The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-03-09
HASPASSED INTOHIsT
'continued from First pape.)

ln's ueheral Assembly to onr nos;,;on
~ nonor or trust for which tbc naonla Of
nc state or of the Democratic na,tr iii
nna occasion for apology. We arc nYti
e'eu W no great credit for tbis baa,t,sn
iioi'' Tue number of good citizens whose
h"iies were presented tn No for +hoSn
puSi,ions we could not have p,el, 3onn
otherwise. nave wei! ""irN
ne much-yexed question of nrov;d
rug ny law Tor separatf, cars for +l,o
81. vac niuch more complex md Gf-
80, ~, ~ ueai with than the average riti-
-, .noosnt. We trust that he peo,ia
has;s ecep' rue result arrived ar as the
"asis LOT somfthing moro satisfactory
Two Years experience.
hor tue hrst time III our history
~ :"o houses OF the .;enerai Assem-.
ny III JOINT session have been tallal
upon 10 exercise judicial functions in
"earihg evidence and passing l,pon The
remoVal OF public officers Tho .ct1rs
oI me law under which We roneaed
were FAR from clear ana The occ.l,rc
new and untried. That the members
were oischargng judicial duties involv-
ing the determination of questions of
IA" ana Iact was conceded by all That
IN the discharge of these duties each
member acted i'll the capacity of Judge
ana Juror and was required upon his
oath and his honor to return, n trup yer.
uict and Judgment is equally clear
whatever the citizens of the State may
think of the result arrived at, il is clear
that the principles usually and properly
cohtroiilng the representatives of the
people making 1T their duty to give eX-
preston to the will of their constituency
could not control in this matter: that
lhe imposition of such duties upon tho
Legislature is unwise ana contrary to
the fundamental principles of our form
oi government, which provides for the
separation of the legislative. executive
ana judicial functions. is admitted and
we nave removed the provision therefor
from our statute book
In dealing with the finance Of he
State we have endeavored to be conser-
vative and economical. That there is
among our people an Industrial awaken
ing is shown by the large number of
charters for such enterprises We have
been called upon to enact into law. 1t
is matter well worth careful consider1-
tion whether there should not be an
Improvement in the general law provid-
ing for the incorporation of private
companies and associations. thereby saw
ing much time which should be devoted
to the consideration of public meas
ures. The large number Of charters for
cities and towns sent to us from diff
ferent sections of the State show a
healthy interest among the people in re-
gard TO the problem of municipal gov
eminent. There is no more interesting
method OF studying the history and
development of a people than through
their laws and there will be few more
interesting chapters in our history than
the public and private laws of 1899.
That much has been done for the welfare
of the State, the most critical will adj
nit, that much has been left undone.
we recognize and admit.
AS the presiding officer of this House
have had opportunity to watch with
care the words and actions of its mem
bers. / have seen nothing said or done
which did not proceed from an honest
desire to advance the best interests of
the State.
CNlNLe-commit our work to the fair and
just consideration of the constituency
who confided to us their highest and best
political interests. We must however
ever keep i'll mind the great truths that
States like individuals are in the keep
Ing Oh Ing G0u OF A>uilOuS anu III 81
far as we live in harmony with it is
divine will we will in our individual
as well as political interest grow IN
strength and prosperity.
1T affords me pleasure in this last
hour of the session to say that III the |
discharge of the duties of presiding cfii-
Ger / have had the kind. considerable |
support of every member Of this body. |
No unpleasant incident mars the memory |
of our association. There has, at all !
times, prevailed Difference and courtesy |
among the members. | am sure that |
without regard to party or political DIT
ferences we separate with naught bul
kindly sentiments one to the other.
THE attendance has been unusually |
good. \ number of the members have |
been detained from the house by sick |
ness, and it pains us to note that one
Of our number lies at deaths door.
s.For the last time in the Nineteenth |
century the General Assembly of North
Carolina has met and is now ready to
adjourn. For reasons deemed wise TO
us we have as the Constitution pro
vides we may do, determined to adjourn
TO day certain. In accordance, there
fore, with the joint resolution OF the |
Two Houses, de hereby declare this
House adjourned TO Tuesday after he
second Monday in June