The news & observer., 1897-03-06

willing to vote the tax; he also knew
there We're others, among them his own
| (Chatham) that were not able to tax
themselves, therefore he opposed the bill.
Mr. Grant said he believed that local
| taxation was the entering wedge towards
increasing the public school fund and the
| usefulness of the system and he believed
| that before long, under local taxation, we
could do away with State aid.
| Mr.. Utley amended by substituting
| districts" for townships" Adopted.
/ Mr.. Ray offered an amendment to sub
stitute 100000 for $4,000 in section. 1.
| Mr. Ray said his amendment was lust
| the thing wanted.
| Mr.. Moye asked him if he did not know
that the House had killed a bill similar
| to his (Ray's)
| Mr.. Ray answered that he did not
| care If it had, he did not want the House
| held mp as a criterion for the Senate; if
| we were like the House we would be
| tumbling over each other getting out Of
the doors and windows. Let this bill 60
| back as amended and perhaps it will
find the House clothed in its right mind.
| The people in the insane asylum, stricken
| by the hand of Almighty God, have
time at which they are rational, perhaps
| when this bin gets back to the House it
| will find them in their right mind.
| Amendment adopted.
MIR. Ashburn offered an amendment
to strike out section /, appropriating
| 100000. Roll call demanded-ayes, a:
noes, %. Amendment adopted which
| virtually kills the bill.
Mr.. McaCesky moved to table the bill
| Carried.
Mr.. McCaskey moved to table the bill
| table the vote by which the bill was
tabled. Lost and the vote to reconsider
prevailed and the bill was again before
the Senate
Mr.. Grant moved to refer to special
committee. Adopted, and the chair ap-
pointed Messrs Grant, Justice, Utley and
Atwater
On the bin to create a board of COM
| missioners to manage and control the
convicts and road system in Mecklenburg
county, DR.. Alexander (Senator from
| Mecklenburg) said: Mr. President, this
has been pet scheme of mine for twenty
years or more. | have spoken more and
written more in advocacy of building
macadamized roads than any other man
in Mecklenburg county; have hoped and
1
leading out from Charlotte to the county
limits. We have waited many years,
but to-day only three or four roads have
gotten out of sight OF the city hall. Our
board of county commissioners during
all these many years have been faithful
to construct the finest highways to their
homes and farms, but have not needed
the voice of the people who labor out
side the township Mr.. President, almost
every man who lives five to twenty-five
miles from the city is complaining in un-
mistakable terms that cannot be misun-
derstood. They are tired of paying taxes
and never see the fine roads till they
get in sight of the city spires. This bill
is not TO change our system of road
building but to make it more efficient
Mr.. Justice asked, would it not be
satisfactory to enact a clause compelling
the board of commissioners to construct
four trunk lines to the county limits
Mr.. Alexander said, we have been
| waiting and urging the board without
effect, until we have grown gray in
watching for what we fondly hoped to
see realized. Now, Mr.. President, Of all
the letters / have received, and they are
numerous, in opposition to this bill, all
but three were from the city, and these
three were solicited by gentleman Of the
city. Now, sir this looks like every
person in the county wants the benefits
of this system extended to the limits,
and they want no more roads started
from the city until at least four trunk
lines are built to the county limits. The
people Of Charlotte who oppose this bin
/ know are my friends and / appreciate
| their friendship. So | will not ask a
single Senator on this floor to vote for
the bill if he thinks it unfair, unjust OF
hardship on any one. / ask them to
look at the facts and vote as your judg-
ment dictates. Mr.. President there are
now fourteen roads starting from the
! city which looks like fourteen spokes in
the hub Of a wheel, and we insist that
this city play be stopped until the people
on the outside circles of the county reap
their proportional part of the benefits due
them. This bill does not increase the ex-
pense of the system, but reduces the cost,
under the ruling of the present manage
ment They employ a man at $50 per
month to buy what is necessary for the
convict force. This office viii be dis
pensed with and $500 saved. We pro
pose no radical measure, but firmly be-
lieve that this commission, having nc
other duties to perform, viii necessarily
prove efficient
Other bills disposed of as follows:
To allow Person county to levy special
tax. Passed second reading.
To pay railroad debt of PollocksvilIe,
in Jones county. Passed
To allow Sampson county to work con-
yicts ON public roads Passed
To incorporate the Chatham, Moore
and Harnett and Sewerage Company.
Passed.
For relief of Lula Yinson, Of Sampson
county, allowing her to marry. Passed.
To amend chapter 427, laws of 1895,
by striking out Polk county. Passed
To promote the oyster industry in the
State. Passed.
| For relief of It. E. Vestal, OF Chatham
county. Passed
To protect birds in Chatham county.
Passed.