The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-01-11

to National banks but it does apply TO
State banks. And it seemed to HIM
that this Legislature ought not TO throw
any obstacle in the way of State insti
trtions.
Mr.. Patterson, of Caldwell. Are not
directors of Nationrl banks. in thei
charters. under laws of Congress, re
CURED to take the oath?'
Mr.. Allen: Il think they are. but
don't think they do 1t. have IN mind
two institutions whose officers do IL
take the OATH
Mr.. Overman said he knew a bank in
his town that charged 8 per cent, while
the State bank could charge only 6.
Mr.. Patterson: IF this oath law is
repealed do you mean to say they will
go up to 8 per cent?
Mr., Overman: / don't think they
would. The law fixes and they would
obey the law
Mr.. Patterson: "Then why repeal?''
Mr.. Council: 1T was urged as reason
in the committee that this oath was a
useless one Why burden corporations
with an additional oath? They are all
required to take an oath to observe the
constitution and obey the laws. Why
ii
that persons in business are not required
to take!'
Mr.. Rountree thought the oath of no
practical utility or benefit to any citizen.
If the law was violated there was re-
course to the courts and the violator
must suffer, whether this act be in force
CT not
As for the Virginia Carolina Chemical
NJ n
tree said this law did not apply to
that, for it is a corporation chartered III
New Jersey and the act in question ap-
-,orth Carolina.
Mr.. Stevens argued that this oath was
an additional safeguard, even for an hon
est man.
Mr.. Rountree: "A man who will charge
,isurious interest. knowing it was con-
trary to law. would not hesitate to take
the oath and charge usury anyway"
\ Mr.. Craig. of Buncombe, thought that
they had failed to show any good rea-
son for repeating the law.
Mr.. Winston, of BERTHE called Mr..
Craig's attention to the committee rule
ed to antagonize bill he must previously
give notice in committee.
Mr.. Craig: If I'm doing wrong III
not speak, but didn't understand this
bill on committee as | now do. You
might say with just as much reason that
it is a reflection ON us to take the oath
as legislators wnen we come here, as
it is n reflection ON officers of corpora
tons to make them take an oath. Cor
porations make laws. Directors of cor
porations attend to business for others
1t is right to swear theM. If the laws
are right let's enforce the law. If the
laws are wrong let's repeal the law aud
not repeal the act requiring enforcement
of the law. The gentleman from Wayne
said more to convince me than any one
else. He said certain corporations in his
section were put at disadvantage in
that tbs law required them to comply
with the interest law, while others dis
regarded it.
Mr.. Leak, of Arson. moved to ra~fefer
the bin to the Judiciary committee.
Mr.. Robinson. of Cumberland, opposed
this. saying that it had been discussed
in committee and nothing was to be
gained by sending it back.
Mr.. Craig said in committee he had
understood that the law required the
Mr. Hartsell, of Cabarrus. did not
know whether the law required the TAX
ing Of the oath once year or not, but
as matter on fact he knew that the
directors of many of the cotton mills
did take it every year. 1t seemed TO
him that it was piece of cumbersome
legislation.
The House refused to re-refar the BILL
Mr. Prnxyp IF StanIy nalln1 tho nPa
yious question.
Mr. Johnson. of Sampson, called the
ayes and noes.
The roll call resulted: Ayes 40, noes
H. The bill was lost.
The next debate arose over bill. in
troduced by Mr.. Winston. to repeal the
law providing for the working the roads
of Northampton county by taxation.
Mr. Wilson stated that this law was
passed by the Legislature of 1897 and it
had proved unsatisfactory. The people
of that county. he said, desired its re-
peal, and that the money collected under
the provisions of the bill be covered back
into the treasury. The county commits
sioners, he said met on next Monday to
let out the roads and unless the bill
was passed immediately it would be in
operative for the coming year.
The member from Northampton.
Coates (col.), said he thought the repeal
of the bill would work hardship to the
poorer class of people in the county in
that they had paid their road tax and
now they would be required also to work
the roads. Those asking n repeal of the
law. he said. did not represent the bone
and sinew of the county and he wanted
his people to know he had opposed it.
The bill was passed on its several read
ings and sent to the Senate.
New standing committees and addi-
tions to committees previously appointed
We're then announced by the Speaker.
The hour of noon having arrived. the
time set apart for election of enrolling
clerk, the House proceeded to the selec-
ton of that officer.
Mr. Francis II. Winston, Of BERTHE
county, nominated Mr.. e. b. Norvell. of
Cherokee county in the following words:
Mr.. Speaker: / nominate for enroll
ing clerk of this General Assembly a
gentleman in every way qualified TO fill
that important office. He is a man of
dignifed bearing, of courtly manner. of
genial disposition. He is fitted by nature
and education to direct branch of our
work in which are to be employed some
of the fairest daughters of our Common