The news & observer., 1897-02-12
He HIT THE CEILING
Swtnson Bounced For the Sins
of His Bosses.
NEGROPEII 1879 PE\gEMHE
NEGRoPHILIsTs' REVENGE
THE FREE PASS BILL PREY yAILS
BY TWO MAJORITY.
MR.. RAY OFFERS A SUBSTITUTE
The Macon Senator Wanted to Force
Railroads to Furnish Members With
Passes--Mr. Grants Hurl-Back-
With Scern Speech.

The Senate met at o'clock, Lieut. Gov
Reynolds presiding.
Leave Of absence was granted Mr.
Atwnter.
By leave, Mr.. Lyon introduced the fol-
lowing bill: To amend the charter Of the
town of Durham and to allow the town
to issue bonds; the said bonds to be used
in operating a system of water works,
as the present system is insufficient and'
gives great dissatisfaction.
The Senate calendar was taken up and
disposed Of as follows:
To prohibit the uses of free passes by
the public officers of the State Mr.
Butler spoke favoring the bill, saying
that every two men that rode on the
railroad paid the fare of another person,
and the third person was the man that
rode on a free pass. The men who use
free passes are always men who are
amply able to pay their fares You
never see the poor man or the farmer
riding on free passes. l (Butler) do not
know why unless ii is because he has no
influence that would be useful 10 the rail
road. Mr.. Ray offered the following
substitute: That all railroad companies
in the State shall furnish to each State
officer a free pass over the various lines
of railroad in the State under control OF
said railway company and said passes
shall be good during term of Office Of
said Officers" MIR. Ray spoke TO his sub
stitute, saying it should become a law,
thereby save all this hue and cry of free
passes and keep the good name Of North
Carolina from being heralded all over
the country as being State that is afraid
for its State officers Executive and pub
licl TO have the use OF free passes for
fear they will be bought in the interest
of the railroads. Mr.. WheSibee moved 10
table the substitute. Mr.. Clark demand
ed the roll call. which was sustained
ayes, II; noes, 20. On vote on the sub
stitute Mr. Clark again demanded the roll
call. The substitute was lost-ayes, 16;
noes, -. The previous question was call
ed On the passage Of the original BILL On
this Mr. Clark again demanded the roll
call, which was sustained. Passed second
reading-ayes, 21; noes, 10. Objection
to it being placed on its third reading be-
ing made, the bill was placed on the
calendar.
II try to be as honest as the times
will admit, said Mr.. Ray amid great
laughter.
Let the State give passes to ell public
officials. That will stop the report that
goes out that a pass influences mem
bers' votes 1t viii put an end to the
suspicion"
Butler: How far do you live from
RalieghY'
Ray: Three hundred and fifty-two
miles by actual measurement.
want to see the talk that State officers
can he bribed with passes ended"
Snathers: Il want to ask you ques-
ton. | am half way with you"
Ray: If you are with me- | am afraid
| ann wrong"
Smathers; "Do you want passes for
legislators during the session, or during
the term Of Officer?
Mr.. Ashburn offered an amendment to
reduce mileage to five cents mile.
Mr.. Ray accepted, saying: ''If the gen
tleman thought he was ever coming back
to the Senate, his amendment would
scare him to DEATH He accepted Ash
burns amendment. Motion was made
to table. Failed by vote of 20 to IL.
Mr.. Rays substitute was defeated by
about the same vote. Bill passed it's second
reading by vote OF 21 to 10. The vote
was as follows:
Ayes-Alexander (P.l, Butler (P), Clark
(P0, Barnhart CP), Early P.), Geddie
(P), Hardison P), Lyon (P), Maultsby
(R.), Mitchell (P), Moye (P.), Merritt
(P), McCaskie (P.) Parker of Randolph
(P), Patterson (P.), Robertson CP.), Shaw
(P9. Smathers (R.), Walker (P.) and
Wakefield (P)
Noes-Anderson (R), Anthony CD,
Ashburn (R), Cannon P.), Grant (R.),
Henderson (R), Hyatt (R.), McNein (R),
Newsom (P), Parker OF Alamance Cd,
Person (R.), Ray ID, Rollins (R), Sharpe
of Wilson (R.), Shore (R.), Whedbee CPD
and Yeager (R)
In explaining their votes members said:
Mr.. Anthony understood this would
forbid giving free passes for the deaf
and dumb children in the schools (He
was interrupted by they were not State
officers, amid laughter)
l would not acknowledge that we
could be bought with free pass. 1t
would not induce you to do wrong 1t
interferes with the railroads freedom l
don't believe in interfering with the privi-
lege Of the railroads.
Mr.. Ashburn thought this the most un-
called for thing he had ever heard Of
1t raises the question OF veracity. A
man who can be bought with a pass is
not worthy of seat here. The railroads
DURING THIS SESSION have given
me one pass to go to preach the gospel
to the people.
Mr.. Butler said the railroads gave
passes to members only during the Legis-
lature. Some have refused. Railroads
will not give passes next fall to mem
bers. What do they give them for now?
Mr. Grant said this was beneath the
II. q AZ. =
grace to bring it up.
II am going to ride on a free pass when
ever | can get it, but / have had only one