The Charlotte Democrat., 1891-01-23
FROM OUR RALEIGH CORRESPONDENT


& 8 - - &
The Legislature is now getting down
to its work, although the sessions are not
averaging over three hours. Phat is long
enough, for the Committee work fills up
the afternoons and not infrequently o
good deal of the time in the evenings.
There have been more caucuses than were
ever before heardSof The Alliance men
have held somc and the Railway Commis-
sion advocates many. There are many
in this latter band i; fully ,11S, ip fact.
There are 1O7f regularz Alliance men, and
with these are several Of, the rablest law
yers in the Legislature. 20 speak truth,
your correspondent has not run across SO
much as one man Who has said he OPP
posed a commission. Many, perhaps
nearly all, desire conservative bill.
Such will probably be prepared; that is,
if caucusses and consultations are means
to that end. >''
The balloting for Senator yesterday was
interesting, and it gave opportunity for a
still further manifestation of the public
regard for Vance Senator Lucas nomin-
ated him in the Senate, and his speech
was the finest heard during the session
thus far. 1t is no fattery to say this.
The nomination was. ably seconded by
Senator Bellemy of fNewnHaneyer, who is
one of the most solid men in the Legisla-
ture. The Senate cast forty votes for
Vance and seven for Jeter G. Pritchard,
who was nominated by Senator Walser
There were many speeches made in tho
House, the lobbies and galleries of which
were packed with people. The speech of
nomination of Vance was made by Mr..
Grier of Mecklenburg, and the nomination
was seconded by Messrs. Ray, Aston,
Lowrey, Skinner and Jones. Every
speech breathed What may well betermed q
spirit of devotion to Vance, and the ap-
plause was hearty. Mr.. Lowrey, a young
m an from Buncombe, made the most or,
nate speech of the day. The Republicans,
through Mr.. Hendricks, put gup Mr.
Pritehard as their candidate. The result
of the ballet was eighty-six votes for
Vance, thirteen for Pritchard and one for
Oliver H. Dockery., The last was cast
by Vestai, who thus showed that he had
"bolted" the Republican caucus, which by
the way, was stormy one. .... -...'.,.
1t isinow quite clear that the legal rate
of interest is to be reduced to six per cent,
bill to that effect having already passed
the Senate. This has for years been pet
measure of Senator Williams of Pitt. = II
will pass the House easily, as it has strong
Alliance backing. .-aIp b.. 2. -ego,.. lev
The oyster troubles ought now to be
speedily ended. The Legislature has put
things on a "war footing" and the Gov
ernor, who now has ample authority, will
show he knows how to protect the State 8
interests in the matter. a@t =. r-r .0.n &,
The friends of the school, industrial and
normal, for young white women, are now
in position at last to feel that the scheme
will get through. 1t comes to the Legis-
lature with a strong committee backing
and no doubt in a week the bill will be
law. The plan is that the school shall
teach the industrial arts, as well as domes
typewriting, &C., in short generally fit
money will be called for save such as will
be diverted from other funds; in other
words there will be no additional taxa
tion. r..
BY this time next week Cross and
entire satisfaction of the public. Their
friends tell me that they are certain of
securing Executive cIemency. This in
teresting case win soon pass from public
memory, but it has been shown that no
matter how high a man may stand in
North Carolina, his infraction of the law
will be punished according to its deserts.
z Senator Turner and Representative
Holman of Iredell, today secured the par
don of Samuel Wilson of that county.
Eight years ago Wilson, then deputy
sheriff, shot and killed one Bass, who re-
sisting arrest, fought Wilson. The people
of Iredell desired the pardon. The kill
ing was an excess of force and not wanton
and did not proceed from law-breaking
disposition. H@. -" a.ss
Mecklenburg and Iredell are taking a
high position in this Legislature. Both
counties have reason to feel proud of their
representatives in the two branches, who
are always prominent in work and who
never speak but to the point. This is
really not talkative Legislature.
The session of the Grand Lodge OF
Masons was one of the chief events eff last
week. Many members of the Legislature
are Masons and this brought the attend
auce above the highest figures heretofore,
there being over $50 present. The new
Grand Master, Mr.. Hezekiah A. Gudger,
of Asheville, is bright Mason. The
Grand Lodge now has PSI subordinate
lodges, gain of twelve during the year.
1t has about IL, 800 active members.
Only three railway charters have thus
far been applied for. One of these roads
is to extend from Greenville, Tennessee
to the town of Hot Springs; another from
Madison, Rockingham county, to some
point on the Raleigh & CASTOR railway
and the third from Wilmington to Nor
folk. It is not probable that there will
be much railway legislation outside Of
that concerning the Commission.
1t is now sure that lively fight will
be made on the bill changing, tor as some
say, revolutionizing) the public school
laws. There is wide division on this
matter. tHs 9-'I>t -57's s5s
There is in progress quite pretty fight
over the bill to incorporate the town Of
New Wilkesboro. The people of the old
town want an extension of the corporate
limits those of the new town want q
separate corporation. Railway people oi
great enterprise. own the new town. The
latter place will be the victor in the con-
test -, 20 . t.'' 81 .'s, ''.