The news & observer., 1897-02-19

mind compromised matter Of principle
He expressed his readiness to vote for a
bill abolishing all free passes He said
| that the travelling expenses of the Com
! mission were now allowed by law. Black
, burn argued that the bill was economical
because it would reduce the cost of this
allowance for travelling expenses. Sutton
said the railways were entirely willing to
! give such free passes to the Commission
| Blackburn declared that Populists would
stultify themselves by voting for such u
bill ,as they had declared against any
| free passes. Lusk framed the bill, and
said the cause OF the creation of the
/ Commission was the misconduct of the
railways; that the people have demanded
| the Commission, and that it was but fair
the railways shonld pay at least a part
| OF the expenses of a Commission which
| corrected the wrong-doing of the rail
| ways themselves, and not any wrongs
committed by the people.
White, of Randolph, offered an amend
ment TO strike out all the first section.
| which requires free passes to be given.
| The previous question was demanded
and sustained. The vote on the amend
ment was taken, Hartness demanding the
yeas and nays: The vote was yeas, 80;
nays, 46.
Blackburn said that if this bill could
! be enacted the railways could also be
forced to give judges free passes.
Cathey said that if this bill passed the
! spectacle would be presented of the Com
mission going with free passes in their
pockets to investigate alleged misde-
mean0rs. Cook said that no gift was
asked of the railways. Dixon of Greene,
said that yesterday a railway man was
before the special committee and protest
! ed against this BILL Hancock said the
bill had n perfect right to give the rail-
ways such order as the bill proposed.
/ Hartness declared that he opposed free
! passes and followed the Democratic pre-,
cedent in forbidding judges to use free
F., passes, and added that the Commission
was on a par with judges, as they had
| to decide between the rights of
the people and the railways. Me-
Crary said so far as State officers were
/ concerned he believed in either giving
free passes to all or to none. Parker, of
Wayne, said that he agreed with Lusk
in the latter's statment that the railways
could issue passes to whom they pleased.
! He opposed the bill, Pearson did not
think the bill put the commissioners un-
der obligations to the roads, but on the
contrary removed them from any obliga-
F., tions. He added that in Georgia the
railways paid the entire expenses of the
| railway commission and gave it free
I passes. Sutton said the bill lifted the
/ commission above the railways and also
saved the State some money. Sutton.
of New Hanover took the same view
White, of Randolph, said he belonged to
! the party which was opposed to free
passes and declared he wanted to be con-
sistent. He said about half the talk
about this free pass business was taffy.
! There was applause at the result OF the
vote Sutton, of New Hanover, and
Hancock, the Republican whips" were
working like beavers to induce members
to change their votes and defeat Whites
amendment, they did get Chaplin and a
few others to change. The bill as then
amended was then voted ON, on third
reading. Mckenzie demanded the yeas
and nays. The vote was yeas 81, nays
33 Iusk lodged motion to reconsider
the vote by which the bill passed. Gt is
a Senate lpll and was ordered sent back
to that body for concurrence in Whites
amendment) Cook said Lusk, who had
NOLth IHs IittO lfO 1AEAll 10 hEOhC w LC
consider. The Speaker said Cook was cor
rect.
Sutton, of Cumberland put the "clinch-
err on the bin to give Fayetteville
''police board which passed third read
ing last night.
/ The ''firemen's bill" came up as a spe-
cial order. 1t was in the shape of sub
stitute and gives the auditor power to
FOR ,o+ 40 nnJ
$500 yearly, upon the certificate of the
president of the white or colored State
fremen's association, as to fremen i'm
jured and entitled to aid under the provi-
sions of the acts of 1891 and 1893; and
also providing that any funds now in
the hands of the presidents of the asso-
Citations are to be returned to the State
treasurer and be covered into the treas
ury. Bryan said $4,000 had accumulated
for which there was no use: that the
president of one association drew 1925
yearly and that he did not propose to
let such robbery go on.
Sutton, of Cumberland Sutton, OF New
Hanover, Blackburn and Hancock made
vigorous speeches against the bill and
took occasion to eulogize the unselfish and
faithful work of the volunteer firemen
OF the State. Blackburn moved to table
the bill and this motion prevailed, 60
to 81.
Bills passed requiring county commits
sioners of each county to meet ON the
first Monday in June and revise the
jury list
A resolution came over from the Sen
ate proposing to adjourn from Tuesday
until Thursday, in order to visit the
Newbern fair. White, of Randolph,
opposed the resolution and moved to ta-
bic it. Hancock said the House was far
ahead of the Senate in its work. Me-
Crary antagonized the resolution. Cum
ningham supported. The motion to table
was Overwhelmingly lost On the adop-
ton OF the resolution McCraTy demanded
the yeas and nays. The vote was yeas
80, nays 40. There was applause over
the result. A motion was made to sus-
rend the rules and put the resolution
On its third reading. Bryan, Of Chat
oI 20 % noA