The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1894-12-06
NON-PARTISAN LAWS
WHICH JUDGE CLERK THINKS
THE LEGISLATURE AND
CONGRESS OUGHT 70
ENACT.
SIX Per Cent Interest.
.Neus and Observer.

Propriety requires that a judicial oIil- /
e, shall abstain from taking any share (
\ whatsoever in the controversies raised /
between political parties further than
AZ a citizen to cast his ballot tor the !
men and the principles Of his choice.
But I shall ever hold in high honor
the declaration OF the Roman "honoo
sum, n1hH hun1nni q me ulienun1 puto,"
that is to say, "being man, everything
that concerns the welfare Of my fellow
men shall always be Of deep interest to
me-" There are many matters OF grave
interest TO the public welfare. connected
with proposed action either by Congress
or the Legislature, upon which pollt-
cal parties are not aligned. As to
these, my opinion having been ask ed,
I see no improperly in giving it.
!. INTEREST. This Legislature, not
dividing upon party lines on the ques-
ton. will doubtless pass bill restoring
SIX per cent. as the legal limit for inter
est. Except in a few of the years since
the war this has been the always recog-
nized limit in North Carolina for two
hundred years. Now when the profits
on everything else are cut down there
Is 10 reason why money should receive
undiminlshed and high profits. When
bankers form syndicates to force the
government to issue bonds bearing )
per cent, and North Carolina 4 per
cent bonds are above par, 6 per cent.
is certainly full value for the use of
money. There can be no doubt that
this has been the sentiment of the peo-
pie Of North Carolina for ten years past
Probably majority in each OF the last
| four Legislatures has come to Raleigh
intending to restore the old (6per cent,
rate of interest. This was turned into
minority on each occasion after they
reached Raleigh. But it is dangerOu;
for the representatives Of free people
to deem themselves too wise to execute
the wishes of those who elect them
The only authority for any Legislation
IN our country is that it expresses thu
sentiment of the majority of the people
Besides, the alleged advantages to Nortl
Carolina of paying a higher lnteres
than all the neighbOring States from
Massachusetts to Georgia have neve
1naterialized.
.. FREE PASSES. In the Conshtu
ton OF the state of New York, JUS
ratified by the people at the polls Their
Is paragraph in stringent lan2uag
forbidding any public officer to rece:v
or use, directly or indirectly, any ire
pass. or transportation from any tran'
portation company, or any frank fror
telegraph or telephone company :
similar constitutional amendmer
should be adopted by our legislator
irrespective Of party. If adopted
Will be ratified by overwhelming m;
jorities at the polls. The corporation
, cannot object to this as they say thf
these favors are given with no intent
influence officials and are a sore ia
upon them. The people Will be gla
to vote for such an amendment TIL:
the great State Of New York, as we'll ;
several others. has seen fit to incorr,
rate this provision in the organic Law
is sufficient evidence that this Is II
trivial matter. Give the people {
y North Carolina Il chance to vote upo
such an amendment at the polls and
e will be seen how few will vote against i
3. ELECTION OF UNITED STAII
r SENATOR'S. Twice, by almost uran
nous vote of the lower House Of Coz
3 gress. an amendment to the Constlt1
ton of the United States has bee
i adopted providing for the election
a Senators by the people. Resolution
of many conventions Of all polite
= parties have endorsed this amendmen
includlne. if I recollect Alright, II
. Democratic State Conventions he
Il this wear in Ohio, New York and Mas
u achusetts. The bill is now before II
Senate for action 1t would be the e
preston OF the popular viii if our lie
;,1,+,ro ;rraspoctiye of party ShOu