The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-12-25
la WEDDING OUT NEEDED
AND NOT THE PASSAGE or MORE CUM
BERS0ME LAWS.
A Possibility That Too Many Suggestions
May Lead the Legislators TO Leg
islate Too Much.
islate Too Much.
Wilkesboro. n. G.. Dec. 8


To the Editor: North Carolina is
certainly to be congratulated ON the
magnificent body of men she has elected
TO legislature for her at the coming Legls-
lativc session. Men of experience i'll
nearly all branches of public enterprise;
wise. patriotic and unsellish men who
have at heart the greatest good of all
the people of the whole State and men
who will not be actuated and hampered
by narrow partisanship that is willing
to sink State interests for the mere sake
of gratifying partly spleen, or minister
ing to selfish ambition. North Carolina
expects much from this Legislature, in
the repeal of a great deal of bad legis-
lation and the enactment of laws that
will tend to the welfare and upbuilding
suggestions in the papers as to what
the Legislature should or should not do,
and these suggestions show many di-
yergent ideas as to what is best and
right and it strikes me that if the Legis-
lature were to heed all the suggestions
and act upon them we would have such
Il multiplicity of laws as the State has
never before known. The trouble is that
we are suffering from too much law and
too many statutes now.
The greatest work for the Legislature
in my humble opinion, is prudent
wedding ont, first of the great mass of
useless and vicious legislation that now
cumbers our statute books, then the
enactment of the fewest laws possible.
True economy in the administration of
all departments of the State government
and reduction of the number of Off
cialS that are fattening at the public
expense and a curtailing of the salaries
of those that are needed TO par with
other vocations. and a general simplifica-
ton of the public administration.
Provision for better school law than
the one now in operation based upon the
idea of giving every child of the State
equal facilities for obtaining common
school education at the least possible
expense.
The Torrens or some familiar system
of land transfer so as to simplify titles
to realty.
Protection to all the people from cor
porate exaction or monopoly.
A code commission to codify and sim
plify our laws, said commission to be
composed of three of our most eminent
jurists, who will complete their work
and report to an adjourned session of
the Legislature in December, 1899 or
january, 1900.
The Australian or some other method
of secret ballot. which will settle the
suffrage question without constitutional
enactment.
Separate cars for the two races by all
means.
Just taxation, including a graduated
inheritance tax and graduated tax
on incomes.
Legislation on the above lines to be
considered and agreed upon in caucus so
as TO waste no time during the session
in long-winded speeches, and an adjourn
,ment fifteen days before the session ex-
pires, ii seems to me, will meet the APP
proval Of the people ofthe whole State.
and the members of the Legislature
will be entitled TO the plaudit. of well
done, thou good and faithful servants!'
Respectfully,
FRANK ID. HACKETT.