The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1897-03-11

What the Lawmakers are Doing.
From Wilmington Messenger.
MONDAY, MARCH 1sT.
SENArE-Among bills introduced
were:
By Senator Person, to appoint addi-
tional cotton weighers for Edgecombe
By Senator Yeager, to abolish clay
days" In Roanoke river.
By Senator Sharpe, OF Wilson, tc
regulate the sale of pistols and car.
tridges.
To amend the charter OF Whiteville
To prevent persons from fishing In
private ponds without permission from
the owner.
Senator Moye, from the committee on
public printing, made report Tor the
minority, recommending that the let.
ting at the lowest bid be abolished and
that the bill of Senator Butler ap-
pointing Guy V. Barnes public printer
be adopted. The report goes on to say
that the printing under Stewart Bros
has cost the state nearly $4,000 more
than tor the previous two years that
part of the work was done In Rich.
mond, Va, when it should all have
been done in this state that they re.
commend the adoption of their (minor-
ity) report. The report further says
that the printing should be done in
Raleigh.
The bill to appoint Guy V. Barnes
of this city, public printer, came up
The majority report was unfavorable
Senator Shore moved to postpone
lost.
The question recurring on the adop-
ton of the minority committee report,
it was adopted on second and third
readings. This was a surprise to the
republicans.
The bill to amend the charter of
Plymouth by dividing it into two wards,
came mp.
Senator Yeager favored it.
Senator McCasky said he opposed
any measure that would place any
town in the hands of irresponsible and
unreliable persons, and he wanted to
go on record as opposing such meas
ures. He knew that all the best people
of Plymouth were against altering the
towns wards. He moved to table the
bill and demanded the roll call, which
was sustained, and the bill was tabled
ayes, 80 noes, 8.
The bill was taken up to amend the
charter of Wilmington so as to elect
one alderman in each ward and allows
the governor to appoint one for each
ward. This puts the entire city in con
troll of the republicans.
The bill passed Its second reading
ayes, 81 noes, 20. Objection was made
to its third reading.
HoUsE-Bills introduced:
By Mr.. Lusk, to provide for payment
of the attorneys fee for the defendant
where the prosecution is adjudged to
be frivolous and malicious.
By Mr.. Cunningham, to prevent tax
i'm Of fx,,in
The house was in committee of the
whole several hours on the revenue
bill and struck out the $40 tax on law
yers, doctors and dentists, also the $40
tax proposed to be levied on drummers.
1t let the section stand providing that
county commissioners "may" grant
liquor licenses. Mr.. Duffy's amend
ment to make the word "shall" was
lost-36 to 80.
Among bills passed were the follow
ing:
To allow Wayne, Green, Pitt and
Wilson counties to levy tax of 15
cents for road improvement, this to be
alike on county and town property.
To amend the charter OF Greenville,
by extending its limits (second reading ;
vote-ayes, 81 noes, 32.)
The bill was taken up to encourage
local taxation in rural districts for
public schools (after explanation by
Mr.. Dockery). It appropriates 100000
to be used by the state board for edu.
cation to regulate school taxation in
townships or districts, allowing the
board to give any township an amount
equal to one the latter raises up to
$500. local taxation and state aid to
correspond being the basis of the bill.
Mr.. Schulken asked where the money
was coming from.
Mr.. Dockery replied from the treasu-
ry-the peoples money. He said the
annual amount is not to exceed $780,
OOC. The bill does not affect cities.
The law is to continue for three years.
Mr.. Hancock asked Mr.. Dockery to
accept an amendment that the appro-
priation be entirely for public schools,
striking out the word "education" and