The news & observer., 1897-02-24
HoUsE-NIGHT SESSION.

Sutton, of Cumberland antagonized it
and moved to table, after Johnston, Fer
rell and Others had strongly supported ct.
Johnston said the appropriation was de-
manded for the comfort and safety of the
blind children. The vote ON the motion
to table was, yeas, IA nays, SO. The
bill then came up ON third reading Pin
nix said the bill carried good deal Of
money and he wanted to have more time
to consider it, and moved that it be made
a special order for next Friday. John
son said THE bill had gone before both
Senate and House committee and been
carefully considered and thoroughly IN
vestigated. Lusk asked if it could be
arranged so that $1,000 could be appro-
priated this year and the same next year.
Johnson said that he did not think this
practicable Tie House refused to post
pOne. Hancock offered an amendment
making the appropriation $4,000 for
1897 and $19,500 for 1898. Alexander
said Hancock would amend the Ten
Commandments. McCrary said the FL
nance committee was recommending In
creased appropriations to all institutions:
that the committee must be watched and
that the House must take the bride in
its own teeth. He moved postponement
of a vote until Thursday. This was lost.
johnson said Hancock's amendment was
impracticable. Hancock demanded the
yeas and nays ON it. johnson accepted
the amendment. Hancock then demand
ed the yeas and nays on the bill as amend
ed and called upon the House to vote it
down. The vote was yeas, 55; nays, Al.
There was liberal applause at the an
nOuncement The bill was sent to the
Senate for the concurrence of that body
in the amendment
johnson introduced the machinery act
and 300 copies were ordered printed.
Bills passed:
To amend the charter Of Elizabeth
City following registrars to set two days
instead of Is; providing that commission
ers can grGdlt franchises, and raising tax
rate from so to 60 cents)
To legalize bonds issued by Elizabeth
City in 1895, and allowing special tax
levy. Pool said the bill did not have
roll call two years ago and roll call was
now necessary to make act Legally
To amend the charter of Newbern, Civ
ing it six wards, giving power to buy and
operate electric lighting plant if the peo-
pie so vott. Hancock said he was sur
prised to hear certain Democrats this
morning say they favored local self-gOy-
ernment, when that party's history for
% years had been one of tyranny
andi INJUSTICE and terrorism. and declared
he did not believe they were honest in
their declara tions shat Democrats would.
Il they could, pass such an infamous cleo
ton law as to take away all liberty. He
said the Democrats had filed a minority
report on this bill, ard that Democratic
members had letters from Newbern
Democrats; that men who had for years
sucked pap as members of the court
house ring or the city hall ring, had sent
lawyers here, and that the minority re-
port was written by w. w. Clark. He
begged the Republicans to stand by this
bill and whip the Bourbon Democracy
and pleaded with the Populists to do the
same thing; that the Republican and Pop
ulist parties united could stand together
and defeat the Democrats. He said that
while the bill gave the power to the Gov
ern0r to appoint aldermen, yet the latter
had been selected by the county commit
tee and the names sent TO the Governor.
Walters said he sp1&C tonight in be-
half of Newbern, representing 500 out Of
every 800 of its property asking, in be-
half of its property. owners, that the hill
be not passed; that this bill is much worse
than the Wilmington charter bill dis
cussed to-day; that the people of Wil-
mingtOn, submissive and knowing their
condition, said they were wiling to let
Governor Russell take charge Of tle;r
city. lie called for the reading or the
minority report. 1T was read, and set
forth that Newbern's affairs were Justly
and economically administered AMI that
the only reason for this attempt to inter
fere with the charter was to oust the
Democrats, and that the Governor was
practically given power to name every
official
Dixon, of CIeyland spoke earnestly in
to the bill. Blackburn cham
pioned it and declared that the Demo
Gratis could not critieise the Republicans.
Hancock submitted a substitute for the
bill, providing for the election of a mayor
and six aldermen by popular vote, and
did not provide for any appointments by
the Governor. He at once called the
previous question. He was urged by
Walters and Brown to withdraw the de-
mand for the previous question, but re-
fused. He said the substitute was read,
was almost identically the same as the
other, save as to the election, and that
the Democrats, to be consistent, must
vote for it. He renewed his call for the
previous question. The previous ques-
ton was ordered. Walters said "the
substitute was infinitely worse than the
original bill" The vote was taken on
the substitute. Yeas and nays were de-
manded by Mckenzie. Duffy, in ex-
planning his vote, said the 1000 white |
people in Newbern paid $4,000 taxes, |
the 5000 negroes $780, and that the bill !
turned the city over to the negroes.
Hartness said the substitute was q sub |
Ierfuge, which was used by the Repub. |
licans when they found they could not
gobble up Newbern. Lusk ridiculed the
Democrats for not supporting this bill.
Mckenzie, explaining his vote, said he
thanked God he was a Democrat (ireat
applause from the white gallery and
obby) He spoke forcibly of the glorious
Democratic record in North Carolina,
while the Republicans jeered and some