The news & observer., 1897-02-12
HOUSE NIGHT SESSION.
Republicans Trying to Squelch the Bri-
berry Investigation.

The House met at 7:30 O'Clock D. m,
and took up the calendar The following
bills passed; To incorporate Homing
Valley Institute, Buncombe county; to
incorporate the Sovereign Camp
WOodmen Of the World; to make the
act Of 1896 regarding diseased cattle.
apply to Chatham county; to prohibit the
working Of females in chain-gangs at
Oxford; to protect squirrels and par
tridges in Pasquotank; to incorporate the
supreme ruling Of the Fraternal Mystic
Circle; to provide that the terms Of
justices Of the peace shall end on the
first Monday in November, 1898, this
applying to those elected last November,
their terms to begin as soon as they
qualify; to give White Oak township,
Bladen county, the stock law
Senate resolution to investigate the
charges Of fraud in the matter of the
last lease Of the North Carolina Railroad
came up. Blackburn moved to table
and attacked the resolution, but with
| drew his motion and the resolution was
referred to the special committee on the
lease of the road
Bill passed abOlishing Hertford crimi-
nal court; to allow Caldwell to levy spe-
cial tax in 1S97-'98; to incorporate
Bridersville, Wilson county.
Resolution requesting the committee
/ appointed to investigate the charges of
| bribery in the Senatorial contest to re-
port by February 18th, was taken up.
Schulken said report could not be
made by the 18th. Hancock said this
| matter ought to be disposed of. Schulk
en- said a report could be made in ten
| days. Hodges said this would not do
He went on to say that if the committee
had investigated and reported ten days
/ ago the infamous charges made in the
papers would have been stopped or the
persons who mad taken bribes would have
| been exposed. Duffy said this was an
important resolution. McCrary asked
| if this committee had ever met and
| thought it had died abornin." Duffy
| said there ought TO be a calm and care
| full investigation. Schulken said heavy
/ committee work had crowded out this
resolution. Duffy said report as early
as Saturday would mean white-washing,
and that u demand for an immediate re-
| port would render the legislature liable to
| this suspicion. Brown, of Jones, said he
wanted a full investigation, but before
| the session ended. Blackburn opposed
| the offering Of the resolution, saying it
was reflection upon the legislature and
| upon the member who made it, He was
| loudly applauded by the Republicans.
| lie declared the committee had been
| derilict in its duty; declared he had
not been bribed, said this WAS poppy
cock, peanut politics; that as the resolu
ton had been adopted he wanted the
/ time fixed for the 18th. SchuIken said
the resolution set no time for the com
mittee to report. He asked why, if
| Blackburn opposed the resolution. he
| wanted to crowd the committee. Black
| burn said the person who introduced the
| resolution did it for humor and did not
| want 1t acted on at all.
Schulken sal that if there had been
| any bribery there would be leak. Han
| cock offered an amendment that the COM
mittee be instructed to report on the
10th, or else be abolished. Duffy said
that the charges had been made by some
one and that it was due the house that
| it should have ample time for inYestiga-
/ fion to clear the skirts of all members.
| He thought the time too short. The
charges is grave; no graver has ever
| been made against a North Carolina
| legislature.
| Bryan, OF Chatham, said il this resolu-
| tion was a thrust at any body it was
| at the glorious 10, who stood by their
/ convictions and voted for Pritchard zap
plause by Republican and bolters) He
said he was ready to hurl the lie back in
| the teeth of those who uttered it; that
he was referring to any man who made
the charge, and would maintain it amy
| where. He said that the glorious 49,
| had reYolted against boss rule; declared
! he wanted the committee to have plenty
OF time to make a full and fair report;
said the lying press would be shown up;
| that an investigation would fix the mat
/ ter upon somebody else besides the 10;
alta cked Butler, saying the latter had
| been suppressing the news and keeping
it from the public, in that he would not
| publish the statement OF the bolters.
! The resolution then passed and the date
was fixed as the 10Th for the report.
BY leave Lusk introduced bill to in
clude Montgomery in the law now in
| force in Richmond and Anson regarding
| sales Of seed cotton, and it was passed.
BY leave Pinnix introduced a bill to
place Gen. Thomas L. Clingman, Of Yad-
kin county, ON the pension roll as a first
class pensioner.
The bin to provide for a State exhibit
at the Tennessee centennial was tabled.
Bill to require persons in Vance, who
rent lands to tenants to pay for one
fourth of the fertilizers used by tenants,
unless notice is given by the landlord
when the land is rented, came UP. 1t
caused much laughter, and Parker, OF
Perquimans, expressed grave fear lest
it apply to any other county than Vance.
Peace said the people of Vance demand
ed the BILL Lusk said this was an extra
ordinary requirement. Blackburn spoke
in favor of the bin, and said it was due
Peace that it should pass. Cook said
that I'm Warren this was the claw by
common consent" The bill then passed
its reading.
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