The Charlotte Democrat., 1895-01-25
FROM OUR RALEIGH CORRESPONDENT.
RALEIGH, N e., Jan. 81, 1895.

correspondent that the Legislature would
be extremely conservative; that the
status of affairs would force conserva-
tive action. A prominent populist after
wards said that he feared the action of
commissioners in certain counties in re-
fusing to accept the bonds of populists
and Republicans would make it very
much harder to control the fusionists, or
"cooperationists" as they persist in call
ing themselves.
After looking at the matter from all
points of view your correspondent is
| forced to the conclusion that the Legis-
lature's work will certainly not be con-
| servative; at least as the Democrats con
strue conservatism.
Friday night your correspondent called
| at the Yarboro to see Chairman Butler.
| The latter was not in his room, but was
in Chairman Holton's room, and they
had had long conference. Butler came
| out and was asked several questions,
among them one as to his views regard
| ing the tariff. He promptly said that
all Southern raw materials; that Jeter
Pritchard, the Republican nominee for
Senator, had in making the statement to
that effect correctly expressed the views
be himself held.
Chairman Holton was on Saturday i'm
terviewed regarding what was done at the
conference. He spoke very frankly and
said. 81 will give you the chief matters
| agreed one at the conference Butler and
| | had.
| The salient feature of the work will be
the repeal of the county government law.
This matter will be taken up and discus
sed next week. The bill to repeal the
present election law and enact new
one will be taken up at the same time
and these will be jointly discussed. No
county government bill as yet intro
duced meets the appreciation of the
majority of the Legislature, or will be
adopted as whole. The bill which will
be passed will be combination of ideas,
in order to secure an election law which
will give perfectly fair elections, so fair
that no one save partisan can assail it
as being intended to give political advan
tage. But we are determined that the
majority of the people shall govern, and
if we cannot stand on that we are willing
to fall.
"We have not yet discussed the mat
ter of the geological survey and the
public institutions. / think the latter
will be placed in the hands of friends
of the majority in the Legislature, that
is, the co-operationists, but nothing will
be done to cripple the institutions and
men will be recognized for efficiency
There are no charges so far as l am
aware. The agricultural department
will probably be consolidated with the
Agricultural and Mechanical College,
in order to cut off expense and give ad,
vantages to the college.
"Another important matter is pro-
vision for local legislation, which &C.
cumulates and consumes so much of
the time of the Legislature. A new
law will be enacted comforting author
ity upon clerks of Superior Court and
county commissioners, trustees, or
whatever they may be designated under
the new law, to grant such charters, ETC.,
whenever this can be done under the
constitution. There is vast mass OF
trivial bills before each Legislature,
many, if not most, of which ought not
TO take up its valuable time, but be dis.
posed of IN simpler, pore expeditions
and more economical way.
GA commission will be appointed to
investigate frauds at the last election
at the ballot box. This special com
mission will be given authority to take
testimony and to secure witnesses, in a
manner similar to that of the Fraud
Com mission over 20 years ago. In
order to make the work of this commits
sion effectual bill which was intro
duced by Senator Sharpe yesterday will
be passed. This gives immunity to
witnesses who testify. Without this
the commission would be Ineffective
"There will in all probability be q
special Superior Court judge at the
Governors command, to try cases
speedily. For such judge there is 6
: general public demand and need:
r "There will be constitutions
amendment submitted to the people fol
ratification, ENGRAVING certain cardi
nal principles into the election laws
This will be the elimination of the whole
work of cooperation of the two par
! ties. The salient features of thi'
amendment will be in regard to thu
manner of holding the election and th'
matter of registration. This amend
ment will be made one of the principa
issues in the next campaign, in cas-
the Democrats oppose it. If such al
. amendment is not submitted, the fruit
I; of this victory might be swept away by
a tidal wave on the restoration of
Democratic Legislature.
"Much money is to be saved in th
. public printing, not so much in tn
q prices paid as in the looping off of
i greater part of the printing by the pas
L sage of the bill giving the county au
8 thorities the right to grant charters
J etc, thus cutting off the incorporation
g bills, private measurers, etc, which 81
; engross the time of the Legislature. Yer,
many of such bills are thoroughly GOV
70 cred by the general law.
d Gan effort will be made on the line Q
y an extension of public education by
plan for local assessments, by school dis
e tricts, towns or counties"
- The question as TO the cutting off G
" appropriations for higher education wa
~ not discussed in detail, it seems. Butle
~ :, has said he was a devoted friend of th
;s University. Holton has said that b
~ ~ thought the appropriation would not b
- reduced, and that the State could nc
- afford to take single step backward i
1 ~ i n. d.