The news & observer., 1897-01-23

me house WAS Chlleu 10 OIueE SeSlSI-
day morning at 10 o'clock by Speaker
Hileman, DR. Dixon opening with prayer.
Among bills introduced We're:
Harris, to repeal the act TO amend the
charter of Wilmington, ratified March,
1896 and declaring all laws and clauses
of laws concerning Wilmington existing
at that date in full force and effect, save
that there shall be elected by the quail
fed voters of each ward, one alderman
and the Governor shall appoint one al
derman, and the alderman thus consti-
tuted shall elect a mayor.
BY Lawhon, to protect cultivated
ground from the ranges of poultry, by
making it a misdemeanor to allow poultry
to go on or remain on such ground after
one days notice by its owner.
BY Meares, to pay registrars and judges
of elections $3.50 each for services last
election day and $1.50 each to persons
who carried returns of elections to the
county seat. This not to apply TO coun-
ties where such officers have already been
| paid.
BY Abernathy, to amend the Code as
to pauper suits, by striking out the words
zone or more Witnesses and inserting
''by > disinterested witnesses and by the
affidavit of one or more practicing attor
neys''
| BY Chapman, to require the cross in
| dexing of deeds, etc, in "a hours after
| they are registered.
| The bill making it a misdemeanor to
| wilfnlly disturb political meeting came
| up on third reading. Schulken said there
| were dangerous provisions in the bin.
Lusk championed the bill. Cunningham
/ spoke with much force against the bill.
| as unjust, and declared it ought to be
| tabled, saying the general law covered
| the case. Cathey said that speakers
| ought to be protected from insult by
persons in the crowd. McRary said there
/ was in his section need of the law. Free
man said political campaigns were now
| disrespectful, and he wanted them as re-
/ spectful as a religious or educational
meetings. He expressed his admiration
/ of the bill and even wished it was strong
/ err The bill provides a penalty of So or
not over $50 or Imprisonment for not
over 80 days for the wilful interruption
or disturbance of any political meeting
| lawfully assembled Harris, of Halifax,
| thought the bill very meritorious. Schul-
/ ken moved to table. On this the vote
/ was ayes, "a: noes, 66. Mckenzie said
| he thanked God that he belonged to a
party which, in twenty years, had never
used a gag law. He thought the pur-
pose of the bill was to muzzle Democrats.
| Sutton said that in Columbus county he
| was threatened and that attempts We're
made TO prevent his speaking, and that
he had stood in face of pistols and eggs
| laughter) for the cause Of fusion.
Cathey. in explaining his vote, said he
| favored the bill and that he wanted to
cast his vote for civilization.
| Hauser offered an amendment making
| the fine 20. This was antagonized by
Blackburn, who said oftentimes speakers
| took their lives in their hands. The
amendment was lost. Ransom offered
| an amendment making it misdemeanor
| for q political speaker to use vulgar or
| profane language while speaking.
| Dixon, OF Cleveland, said with this
| amendment he favored the bill; that
| while the speaker was given protection
| from the crowd the crowd should be given
| protection from the speaker. Schulken
| said that with this amendment he also
| favored the bill. Lusk took the same
| view and said no public speaker ought
| to be allowed to use unseemly language.
| Ransom said he had offered the amend
ment in good faith and with it favored
the bill. Lusk said he accepted the
amendment. Nelson said he had favored
| the bill originally; that he knew no
| politics when matter came up involving
| good order. The bill was no onslaught
| on the Democratic platform, contained
| nothing about free silver, trusts or the
| income tax Qaughter) Nelson said he
| warmly favored the bill and the amend
ment. Blackburn opposed the amend
ment.
| Mr.. Cook sent up amendment as fol-
lows: That this shall apply as well to
stage actors as to campaign speakers.
| The amendment was adopted.
| Amendment Is amended adopted.
| Bill as amended, ON motion of Mr..
| Cook, re-deferred to judiciary commit
| tee.
| Act to incorporate the Moore County
| and Western Railroad Company Messrs.
| Abernathy, of Lincoln; Brown, Of Jones,
wanted the matter postponed Also Mr..
| Sehulken, who in reply to Mr.. Dockery,
| thought it might be competing line to
| n. G.. r. r.. Mr.. Dockery said there had
been sufficient time, ten days, for the
members to understand the bill. Reply
| ing TO Mr.Schulken, Mr.. Dockery said he
| had made the same point ten days ago
| and how would he be any better informed
next Friday, the day he wished for post
ponement. Mr.. Schulken said Mr.. Tom
Sutton, too, was absent and he wanted
| to hear the discussion. Mr. Schulken
| said IL Mr.. Dockery could guarantee that
| it was not competing line to the n. G.
| railroad he would vote for it, Mr.. Dock
cry said, in his opinion, he could sincerely
say that he would guarantee; he asked
the gentleman to point out one instance
in which it would compete; that the
gentleman, Mr.. Schulken, had gotten his
informa tion, as he admitted only from
railroad attorney.
Mr. White did not see how Mr. Schul-
ken could let his vote hang upon such a
slight thread.
Mr. Cook said that Mr. Schulken had.
ten days ago, asked for postponement
and they had had copies printed, and
now he wanted postponement. If he
thought it competed with the N. G. rail-
road he would vote against it, Mr..
Schulken said that after hearing the
gentleman he would withdraw his obiec-
J