The news & observer., 1897-02-13
SENATE.

| The Senate was called 60 1rher at IL
o'clock by Lieut.. Gov Reynolds. Pray
er 10y Senator Mcneil.
Indefinite leave of absence was grant
ed Mr. Atwatcr OD account Of sickness
Leave OF absence was also granted the
Door-keeper, Mr. Mccarthy and Enroll
| ing Clerk Maxwell. MIR. Alexander
presented jot3t resolution for the en-
eoura cement OF fine arts, saying that the
| ladies OF Mecklenburg county purposcd
TO have a collection OF the fine arts Of
the Carolinas ON exhibition in Charlotte,
also a museum of colonial and war relfcs,
| They only ask for recognition from the
General Assembly DO give their exhibition
greater prominence.
On motion Of MIR. McCaskey, the rules
was suspended and further routine busi-
ness was dispensed with and the calendar
was taken up.
| Bill on third reading: To authorize
Richmond county ITO issue bonds TO pay
Outstanding debts, passed. To incorporate
the Winston-Salem Southbound Railroad,
this is a continuation of the Norfolk and
| Western Railroad south. Passed; TO levy
special tax for working public roads in
Guilford county. Passed; to prohibit the
use of free passes by public offisers.
| Mr.. Anderson offered the following a.
| mendment. provided that any person
| who shall haul amy member OF the Gen
eral Assembly or any State officer in any
wagon, buggy, cart, wheel barrow or amy
| conveyance of whatever kind, or any
| person who shall invite to dinner any
such officer or member OF the General
| Assembly or who shall give a drink
cigar or show any courtesy to any such
officer or member of the General AS
| cenbly shall be deemed suspicious
character, and guilty of misdemeanor,
| and upon conviction Shall be fined and inn
prs0aed at the discretion of the court,
and amy member of the General Assem-
bly, or State officer who shall accept any
such favor shall forfeit his Office and
shall be subject to indictment and upon
conviction shall be fined and imprisoned
| III the discretion of the court"
! Mr.. Moye favored the passage of the
| bill, because il any person rode on free
pass the railroad certainly expected
| something in return, and he tMoye) did
not think any honest public officer would
ride on free pass, because it would place
him under obligation to the railroad that
| issued the pass.
Mr.. Anderson favored the adoption OF
his amendment. saying he opposed the
| bill and if it was going to pass he wanted
| to hack on his amendment.
Mr.. Smathers moved that the matter
/ be deferred and made a special order
| for Saturday, Feb. 2T, on this Mr.. Clark
demanded roll-call, which was ordered.
Carried, ayes 81 noes 10. Mr.. Ray Of
fered resolution that a committe OF three
be appointed by the president to investi-
gate the free pass matter and ascertain
il it will be to the interest. OF railroads
to pass such bill or not. Adopted.
The following bills on second reading
were disposed of as follows: TO amend
chapter 320 acts OF 1881 to provide for
the general supervision of railroads,
steamboat, express, telegraph and tele-
phone companies doing business in the
State This is Mr.. Buffers bill and pro-
vides for the reduction of passenger and
freight rates, the passenger rates as a.
mended to be 21a cents for first class and
| 2 cents for second class per mile. On
motion of Mr.. Butler the above bill was
made special order for Tuesday, Feb.
16--at u o'clock m. To amend chapter
800, laws of 1891, that railroads, street
railway and steamboat companies shall
furnish free transportation over all their
lines IN IilIS ESIdbes 10 IbE uutmD0AS anu
clerk OF the Railroad Commission when
on business connected with the commits
SION. Passed second and third reading;
to repeal chapter 374, laws Of 1895. This
is the bill to take the department OF
Agriculture and College of Agriculture
and Mechanic Arts out OF the hands of
the present trustees and officers, and to
constitute new board of 16 commission
|
that he did not see why they should
want to abolish the department of agri-
culture or of the college OF Agriculture
and Mechanic Arts. Said he wanted
to have time to examine the bill. Mr..
| McCaskey stated that the bill was intro
duced several days ago and the Senator
fRav) should have examined the bill. Mr..
Raw asked the Senator (McCaskey) why
they wanted TO abolish the department.
IMcCaskey said because they would
abolish it so the cooperation party could
take charge of it. So then, it is only
political scheme? asked Mr.. Ray. Yes,
answered McCaskey. Mr.. Ray moved
to make it special order for next We'd
nesday, February 18th, Immediately af-
ter morning hour Mr.. McCaskey op-
posed this, and asked the Senate to vote
down the motion OF Mr.. Ray. Rays
motion was lost McCaskey called the
previous question-sustained, and vote
on the bill ordered. Mr. Walker de
Imanded roll call. Bill passed second and
third readings, ayes "a; noes 49,
Vote on abolishing Agricultural De
Ipartment and A. and M. College.
Ayes-Anderson, Ashburn, Cannon,
Early, Grant, Henderson, Hardison,
Hyatt, Maultsby, McCaskey, Mcneil,
Newsome, Odum, Parker, Of Randolph;
lPerson, Ramsay, Rollins, Sharpe, OF Will
son; Sharpe, OF Iredell: Smathers, Shore,
Wakefield, Whedbee, Yeager
oes-Alexander, Anthony, Barker,
Earnhart, Geddie, Mitchell, Moye, Mer-
rift, Patterson, Ray, Robeson, Shaw,
Walker.
Ayes, "a; noes, 13.
i 1t will be observed that the Populists
,x.bn x-ofad FOR pritrha rd voted with 4ba