The Charlotte Democrat., 1897-03-04
THE CHARLOTTE BILL
HEATED DISCUSSION BEFORE THE
COMMITTEE

ernmeut Is the Worst and Most
] Tyrannical on Earth--BiH Reported
Without Quorum Present.
| The Raleigh News and Observer
Saturday printed an account OF
| the hearing of the Charlotte police
commission bill before the commit
tee on cities and towns, and says:
'There were enacted the most
| highhanded and disgraceful =oenss
have ever witnessed even among men
who are allowed to direct their own
movements much less make laws for
others"
| The bill Rnder consideration was
an act to amend the charter of the
city of Charlotte. There we're seven
members of the committee present,
az follows: Hancock, rep Wal
ters, Dem J, Morton, Pop J, Eddins,
| DEM, Williamson, (Rep.), Free
man, Rep, Roberts, (Rep.l This
is bare quorum, the committee
consi sting of thirteen members.
Morton started to slip ont. Han
cock, without any motion having
been made by anybody, said, Hold
on We are going to vote on the bill
now.
'.The bill is al infamous one" "
said Morton, sand I'll not vote foi
it. I'll not vote IN it at all here,
for | haven't been treated with re-
spect. Besides You haven't got a
quorum anyway
| "Well, well not let that hinder
u.s." retorted Hancock. There was
a quorum here while ago and the
members went away to keep from re-
porting this bill but well report it
favorsbly anyway
"Do as you like, " said Morton, and
he Was gone.
The hearing began with speech
by Henry. He denounced Char
Iotte's city government in the Sc
verest terms. He said it was the
meanest and most unscrEpulous
| government in the universe-the
most tyrannical and oppressive.
Further he said the city was hope
lessly Democratic and the Popnlists
and RepL blicans could never get
any part of the offices if the matter
were left to a popular vote of the
people. 1t was, he said, a bill pro-
viding for local self-government,
and giving representation to people
who are in the minority and have no
nope of ever getting anything, un-
less the Legislature gives them the
relief asked in this bill.
| He spoke in this strain for five
minutes. Then Capt. Walters said
ne thought it was perfectly plain on
Dir. Henry's own statement that this
bill ought not to pass. He spoke of
Charlotte as the most beautiful and
progressive city in the State and
told how royalty the people there
had entertained the legislative com
mittee that had had occasion to go
there, aud said that from the best he
could learn the people of Charlotte
did not want the bill passed. They
certainly ought to be allowed a hear
ing on it
Il tell you this is an Internal bill,
and it will raise hell and it ought to
do it. 1t denies to Charlotte the
right to local self-government. /
am in favor of postponing action"
DR.. Freeman, of Henderson,
agreed with Capt. Walters. ''Tbe
most sacred thing in the world to me
is the right of local self government
and ] shall vote against this bill.
There is not better regulated city
anywhere than is Charlotte"
This was too much for Henry
He asked to be allowed another
speech. Hancock said he could
have it. He repeated what he had
already said, with variations and
with his loudest below. While he
was talking Capt Walters and Mr..
Eddins left to attend other commit
tees. This broke the quorum, but
Henry spoke on. He said that the
people of Charlotte wanted the bill
and that anybody who charged the
contrary was 'either very ignoran.
or an Infamous liar
Morton, of Rockingham, said that
so far as he was concerned he was in
favor of the majority ruling, and
that he was not going to vote the
city government out of the hands of
the people and put it in the hands
of the Governor.
This brought Hancock to his feet.
He attacked Morton for not voting
for his amendment to the charter of
the city of Newbern. "Why didn't
you do it," he asked.
Because you wanted to take the
government out of the hands of the
men who own the property and put
it IN the hands of those who are
ignorant and have no property" re
piled Morton.
That's not true, sir" shouted
Hancock, "and it wouldn't make any
difference if it were I'll vote for
the Republicans to take charge of
every town and city in North Caro-
lima"
Morton quietly replied that he was
a broader minded than that
Yes" sneered Hancock, "I've
always noticed that broad minded
meas runs to Democracy. We're in
the saddle now and are going to run
the machine"
'Yes, and you'll run it to HE'LL"
retorted Morton as he took his hat
to leave.
"Hold on, yelled Hancock, "you're
going TO try to break quorum.
at is already broken," said Nor
ton.
''They left for that purpose and
Wen count them and report this bill
] r