Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-02-01
The Legislature Repeats All
Election Laws.
A FORTHCOMING NEW LAW.
A We'll Drawn BilI~Date OF Election
ChnnEcd-The Penitcntiary stiiI
an object of Absorbing Interest
Two Murderers Opposition TO
Proposed Corporation Tax-From
Other Parts of tho Staie.
Especial to Virginian-Pilot.)

Raleigh, N. c.. Jan. 31.-The Lcgisla-
ture has repealed all election laws.
Thursday night the Democratic caucus
will take up the new law, prepared
with great care by Senator Glenn and
Representatives Stubs and Winston,
and Democratic State Chairman Sim
mons. To-day each committeeman was
given n draft of the new law. 1t is
very different from any former laws.
AS expected, 1T restores the old date of
elections the first Thursday In August.
This is done to prevent Federal inter-
ference ut elections by disassociating
the latter from the Congressional cleo
tions 1t also names August 1900 as the
date for the first election. The State
Board OF Elections is not composed as
formerly. Then it was OF State Off
GERS and was only Il canvassing board.
Now it has greater power. 1t is to
meet in-April-oa-each- election year,
and IL is 10 be composed of five discreet
persons. The county elections boards
are also u new creation. The bill is
we'll drawn. 1t is very comprehensive.
THE PENITENTIARY TROUBLE.
The pcnitentiary continues to en-
gross quite n large share of public at
tenton. Your correspondent endeav-
ored 10 ascertain whether w. II. Day,
Gov. Russelrs latest appointee ms su-
perintendant, intends TO step down and
out February 10. when the Democrats
take charge. Capt. Day said: Il have
told no one what l will do. l have not
said i would resist the action of the
Legislature. No man knows what
will do. The Denitentiary managed by
anybody under the new law will be a
failure. The Legislat tive Committee of
Inquiry has done its work well. but it
has failed to look into the treatment of
convicts. 1t is well recognized that the
new law is not satisfactory and i'm
practicable. and that If when the new
Board OF Directors meets ! step down
and out and surrender. the Legisla-
ture VIII make decent law"
TWO MURDERERS.
There are two negroes charged with
murder in Jail here for safc-keeping.
One Is from Faston, the other is from
Johnston. The latter was In the cell
with Booker the negro who was hanged
and leaping out of n window, saw
Booker hanged. He did not intend to
see the hanging. 1t has totally un
nerved him. He has always feared
lynching and sleeps only a short while
eac night. He says his dreams are
all OF lynchers.
a bill! is introduced in the Legislature
to charter the Oriental Insurance Com
pany. OF Asheville. capital, 100000.
OPPOSITION TO PROPOSED TAX.
There is n strong fight against the
proposition to levy n corporation tax.
1t is an extension of the idea of taxa
ton OF gross earnings Of insurance
companies, and its main purpose is to
relieve the railways. The tax on mer-
chants purchases now yields about
$4,000 a year. and that on corporations
would yield over four times that sum,
and permit the dropping of the pur-
chase act. which is certainly odious to
the merchants.
TWO DEMOCRATS SEATED.
Lambert and Eaves Democrats)
were given seats in the Senate from
the Thirty-first District to-day. de-
fcating two Republicans. kcrley and
Southcr
The event of the Senate session was
the discussion of the insanity laws and
there was Il fight which failed to strike
out the provision for n department for
inebriates.
a bill was introduced in the House to
put the Agricultural and Mechanical
College in Democratic hands by the
election of eighteen additional trustees
There are now nine fusion directors.
PURE FOOD BILL.
bill was passed to protect the pub
lie from food authorizations. II imposes
a heavy penalty for adulteration unless
food is branded as not pure.
The whiskey disDensary for Bladen
county was abolished. 1T being stated
that the people were a unit in oppos-
ing its continuance.
bill was introduced Incorporating
The North and South Carolina railway.
from some point in Person county. on
the Virginia line. to n point on the
South Carolina line. In Union, Arson. or
Richmond county