to time we vii
q discuss various measures of impor
!. tance before that body.
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