The news & observer., 1897-02-27
Senate Passes COMPROMISE Bill
by 90 TO "a.
REPUDlATE 90 YEAR LEASE
BECAUSE WITHOUT CHANGE
THE II, r, WAS WHIPPED.
INCREASE PUBLIC SCHOOL TAX
The House Makes Progress on the Re-
venue. Bill-Other Routine
Legislation.

Gov. Reynolds presiding. Prayer by
Senator Utley.
Bills and resolutions introduced as fol-
lows:
Bv Mr.. Utley, "a bill to amend the Code
SO as to allow women to vote IN local
option elections; also to forbid the giving
of a reward to amy employe of the pre-
sent General Assembly out of the Treas
ury.
BY Mr.. Hardison, bill to place Loman
Alpin ON the pension roll
BY MIR. Rollins, a bill to repeal chap
ter 292, private laws of 1891.
BY Mr.. Whedbee, bill to regulate the
price of Illuminating gas.
BY Mr.. Mauhsby, bill to incorporate
the Lumber River Company, and the town
OF Haley in Columbus county.
BY Mr.. Anthony, a bill to prohablt the
sale of liquor within two miles of Cher-
ryville Baptist church and st. Johns
Lutheran church in Cleveland county.
BY Mr.. McNeill bill to prohibit nhe
sale of liquor In 2 miles OF Brown Creek
church in Wilkes county; also to locate
road in Wilkes county; also for relief OF
Milton Eller and Jesse Miller, of Wilkes
county; also to prevent sale of liquor IN
2 miles of Oakwood church and other
churches in Wilkes county.
BY Mr.. Abel, a bill TO tax certain iltln-
Grant agents and dealers in Johnston
county.
BY Mr.. Sharpe, (Wilson), to provide for
working public roads in Wilson county.
<xfo 4sonl
To incorporate THE town of Whittier
in Swain county. Passed.
To provide for working public roads
in Haywood county. Passed.
TO allow Chatham county to issue
bonds and levy special tax. Passed.
To allow Washington county to levy
special tax. Passed.
To incorporate the town of Saratoga
in Wilson county. Tabled.
To incorporate the town of S1ayodan
in Rockingham county. Passed.
To provide for working the public
roads of Hertford county. Passed.
To allow Jackson county TO levy special
To allow Transylyania to levy special
tax. Passed.
To establish a graded school for Green
vile, Pitt county. Passed.
To authorize the commissioners of
Madison county DO build a bridge over
Ivey creek. Passed.
To establish graded schools IN the
town of Hickory. Passed.
To amend the charter OF Edenton,
Chowan county. Passed over, and re-
committed to committee of corporations.
To allow Perquimans county TO issue
bonds. Passed.
To amend the charter of the Marion
and Asheyine Turnpike Company. Pass
ed second reading.
To allow Caldwell county to levy spe-
cial tax. Passed second reading.
To locate and construct bridges IN
Craven county. Passed second reading.
To allow the town of Monroe to issue
bonds to build water works. Passed sec
ond reading.
To authorize the town of Concord TO
hold an election to vote on issuing bonds.
Passed second reading.
THE INVESTIGATING COMMITTEE
The following majority report of the
special committee appointed to lnyestl-
gate the making the lease, signed by
Grant. Alexander, Mccarthy, Abel and
Whedbee was sent by Grant and read:
I'VE, dhe undersigned, Special COM
mittee appointed by the Senate, under
and by virtue of memorial and petition
from the Board of Directors Of the North
Carolina Railroad Company, TO inyesti-
gate and enquire into the intimatlons
and allegations of fraud against said
Board of Directors in leasing the North
Carolina Railroad to the Southern Rail-
way Company, beg to submit the follow
ing report:
"First That as part of the report of
your committee we submit the sworn tes-
dimony of all the witnesses examined,
taken by sworn stenographer.
Second. That after a careful and
painstaking investigation and a close
scrutiny into the motives, inducements,
intent and purposes of said Board of
Directors in leasing the North Carolina
Railroad to the Southern Railway Com
pamy, we find no suspicion of fraud or
animation of corruption. That in our
opinion every deed and act of said Board
of Directors emanated firm desire and
the purpose to protect the States inter-
est, as well as looking to the welfare OF
the private stockholders.
.Third. That we recommend that the
evidence hereto attached and this report
by your conHluOee ue Sp1eau upon 'une
Senate Journal"
Mr.. Butler presented the following
minority report from the committee:
9'To the Senate of North Carolina:
"a minority of your special committee
appointed to investigate the memorial and
petition from the Board of Directors Of
The North Carolina Railway Company
regret that we cannot join the majority
in their report because, LIST. The commit
tee failed to examine Ex-Goy. Carr, Col.
A. B. Andrews and Mr.. r. @. Hoffman.
A full and complete investigation de
manded this. The people of the State
want the truth, the whole truth, and
nothing but the truth. This was impos-
sible unless ali the actors were heard
4 Il. - u L..