The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-01-31
NO CHANGE
I'M THE
JURY SYSTEM
The House Refuses to Pass
the Moore Bill.
THE DEBATE A SHORT ONE
THE DEBATE A SHORT ONE
OTHERWISE THE DAY IN HOUSE
IS DREARY.
BUT MUCH HARD WORK WAS DONE
The Largest Number Of Bills that has Yet
Been Disposed Of in Single Day.
Two Dozen Passed Third
Poadinr

The story of yesterdays doings in the
House must of necessity be very brief.
The reason is that there was much
DONE
The Solons worked. They didn't talk.
When they don't talk they don't say
sharp things To each other; and when
they don't do this there are no Incl
dents" in the proceedings. And when
there are no incidents why there's moth
ing TO write about.
Hence this abbreviated chronicle of
Yesterdays law-making.
Ii was Il veritable oratorical Sahara
Yesterday was gray and dreary.
In vain one looked for Il sunlight fash
of humor, Il green sprig Of rhetoric or a
spring of sentiment.
1t was toll: dead. heavy toll. toward
the end Of the calendar. A big, foof-
thick calendar, it is now. and a day S
work doesn't make much impression on
it. Yesterdays didn't for it seemed rs
big when we stopped as it was when
we began; but Of course il wasn't, for
in the four hours session just thirty
four bills had been clipped off of it.
The only event Of the day tl.at by any
stretch Of the Imagination could he
called debate was q little discussion
in regard to Mr.. Moore's bill reducing
the number of peremptory challenges in
capital cases.
The bill, it viii be remembered. was
up before the House last week and
after some debate was re-referred 20 the
Judiciary committee. Yesterday it came
back without prejudice" from he com.
mittee-not the original bill but 4 sub
stitute.
This substitute Mr.. Moore explain
cd, was drawn to meet certain objec-
tions raised to my bill in committee.
1T reduces the number OF defendant 3
challenges from twenty-thrce TO twelve,
and increases the number Of the States
challenges from four TO eight. and furth-
or provides that in all capital cases tlle
prosecuting officers on behalf Of The
State shall not have the right to stand
aside any per cent. Of the jury withour
first showing cause, as now provided
9Iy law"
Mr.. Ray. of Macon, was the first OBJ
jector to the bill. He thought it one
OF the most important that would be
considered ut this session and he hoped
it would not be disposed of hurriedly.
He said it proposed to change lew
which had stood for a century, and he
wanted the Judiciary committee 20 re
port on the bill one way or the other.
de suggested a rc-reference.
Mr.. Moore replied that the bill had
been to the committee twice and he
hoped ii would not be sent There again.
THE bill has been hawked back and
forth between House and committee
long enough. This House is, / think
capable Of disposing of it,
Mr.. Ray: HAS this substitute ever
been before the committee.
Mr.. Moore: IL has not, tut it is
offered to meet certain objections by
members OF the committee and on the
advice and suggestion of others
What member of the committee has
ever said he favored that substituted"
None
II know | never heard of it"
Il don't suppose you have as Fever
seen YOU at the committee meeting.
Mr.. Rountree, of New Hanover, said
it was the general concensus of opinion
among the members of the Judiciary
conlmitte that the original bill ought not
10 pass. but there was general con
census that some sort OF bill ought to
pass.
Mr.. Julian, Of Rowan, hoped his
county would be excepted. lie consid-
cred the law dangerous one.
Mr.. Hartsell, Of Cabarrus, moved to
table the bill.
The motion prevailed.