The news & observer., 1897-02-21

Governor: that hast night Mr.. Sutton
gave him typewriter copy of the bill;
that he had never before read the blll;
that Messrs Pagan, Cathey and the 9TH
ers had never read it.
Mr. Sutton said when the bin was be-
fore the committee he asked that fa-
yorable report be made; that hhe bill
was not read because of his statement
that it was all right.
Mr. Fagan said he had stated that he
didn't know all that was in the bill; that
it was not read. but that it WAS favorAbiy
reported, as Sutton said.
MIR Cathey said he was not present
at ths meeting and did not know anything
Of The bill; CHAT the use of his name was
unau orized, and had injured him.
Freeman spoke in defense of the COM
Mite on counties, cities, etc, AM said
it trs sac,ed business openly, AMI said
the pa r was hif5ing at the Republicans.
and sisO throwing their heilish fire
brands ut the Populists"
Mr. Eildins sail he knew nothing of
that carter of Nilmington; ihat once or
twice re had not attended the meeting:
this l,v is own sault; that once he missed
a meeting because the chairman changed
the place without notice: that he conced-
ed the right of Tie chairman to change
the meeting place: thg; in signing. mi
nority report he had simply done his duty;
regardless Of politics. that when he was
at the meeting of the committee, it had
been very outspoken that he always de-
sired to do right.
Mr.. Walters said no one had made any
positive insinuations; that the only charge
made for which he was responsible, this
being that he had never read the bill in
question; that he had read and re-read
the bill to amend the charter which was
before the committee on Corporations:
that he did not believe two members of
the committee would say here they had
read the bill which was before the com
mittee on Counties. Cities, etc, and if
he was not correct, he called ON them to
rise and say so. No one rose.
Mr.. Hancock said the committee on
Counties. Cities, etc. was always fair.
The calendar was taken up.
Bills passed to allow persons owning
$500 of property to receive pensions.
To better drain Carter's creek, Davie
county.
To amend the charter Of the Farmers
Mutual Fire Insurance Association.
To amend the charter of the Whining
ton Chamber Of Commerce.
To allow Onslow county to use special
fund for general county purposes.
BY leave, Mr.. Johnson introduced a
bill to provide for the inspection OF the
manner of conducting certain businesses
and occupations in this State, and to as
certain and tabulate the nature and value
of the goods and manufactured articles
sold in North Carolina from other States.
1T provides that all persons doing in this
State the business of selling pianos, or
gans, etc, having or claiming immunity
from taxation by reason of interstate
commerce, shall make sworn statements
as to their business, under penalty.
The House took up as a special order
the bill of Sutton OF Cumberland as
follows: THAT from and after the rati-
fication of this act it shall be unlawful
for any person. firm or corporation 20
manufacture, sell or give away any Gig
arettes of any kind or character, what
soever called, in any cover, whether paper
or otherwise, or any thing as a substi-
tute therefor in any form, in the State
Of North Carolina, or for amy person,
corpora tion or firm to sell or give away
the same IN this State, whether manufac-
tured in this State or elsewhere. That
any person, firm or corporation who shall
violate the provisions of this act shall be
deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and upon
conviction shall be fined or imprisoned or
both, in the discretion of the court"
Sutton spoke forcibly and with intense
earnestness in support OF the bill, and
said the committee had stricken out the
part forbidding the manufacture; that
this was a compromise, the best that
could be DONE and that thus amended,
the bill was favorably reported. He had
read as part of his remarks letter from
DIR. II. III. Lewis, OF Raleigh showing
the frightful effects of cigarette smoking
and said this terrible vice cost the lives
of 200 persons in North Carolina an
nually: that DR.. Murphy, Of the Western
hospital had told him of persons made
insane by cigarette smoking. He declar-
ed he wanted to go on record on this bill;
that he wanted q yea and nay vote. lie
grew pathetic as he told of the death Of
his own son from cigarette smoking. He
said Iowa and Tennessee had passed such
a law.
Blackburn said that this law would
hurt the tobacco growers and that he OPP
posed amy prohibiting legislation. He
said he would move to table the BILL
Hancock offered an amendment that no
smoking tobacco or cigarette paper should
be manufactured in this State. Lusk
offered a substitute making it unlawful
to give any cigarettes to a minor or for
amy minor to make them and making a
m;sdemeaTlor, and allowing minors to give
evidence against persons who sell them
cigarettes.
Eddfns said the cigarette interest had a
lobby here working against this BILL He
spoke earnestly in support of the bin as
introduced by Sutton; that the question
is which are worth more TO the State
her boys or her cigarette manufacturers.
Sutton called the previous question.
The call was sustained. The vote was
ON Lusks substitute. Cunningham de-
manded the yeas and nays. Duffy in
explaining his vote said he did not believe
the State had the right TO enact such
law. Parker, of Wayne, said that the
ineffective pleadings Of his wife to their
son to stop the use Of cigarettes moved