The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-12-25
ABOUT POLITICS
AND POLITICIANS


While the next Legislature is making
much needed reforms il will do we'll tol
take off that unjust burden, from the
public school teachers in the way of pay
ing for certificates. To pay one dollar
and a half out of salary Of fifty dol
lars is burden and we hope that the
Legislature which meets soon will lnl
its amendments of the public school law
take that burden off of the teacher
shoulders.-Monroe Enquirer.
The WilkesborO Chronicle says that
more capable chief clerk of the House
could not be selected than Mr.. Frank ID.
Hackett.
Mr.. +. J. Wood of Randolph, broth
er of Rev. +. III. Wood -. d., and Col.
w. =. Wood. is a candidate for door
keeper of the House. A correspondent
of the AshebOro Courier says of him;
He is active. quick and well qualified
for the place He is one of the old sol
diers who shOuldered his musket under
the first call and went to the front where
he remained during the four years of the
conflict. surrendering with Gen. Lee at
Transport ON the Potomac during the
winter Of 90 in charge of heavy artil-
lery. He it was who fired the first and
only shot from his battery into the enc
! my's boat which was attempting to run
| the blockade, but his shot set fire to the
boat and its cargo was captured. He
was brave soldier and did his whole
! duty.
| --
| From all accounts the State peniten-
tiary must be in bad way. The State
| Treasurer has loaned it large sums of
money from the State treasury, and it
| is said to owe mercantile firms consid-
| cradle amounts of money for clothing
and other supplies. The fusion manage
ment of this institution has been full
| of scandals and very eXtravagant. The
i new Legislature should address itself
early in the session to penitentiary af-
| fairs and it should not rest from it's
| labOrs until the gang now in control has
/ and decent men have again been put in
| charge. We do not know that he will
| accept it, but the needs of the State de-
mand that Hon. Augustus Leazar, Of
| Iredell, should again be put in charge
! Of the States most important public
! institution. Under his former admins
tration the penitentiary, which had long
! been Il burden to the taxpayers of the
/ State. was made to pay its own way.
! The Legislature should change the law,
turn out Mewborne and elect Mr..
Leazar. The election should be with
such unanimity that he will feel it his
duty to accept the trust-Statesville
| Mascot.
| -----
The Snow Hill Standard of last week
| says: Green county Democrats pre-
sent the name of Capt. Swift Galloway
as one of the Code Commissioners who
are to be chosen by the Legislature of
! 1899 Capt. Galloway is lawyer of
eminent ability. pains-taking and learn
| ed; he is most especially qualified for
| such arduous and careful work. He
| was brave and gallant defender of
Southern rights and carries with him Il
| wound received in his countrys cause.
He is a Democrat who has ever been
| ready to work and sacrifice his time
| and means for the principles and sue
cess Of his party. He is entitled to
any honor and emolument both by rea-
son of his ability and and deserts.
| One of the most successful insurance
men in the State, in Il private letter,
says: In regard to insurance matters
before the next Legislature. | feel that
we ought to have an Insurance Commits
| sioner The insurance business in this
State has grown to such proportions that
the needs of the people and the require
ments Of the business demands State
| supervision. The good companies desire
| State inspection and supervision, and
only the inferior companies oppose IT..
This of itself is n strong argument in
| support of State Department. The
| appointment of Insurance Commissioner
| will not cost the State anything extra,
but will, in my opinion, save money TO
the State. The companies are now pay
ing the fees to the Secretary of State
about $4,000 per annum. $1,000 a year
| would easily run the insurance depart
| ment; the additional fees could be COW
cred into the State Treasury, besides
| with a department to look especially aft
ter the insurance business, the fees and
| revenue from the Insurance companies
| would naturally be increased. The m
| surance companies are now paying an
enormous tax, , per cent on gross in
| comes, besides q license tax and fees.
This, as you will see, is very heavy
tax and l don't think it would be wise
to increase this tax, because by doing
so, you would probably drive some com
panies out of the State and might injure,
if not destroy, the hen which lays the
| golden egg l think the Insurance Com
missioner should be elected by the Legis-
lature soon after they meet. He should
be- an honest, practical, energetic insur-
ance man: one who is thoroughly ac-
quainted with the business, who has
honest convictions and who will stand
by the rights of the people under any
and all circumstances, and at the same
time treat the companies with justice
and equity. Let him get to work at
once and get up n set of laws to govern
the department and to control the insur-
| ance business in the State. l believe
| that such a move would result in great
| good to our people and would help the
| insurance business and everybody in
Il ,k,I'