The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1897-03-11

SarsapariIIa

Peace, R.wls, Sutton Of Cumber-
land, Sutton of New Hanover,
Weuyss. Williamson and Wrenn
Only FOUR Democrats out OF
twenty-seven voted for the bill.
They were Hartness, Lyle, Nelson,
and Pearson. The other twenty
four Democrats voted solidly with
the straight Republicans and ex-
Pops.
The Populists voted solidly for
the bill, and from this vote until
the end they stood solidly by the
people and the State, as against .
big corporation. The fight went on
till 1855 Saturday night without ad-
journment. Some members sent for
sandwiches for dinner. It is said
that the first lunch which came to
the hall was ordered by the South
ern railway to feed their tools and
hirelings free of cost. When sup
per time came, some of the offices
in the capitol were turned into tenn
pOrary lunch rooms to which one or
two members would 60 at the time.
In the meantime, the scenes going
on in the House were most remarka-
ble-in fact indescribable-the rail-
roads always being the most ram
pant and the most disorderly.
Some Of them happened to
recall or see the Sunday
Law in the Code. Attention was
called to this fact and as the clock
struck midnight this most memora-
BILE session came to an end, and
members, half exhausted by hunger
and famine, streamed out of The cap
itol and into heavy rain storm.
Monday.
Oa Monday morning the scene in
the House was a most humiliatin9
one to true North Carolinian. Pro-
Gee dings appeared 10 be deadlocked.
The true men were still firm and
quiet, while the railroads were sulky,
ill-tempered and sought in some way
to overwhelm the patriots. To look
on this scene and realize that it was
the creation of the land of railroad
magnate, that legislation had been
blocked, time wasted and money
spent at the order of the represen-
tative of railroad corporation was
not only humiliating but disgust
ing. The State Of North Carolina
being held up by a railroad! and
that's what it was. And men elect
ed by the people being made servile
tools for that purpose! Words fail
to convey the feelings experienced
by those few men who would not
bow to the order of corporate COM
mand.
When some move was made now
and then there would be great con-
fusion. Finally at HOS Mr.. Cook
sent forward three amendments, and
gave notice that he would call the
previous question. The amendments
were as follows: To add the words
or stockholders" to line 7; ito make
the rate of rental 9 Ter cent and 8
per cent. Schulken sent up an
amendment making the rate 10 per
cent. This matter cannot be set
tied by the legislature and moved
to table the amendments together
with the substitute. The question
was put and declared carried, amid
great excitement and laughter by
the minority. Alexander (Rep),
moved to reconsider the motion to
table and lay that on the table. Nc
kenzie lDem), on this demanded the
yeas and nays.
The roll was called and the mo-
ton to reconsider and lay on the
able was carried by a vote of 40 to
"a. This killed all the amendments.
and leaves the railroad lease Just as
1t was bsfore the Legislature met
that is just as it was made by the
secret deal" at Burlington in 1895.
And now, unless something now
happens, the people will have a
chance to elect Legislature next
time, the members of which will not
De subject to the commands of a
big railroad magnate. Will the peo-
pie do sol Well, We think 80.
The railroaders now have the IN
mitigated impudence to assert that
the Populists and those men who
stood against the corporation power
VOTED DOWN AN AMENDMENT ro
MAKE THE TERMS OF THE LEASE TEN
PER CENT. Well this was voted
down. but in this case it was for the
purpose of killing the bill by VIII ich
the rallroaders tried to get lepisla-
tive sanction to the infamous secret
zeal. The railroaders- failed, and
tne people will now have another
chance. This is the very best that
the patriots who stood for the peo-
pie could do for them under the ex-
listing circumstances.