The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-03-12

is re-established The school authorities
are permitted to apportion the funds SC
as to give each race schools of the same
length of term. but they are permitted
to take into consideration the fact that
negro teachers can be employed at less
than white teachers. and thus preventing
the waste caused by giving negro
teachers higher salaries than necessary.
In this way the white people will not
suffer the injustice of having so large a
portion of money given to negro schools
and. to great extent, wasted. White
committeeman may be appointed for ne
gro schools.
Such provisions as these in the school
law, removed the necessity for adoption
of Il proposed amendment to the Consti-
tuition which really meant negro money
only for negro schools.
>. No subject of legislation received
more careful consideration than did that
of management of the public institutions
of the State.
(a) Economy in expenditure was the
watchword in dealing with all of them.
And yet in no case was there an attempt
or even a disposition to be- stingy or
Nv dilhGti was
reduced. There was ON all sides a
recognition and appreciation of the work
accomplished by these institutions
cational and charitable-and sincere de-
sire to aid them in their work. And
this was done, by appropriations measur-
ed first by the needs of each institution
and then by the amount of money at
the disposal of the State
(blf All unnecessary offices were either
abolished or such duties imposed on the
holder thereof as will secure better gov
eminent of the State and conduce to the
interest of taxpayers.
(c) To the end that economy in admin
istration' be secured and a recurrence
of such scandals as have characterized
Fusion rule be made impossible. the va
rious institutions and departments We're
put in the hands of men who have the
confidence of the State.
In the election of officers great care
and wisdom was manifested. For Cor
poration Commissioners the Legislature
elected an able lawyer, competent bust
ness man and an excellent farmer. repre-
senting the three sections of the State
its commercial metropolis. the great ag-
ricultural belt and the trans-mountain
region. as yet so undeveloped. For In
surance Commissioner it elected n
thorough business and expert insurance
man. Its choice of Commissioner of Ag-
for Labor Commissioner a man in touch
with organized labor was chosen.
CD Constant Improvement in our edu-
cational system was further secured by
liberal appropriations to the University
the State colleges and the colored normal
schools. Whatsoever charge is laid at
the door of the Legislature that of stingi-
ness toward the educational institutions
of the State certainly cannot be-
In order to insure compliance with the
provision of the Constitution that the
public schools shall be kept open four
months in the year a provision was in
serted in the school law to the effect that
IF the tax levied by the State for sup
port of public schools shall be insuffi-
Gent to maintain one or more schools in
each district for the period of four
then the board of commissioners
Of each county may levy annually a spe-
cial tax to supply the deficiency
But the greatest of all-epoch-
event it is-was the appropriation of
100000 to the public schools of the
State.
(e) Nor can it be alleged that the Con-
federate soldier has been neglected.
From the means at its command the
State has given literally to pension and
care for these old heroes in their declin-
ing years From $1,000 the appropria-
ton to the Soldiers Home has been in
creased to $4,000. and a pension bill
passed carrying $4,000. And it could
not have been given in a worthier cause.
81 To permanently secure rule by the
white men of the State a Constitutional
was passed eliminating the
ignorant and vicious negro vote.
Touching this amendment and the ne
cessity for it. i cannot do better than
again quote from Mr.. Daniels Laurin-
burg speech:
The people were promised above all
else White Supremacy and that it
should be perpetuated. Assured that
the pledges Of the party upon other
matters will be kept. interest now cen
tiers in a Constitutional amendment that
VIII tHt lHdSS VI iSHot ant
negro voters. They cannot be elimina-
ted except by Constitutional enactment.
| can have little patience with those
machine politicians who
advise II halfway keeping of the prom
ises made by the party. There is no
halfway ground in a revolution such as
we have passed through No election law
can permanently preserve White Supre-
macy. AS long as 100000 negroes stand
united, with their names on the reglstra-
ton books the sword of bad government
hangs ready to fall upon our heads.
More than that: they present a constant
temptation TO the demagogue to ride into
office by division Of the white vote
added to the solid negro vote. The womb
of politics contains more Jeter Pritch-
ards and Marion Buffers than we buried
last November. If our promise to elm
mate the negro is not fulfilled, we invite
another cooperation between negroes
and dissatisfied white men that will
bring another era Of corruption The
only safety is in the adoption 81 plan
like that Of louisiana where the igncr-
and negro vote is legally and ccnstitu-
tionally suppressed
Whether or net this Amendment will
become a part of the organic law OF the
State depends, of course, on the votes
,xf lf. 10 tln