The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-03-03

A bill was introduced to provide for
the burning of certain houses in Nc
Dowell which are infected with small
poX.
Senators Williams and Speight were
appointed a committee to select the
new members Of the board Of agricul-
iure.
The bill passed authorizing the joint
committee on agriculture to a in
vestigatiOn during recess or after ad-
jAEnment of the general assembly, to
= not more than fifteen days and
make report to an adjourned session
his general assembly or to the next
regular session in case no adjourned
session be had, said committee to re-
ceive the same pay as members Of the
general assembly. This bill passed it's
second reading, only some of the sena-
tors preferring that it should go over
until tomorrow.
Senator Hairston the lax
ness in investigation of the agricul-
tural department.
Many purely local bills passed.
Among these was the bill to allow the
sale of liquor at Morehead City hotel.
There was opposition to the bill. Sem
atOr Cooley cOntended that whiskey
was absolutely necessary at a seaside
resort.
The bill to incorporate the North Car
DINA and South Carolina Railway
Company passed.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
A bill was introduced by Mr.. Car
raWay to ncOurage the use of wide
tired vehicles on the roads Of the state.
The machinery act came up as a spe-
cial order. 1t was stated that there
were very few changes from the old
act and that these were of minor i'm
pOrtance.
Mr.. Holman offered an amendment
that the commissioners shall pay reg
listers of deeds sums agreed on for
making out tax lists, not to exceed 4
cents for each name on the lists, for
both copies. This was lost. Mr.. Moore
moved to make the amount not to ex-
coed 6 cents. Adopted.
MI. BouShall said the finance COM
Uittee lac in the bill effected a saw
MIG Of 10000 by requiring sheriffs to
MAKE out their own tax lists.
Mr.. Winston offered an amendment
which vas adopted: THAT any person.,
corporation or firm who fail to list poll
taxes or property taxes required of
them by law, shall be guilty of a mis-
demeanor."
Mr.. Rountree wanted the provision
hat power be given to go back and
collect arrears of state axes
Mr.. Moore said counties had this
power, to go back and collect both
state and county taxes.
Mr.. Thompson, of OnsloW, said in his
county there was a tract of 12O, 900
l2rnC of 1n6 which h06 NOT Maid onU
taxes since 1898.
An amendment was adopted, giving
the railway commission power to list
taxes which ave been unlisted, thus
giving them the same power as the
state has to collect unlisted taxes.
Mr.. Rountree said it was unjust that
a man should loose all his real estate
simply by failure to pay taxes which
are but a small part of the value, n
that under this drastic law, as inter-
preted by the supreme court, such man
loses all his property. 1t was in his
opinion far more just to allow the
state to purchase the lien, sell the
property, deduct the tax due n pay
the balance over to the land owner.
Mr.. Moore wanted to know what was
the date fixed for sale of Ian for taxes.
Mr.. Holman said March 18th.
Mr.. Currie, Of Moore, introduced a
bill to sell the states stock in the At
lantic and North Carolina railroad.
Mr.. Brown, of Stanley, introduced a
bill to amend the Code in regard to
hunting on lands of another. 1t pro-
vides hat when n hunts on posted
lands, upon proof of advertisement and
notice hat the land was posted, it
kall be prima facie evidence that the
defendant had knowledge of the post
ing.
The insurance bill was taken up as
special order. 1t passed it's second and
third readings, with few amendments
The third special order came up, be-
ing the bill to reorganize the agricul-
tural department.; providing for the
election of five commissioners to sup
ply the place of the five ion
whose terms expire March 9th. The
total number will be reduced finally to
nine.
MI. Allen, of Wayne, said Mr.. Rich
ard H. Battle had drawn the bill and
the latter followed the OF the
constitution exactly. 1t provides for
the election of nine additional mem
bers, one from each congressional dis
trict. The latter will, after 1903. COM
pose the entire board. There were FOUR
teen of the fusion commissioners. Mr..
Allen said the department was a con-
~stitutional and not a legislative one,
n hence the commissioners, whose
terms had not expired, could not be
ousted. e
MI. Winston wanted to know if the
bill made provisions for taking all
power from the fusionists.
Mr.. Allen said the only way to get
the f%usionists out Of power was to in
crease the directorate.
Mr.. Winston offered an amendment
which was adopted, that the board
shall at it's meeting On March 9th, pro-
coed to reorganIZe.
Mr.. Patterson, of CALDWELL, said in
1897 the ~fusionists dismissed summari-
ly old trustees, but did not disturb the
officers OF the department, who were
kelected for a specified term. He said
ne doubted the policy of ousting the
sresent force of fertilizer inspectors
STOW in the field, as the season is about
\ half over, and by the middle of June
: a complete reorganization can be made.
Mr.. Winston said he wanted it I'M