The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-01-11
THE HOUSE PROCEEDINGS.
Warm Debate Over the Oath Prescribed
for Officers Of Corporations.


kittrell.
At the conclusion of the reading of
the journal for Monday, a message was
received from the Senate, announcing
the passage of s. b. No. Z, for the relief
of L. J. Joynes, ex-sheriff Of Allegheny
county.
On motion of Mr.. Holman, of Iredell
it was referred to the Committee on
Finance.
Under head of Report of Standing
Committees thirteen bills We're report
ed back to the House by the judiciary
lcommittee-six favorably, three unfa-
vorably and four referred to other COM
mitteeS.
Three resolutions and seventeen bills
were then introduced by various MEM
beis. The resolutions were:
To invite Rev. Mr.. Averitt TO deliver
his lecture on General Lee before Gen
eraH Assembly.
To print all constitutional amendments
introduced in the House.
To officially investigate the law in re-
gard to fees of county officers.
Among the bills introduced were the
following:
Three to amend the Code.
Three for relief of county officers.
Three for payment of claims.
Two to permit issue of bonds.
Two for relief of Confederate veterans.
One to encourage manufacturing.
One to allow levy of special tax.
One to amend school charter.
One to incorporate Society Of Cincin-
natl.
Before taking up the calendar, Mr..
Winston, of BERTHE. asked unanimous
consent to call up the bill for relief of
the sheriff of Allegheny county. 1t was
withdrawn from the Committee on Pro-
positions and Grievances and on motion
of Mr.. Holman, was referred to the
Committee .on Finance.
OF the bills and resolutions on the
calendar, five bills we're passed. five
failed to pass and one was referred to
another committee! Seven resolutions
were passed and one rejected.
The warmest debate that has yet oc-
Cured was that over Mr.. Julian's bill
to repeal the act of 1897 requiring the
officers of banks, railroads and other
corporations to file with the State Treas
urer an official oath.
q Mr.. Julian opened the discussion by
generally been disregarded by those at
whom it was aimed.
Mr. Overman, of Rowan, said that the
Judiciary committee, in its consideration
of the law. had found that there was
a demand for its repeal from all the
business men Of North Carolina: that it
was an insult to every business, man
of the State and a reflection on them.
Mr.. Stevens, of Union county, took
quite a different view of the matter. He
said it was IN oath simply binding these
men to obey the law of the State, and
one that they ought to be required to
take.
Mr.. Overman: Would you not OBJ
ject if it We're required of every farmer
to take and file such an oath?"
Mr. Stevens: "That has no analogy
with this case. There is something more
than the trouble incident to taking the
oath that makes these corporations OBJ
ject to it. There is something of
graver nature back of it all. There are
a great many of the men in these cor
porations who are daily violating the
law and the constitution of North Caro-
lima, and that is why they want to be re-
lieved of the OATH.
Mr.. Justices: How would the gentle
man from Union like to be required to
take an oath that he would not steal?
Wouldn't he consider such IL require
ment refection?
Mr.. Stevens: THAT is altogether a
different matter from this"
Mr.. Patterson, of Caldwell. suggested
that the law applied only to people who
had been given special privileges by the
State-charters, franchises and extraor-
binary rights. Hence the comparison of
requiring farmers or individuals to take
the oath was not just one.
Mr.. Justice THAT may be true:
but simply because man happens to
be a member OF some corporation is no
reason that he should be treated as a
quasi-criminal.
Mr.. Ray thought the law, if followed
out, could be made to apply to churches
as well as railroads and banks, they
being also corporations.
Mr.. Stevens wanted to say that the
oath required of officers of corporations
by this act, required altogether a differ
ent sort of oath from that taken by the
ordinary citizen of the State swearing
that he would obey the laws and sup
port the constitution. Corporations. he
thought, served useful purpose, but
they often wantonly violated the law.
For instance. there is a statute against
trusts. Those who are members of
trusts, therefore. have to swear falsely.
when they take this oath and continue
their business. There is the fertilizer
trust controlling nearly all the fertilizer
in this State and Virginia. The Vir-
ginia and Carolina Chemical Company,
no doubt, would like to have the oath
repealed.
again, the law forbids more than
six per cent interest. Some banks and
other financial institutions would like
to charge more. Would they not like,
to have the oath erased from the statute
books? They would hail its repeal with
gladness.
Mr.. Justice: IF you want to get ut
trusts why not aim your legislation di-
rectly at them?"
Mr.. Stevens: mo honest man can OBJ
ject to this law. Let it stand and you
catch the rascal and the honest man
doesn't feel that he's insulted." Cap
plause.)
Mr.. Julian: at is an insult to the
manhood of the State and | want it
II go he