The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1895-01-10
THE FUSION RACKET.
FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 1870
THE DEMOCRATS MISSING.
And Hence the Legislature of North
Carolina Is Not Under Democratic
Sway-Fusion Did the Fatal Work.

Raleigh, n. c., Jan. 6.-For the first
time since August, 1870, the legislature of
this state is not in the hands of the Demo-
| Gratis. Now that the fusion movement of
the Republicans and Populists has been
successful the question arises, what will
they do with their victory?
The first matter of business to which the
legislature will devote its attention will be
the amendment of the election law. No
challenging will be allowed on the day of
election. There will be but one ballot
| box and the names of the candidates voted
| for will all be on one slip of paper. A new
registration will be provided for before
election. The polls will be required to be
kept open as long as there are registered
persons there to vote. The registrars
will not be allowed to refuse any appli-
cant unless the applicant disqualifies him
self by his own testimony, or there is other
testimony to this effect. The canvassing
boards will be deprived of judicial powers
and made ministerial officers, and will be
required to count the votes as they find
them in the various precinct returns.
Bull pens" will be prohibited and the
election requires to be held in plain view
of the voters, and watchers to be station
ed near the registrar and pollholders will
be authorized. 1t will require that every
pollholder shall be an intelligent man who
can read and write with clearnesS and
facility.
The present system Of county govern
ment will be changed. As it now exists
the justices of the peace are elected by the
legislature and the justices of the peace
elect five commissioners for their several
counties, and these latter officers levy the
taxes, dishrrse the county money, elect
the board of education for each county and
the school committee for each district, and
control and manage the whole county
AFFAIRS. The commissioners also appoint
the registrars of voters and the pollhold-
ers OF each election precinct. The election
OF the justices of the peace, the, commits
sloners, the school committees and the
board of education will be restored to the
people, at the ballot box. The change
from this system, as effected by the Demo
Gratis on the LIST of January, 1877, was
made because in the counties where the
negroes were in the majority, ignorant
and corrupt men were elected commits
sioners, and thes' were eytravagant and
corrupt with the county money They also
accepted bonds from sheriffs, clerks, re-
glstrars and other officers who were in
solvent, and in this way many of the
counties were rendered bankrupt.
To return to the old system absolutely
would be in some measure to invite the re-
turn to the same misgovernment. There
fore it has been determined to author
ize the governor to appoint, on the petit
ton of certain number of taxpayers, a
board of audit and finance for each coun-
ty, who shall be of the same number as
the commissioners and of opposite DO
ltical faith, and that no order for the
payment of money drawn by the COM
missioners on the county treasurer shall
be valid unless signed by majority of
the board of audit and finance. The JUS
tce of the peace will probably be re-
luired to give bond in the sum of $500
lr $1,000, conditioned for their good be-
1avior and the faithful performance of
their duties. The criminal jurisdiction
)t the justice of the peace will be con-
enlarged, for the purpose of de-
the expenses of the counties
~ reducing the prosecutions on the crimi-
lal dockets of the superior courts.
The mode of payment of the - prosecut-
ng attorneys will be changed from fees
o salaries by the tax fee in each case,
which will be collected as part of the
'oSts and paid to the state treasurer, to
De set apart as special fund for this |
The constitution provides for the con.
inuous teaching in the common schools
Tor months in each year. This require
nent has not been complied with for want
Of sufficient money. An attempt will be
made to remedy this and furnish four
months schooling by reducing expenses
and applying the savings to the school
fund. In this view the board of edu-
cation for each county will be abolished
and their duties devolve upon the chair
man of the board of commissioners. The
of these offices will save to the
general school fund $4,000 per year.
What disposition will be made of the
railroad commission, the bureau of agr-
culture, and the bureau of labor statis-
sizes are matters of discussion. There are
those who favor abolishing the railroad
and comforting the duties on
governor, treasurer and auditor. 1t is
also proposed to abolish the bureau of az
riculture and retain only that portion of
the law referring to the investigation of
guanos and impose this duty on the state
chemist.
There is a general demand for the re-
duction of salaries and fees of all offices,
and whatever reform of this character
can be effected it will be done, and every
officer whose service can possibly be dis
pensed with will be Topped off. 1t is in
tended to have the legislature adjourn in
less than 60 days. The constitution only
permits u session of this length with pay.
1t will be a good example for the legis-
ature to aid in reform by u practical
of executing the work of
The people in less time than has been done
FOR in many years.
The penitentiary has become n great
burden to the state, 1t now has almost
HOO convicts inside the stockade and
10 work on the farms on Roanoke river
n Halifax and Northampton counties.
The expense of the state, all told, to
support these convicts is 100000 every
'ear. In 1891 work on the railroads
ceased, and this drew the expense for