The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-03-04
THE LEGISLATURE.
ACT TO AMEND WILMINGTON'S
CHARTER BECOMES A LAW

Especial to The Messenger)
SENATE.
Bills were introduced in the senate as
follows:
To incorporate the Underwriters Of
GoldsbOro <passed it's readings under
suspension of the rules).
By Senator Atwater, to incorporate
the Atlantic Development Company
(rules suspended and passed readings).
BY Senator Patterson, to incorporate
Red Springs seminary.
By Senator Cannon, to prevent live
stock from running at large on
Wrghtsville Beach (rules suspended
and passed readings).
By Senator Grant, to amend the char
ter OF Goidsboro.
BY Senator Smithers, to regulate rate
of interest in counties west of the Blue
Ridge; also to protect real estate under
mortgage Or deed Of trust
The bill was taken UP to amend the
charter OF the city of Wilmington
Senator Justice demanded the roll coll
which was sustained and the bill passed
it's third reading-ayes, "a: noes, 18.
Bills passed as follows:
To repair certain stock law fences in
Robson county.
To amend the charter of Elizabeth
City.
To provide for working public roads
in Nash county.
To incorporate Wintersville, in Pitt
county.
To allow Sampson county to borrow
money, issue bonds and levy a special
tax.
To incorporate Harnett Central rail-
way.
Amending the charter of the chamber
of commerce of Wilmington.
To change the time for holding courts
in the Seventh judicial district
To incorporate the Mutual Aid Bank
ing Company.
To allow the clerk Of the superior
court of Bladen county to be absent
from office on Mondays.
The bill was taken up to amend the
charter Of Fayetteville, by providing
for a police commission.
Senator Maultsby moved to table the
Dlll, lnc llOllOIl DItNdlltu anu TIE
'Clincher" was added.
The bill to establish a coIored state
normal school carrying an appropria-
ton of s., 600 passed.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The senate reassembled at 3 clock
and bills We're disposed of as follows:
Granting additional cause for divorce;
and to provide for divorce in certain
cases where the female is under IS
years of age-both tabled.
The penitentiary bill was taken up.
1t takes control of the pententiary out
of the hands of the present officers and
gives the governor power to appoint nine
directors and to name the chief officer
by consent of the senate and to name
the wardens etc, by consent Of the di-
rectors.
Senator Person moved to pass the bill
over Indefinitely.
Senator McCaskey opposed postpon-
ing the matter, saying it should be set
tied at once.
Senator Grant said to defer the mat
ter affected the inmates Of the peni-
tentiary and the integrity Of the gov
ernor. If it Is the purpose to take
charge of the prison there is no better
time than now to settle it; if there is
any republican or populist here who
opposes it let us put him on record as
being against the wishes of cO-opera-
tion.
Senator Whedbee opposed considera-
ton of the bill, saying it gave the gov
ernor extraordinary power, such as no
one man in North Carolina should be
vested with. When he CWhedbee) came
here it was not his intention to be driven
by gag law" nor was he going to sub
NIT to be ruled as by a "czar." There
has been too much Internal cowardice
shown here in this legislature by trying
to give one man all the power. This
bill gives Governor Russell power to
appoint whoever he desired to rule this
institution. Senator Whedbee said he
was perfectly willing and glad to go
on record as opposing such a measure.
Let the people have a voice in the mat
ter and say who shall govern the pen
itentiary and not Governor Russell
Senator Moye rose to ask a question.
Before he could do so Senator Whedbee
asked him what he wanted as his part
"a postofice2. If so, Governor Russell
sauld not = T6e him that.
Senator Person said as for the re-
marks of Senator Grant, he desired to
say to HIN that he was glad to go on
record as being opposed to the bill plac-
ing the government of the penitentiary
in the governors hands. He called the
previous question on his motion to in
definitely postpone, which was LOST
ayes, 8; noes, "a.
Senator McCaskey called the previous
question on the original bill, which was
ordered and the bill passed it's second
%; noes, IA. 1t was