The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-02-03
Especial to The Messenger.)
cEN A TIT

(SDecldl 10 Inc AleSSeuSeE.)
SENATE.
Raleigh, n. G., January 31.-The sem
ate met at 10 o'clock.
A report from the committee on cleo
lions was read, stating w. S. Lambert
and George Eaves were elected senators
from the Thirty-irst district, and not
Commodore Kerley and w. J. Southern,
the sitting members from that dis
trict.
The recommendation of the commit
tee that A. E. Stevens he appointed as
sistant enrolling clerk was adopted.
Bills were introduced as follows: To
establish a ~dispensary at Smithfield.
To amend the act relating to a fish,
oyster and industrial association. To
authorize the commissioners of Craven
county to set aside a sinking fund for
it's Indebtedness. To prevent commits
sion merchants from charging a COM
mission on goods purchased by them
selves. To provide for funding the in
debtedness of Union county.
Senators Jerome and James were add
ed to the committee on agriculture,
and Senators Wilson and Davis to the
committee on investigation as to the
payment Of money out of the treasury.
The bill passed to incorporate New
Bern.
The bill to amend, consolidate and
codify the insanity laws came up as
a special order. The senat went into
committee of the whole and took up
each provision separately. Discussion
first arose over the word "inebriates."
Senator Travis objected to the provis-
ion that drunken people should be cared
for by the state in the hospital for the
insane.
Senator Speight stated that the con-
stitution provided that we must care
for inebriates and says we may AXE
care of the insane.
Senator Brown said an inebriate was
as bad as an insane person, as great a
nuisance to a community, was as pit
liable and demanded as much care, and
he thought there could be no mistake
made by having the provision I'M
touched, as not more than twelve inc
b~riates, according to law, could be cared
for at any one time.
Senators Jerome and Cooley support
ed this view and saw no reason why
such distinction should be made be-
tween insane persons n inebriates.
They advocated that the former be
given preference in point of care, but
not to the entire exclusion of the lat
eer.
Finally the amendment striking out
the word "inebriates' was put to a
vote and lost.
The section providing that the super
intendent and medical officers of each
hospital shall not be required to attend
court in any case as expert witnesses
and they shall not be required to at
tend as witness to facts within their
knowledge, unless the judge before
whom the case is to be tried shall di-
rect the clerk of the court to issue
subpoena, and unless the subpoena
shall be served upon the superintend-
ent or other officer 1t least fifteen days
before the day of trial, was stricken
out.
There was considerable discussion of
section providing that priority of admis-
sion shall be given to INDECENT insane
and that the board of directors may
regulate admissions, having in view the
durability of patients and the welfare
of the institution. This section was al
lowed to stand as it is, though a mo-
ton was made to substitute for it sec
ton 2275 of the Code, which is practi-
cally the same in effect as the provis-
ions of the bill.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
The house met at 10 o'clock.
Bills were introduced as follows: tt
repeal the act of 1897 by which the fu-
sionists took control of the Agricultu-
raj and Mechanical College, at Raleigh
ct places the management and contro.
in a board of twenty-seven trustees, OF
whom nine are those in office and eigh-
teen to be elected by this legislature
the board to meet February 18th and
organize by electing a president and
also such embers of faculty as il
may deem best. The board is to fill
vacancies among its members). To reg
ulate use of meridian anG
- -
ty seats. To require conductors on rail
ways to give passengers check fol
amount of fare they pay in excess o.
regular cost of tickets. To amend the
free public school law and create col
ored school committees To put tele'
phone companies on an equal footing
with telegraph companies. BY Mr.. Viii
lard, to establish a branch of building
and loan association in the department
of insurance. Providing for the election
of a keeper of the capitol by the leg
stature.
The resolution was adopted, calling
on the governor for a report of peni
tertiary for the last two years.
Bills passed as follows: To allow thu
chairman of the board of education