The Charlotte Democrat., 1893-02-10

lawyers in the House, Spruill, Watson, of
Forsyth, and Allen, was raised to look
into the constitutional questions involved
in the matter of taxation of the Whining
ton and Weldon railway-the greatest
question before this legislature. The
House tabled many bills, those OF any in
terest being to establish a normal depart
ment in some high school in each of the
nine districts; to require the State board
OF education to have prepared and pu6-
lish a uniform series Of school text books;
to exempt private libraries from taxation;
to provide for State inspector of spiritu-
Gus liquors; to give the Governor power
to hold courts of oyer and terminer
wherever lynchings occurred, to try the
lynchers; to protect landlords by consti-
tuting unpaid rent lien on household
effects
Saturday the Senate raised commit
tee to look into the matter of employ
ment for convicts, the special idea being
the establishment in the penitentiary of
car wheel mandatory, using North
Carolina iron. The Senate paid a tribute
to the memory of Col. William L. Saun-
ders by passing by rising vote bill to
incorporate literary society bearing his
name. In the House the chief bills in
troduced were as follows: To repeal the
act forbidding the sale of cigarettes to
minors; TO extend for two years the time
for the beginning of work on the Norfolk,
Wilmington and Charleston railway; to
allow persons under FL to change their
name by the consent of parents or guar
dians; to so amend the code that, unless
specially stipulated, there shall be no
days of grace on any draft, etc. Mr..
Harris, of Mecklenburg, introduced an
excellent bill in regard to factory labor
and hours, which was made the special
order for Friday. 1t is favorably reported:
1t provides that if any corporation
person or firm engaged in manufacturing
either cotton or wooden goods or do
mestics of any kind in North Carolina, or
if any officer, agent or servant of such
corporation, etc., shall employ any
woman or minor to work in such factory
over II hours during any day of24 hours,
it shall be misdemeanor, punishable by
a fine of not less than $40 nor more than
$50, or imprisonment not less than five
nor more than 80 days for each and every
offense; provided this shall not be con-
strued to forbid working more than II
HouI0 III any u"J VI 6f HOuIS III IHo 1Ol.
lowing cases: ~. When the hours of
work shall be differently appointed by
employers and employees for the purpose
of making shorter days work for some
day in the same week; (2) when it is
necessary to make up time lost in some
day in the same week by interruption in
the ordinary running of the machinery
on which such employees are dependent
for employment; but in no case shall the
hours Of work in such factories exceed &c
hours in each week. Ali contracts which
shall require or permit hours of work in
violation of the above rules shall be abso-
lutely null and void as to their enforce
ment against such employees, their parents
and guardians but nothing shall prevent
the corporations, ETC., from making con
tracts with male employees over 21 years
of age for work to be done during and
for such hours as may be agreed upon.
1t is made the duty of such corporations
to provide in the place where women are
employed suitable seats for such employees
when they are not necessarily engaged
in the active duties for which they are
employed. Any corporation violating
any of the provisions of this act shall
forfeit penalty of $50 to any person
suing for the same, one half to his own
use and the other half TO the use of the
board of education for the county in
which suit shall have been brought. This
act is to take effect May 1st, 1893.
The debate of the day was on the bill
to repeal the act providing for the col
lection of agricultural statistics. It pass
ed its second reading. only four votes be
ing cast against it. The act to collect
the statistics was ridiculed. On a yea
and nay vote the bill passed it's third
reading, SO to %. A bill also passed to
provide that no railroad company opera
ting in this State allow any freight it
may receive for shipment to remain un
shipped over five days unless otherwise
agreed upon between the railway compa-
ny and the shipper, and any company
violating this act is to forfeit and pay to
the shipper SIS for each day freight re
mains unshipped
The republicans made their usual land
useIess) fight on the county government
question. This time it was in the shape
of bill to allow the people of Stokes to
vote on the question of county govern
ment. Democrats demanded the yeas
and nays. The vote was, on a motion to
dUIO3 y Coo OS, uoJ 10. uO GulIu paw
members voted with their republican
brethren.
The interest in the Wilmington & Wei.
don Railway tax matter is very great
Many conferences have been held. Gov
Carr and Treasurer Tate were present
with Chairman Wilson, of the Railway
Commission, and the Chairman of the
House and Senate committees on rail
ways, as we'll as Mr.. Elliot and Mr., Wal
ters. By special request, Ex-Governor
Jarvis attended.
The result of the conferences between
the States representatives and those O.
the Wilmington & Weldon Railroad is ar
absolute and unqualified surrender by th'
road of all exemptions and privileges and
the placing of the. road upon the same
footing as all other property in the State
This is the railroads proposition; but ths
State has made it go further and agree t.
settle in full all taxes for 1890, 1891 ane
1892 A bill has been drafted. Of course
the Legislature is to act upon all these
matters and will do so with great care
the interest being remarkable.
The question is asked what will be the
annual tax on the Wilmington & Weldon
road. The value of the taxable property