Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-01-31
ACROSS THE BORDER.
NEWS NOTES GATHERED IN THE
NORTH STATE CAPITAL.
MATTERS BEFORE The LEGISLATURE
Revelations ms to the ROttenness OF
the Penitentfary apngement-The
ErauchIse Amendment to the Con-
stitution-GenernI Mention.

RALEIGH, n. c., January 5o-(Special)
A draft of a general Insurance law was
this afternoon submitted to the legsa-
tive committees ON insurance. AS yet
there IS no agreement as TO the proposed
department OF insurance-that is, whether
II shall be of insurance alone, or shall
cover also banking building and loan,
railways, &c.
A large delegation of Robson county
people arrived here last night, some be-
ing for and some against the new bill to
create the county of Scotland" out Of
parts Of Richmond and Robson.
The revelations as TO the rottenness Of
the penitentiary management during the
past two years are simply astounding.
The fact that the Legislature IS called
on to provide for the issue of $4,000 in
bonds comes as a shock. OF this amount
certainly $4,000, and possibly even more,
will be needed TO pay debts incurred in
two years. and much Of the remainder
will be needed to pay for one Of the
seven penitentiary farms There is one
farm which far surpasses all the others
The rents are very high, indeed. Heal
after year the State has paid $4,000 in
rents.
The franchise amendment to the Consti-
tuition is beginning TO crystalline. There
Is no attempt at evasion regarding Il,
as It is TO very greatly limit the negro
vote. The statement that 1000 negroes
will remain voters after IL is ratified by
the people seems to be an overestimate,
p 900 seeming to be a reasonable figure.
Your correspondent to-day asked Demo-
cratic State Chairman Simmons whether
all the voters in the State would be per-
mitted TO vote on the question Of the
ratification of this appointment limiting
the franchise He replied yes, that all
voters white and black, would have an
opportunity to vote on that amendment;
that the Democratic party had given
pledge TO that effect during the recent
campaign, and would scrupulously keep
its word, and that the election law, TO
be enacted by this Legislature, and under
which people will vote on the amend
ment, will not restrict in any way the
right TO vote on the question OF the limi-
tation of the suffrage.
The young Asheville lawyer who is in
jail here. charged with stealing law books.
had been watched constantly during his
stay. II is said he got no books from
the Supreme Court library, but it Is
charged that he did get some out of the
Capitol building. He is also charged with
stealing them out of the courthouse, and
how he got them from the latter is
mystery.
Bills were introduced in the Senate to-
day TO incorporate the Carolina and
Northern railway, and to re-enact the old
Democratic law under which the Legisla-
ture elects magistrates, and the latter
elect county commissioners, the purpose
being to give the Democrats complete con-
troll Of county government.
Democratic Senator Jones, from the
Fourteenth District, who had won In his
contest for a seat, was sworn in.
Bills passed taking from the Governor
all control Of the Atlantic and North
Carolina railway and extending the char
ter Of the Atlantic and Yanceyville rail
way. Bills were introduced 10 allow
Wilmington TO fund 100000 OF bonds by
issuing per cents.
A bill passed chartering the Southeast
ern railway.