The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-02-21
In Their Hands is the Settlement Of the
White Supremacy Question.
THE FRANCHISE AMENDMENT
TO the Constitution
to the Vote of the PeopleHouse Public Printing
Bill Printing
Insurance Bill a Special Order for TuesdayThe
Local Option WITHDRAWN Then Re.
placed on the alendar.

applauded, the applause lasting near
ly a minute.
The vote stood-ayes AZ; noes s; those
voting in the negative being Senator'S
Campbell Crisp, Franks, Fuller, Good
win and Newsom.
The president then announced that
the amendment had passed by a three
fifths majority, and the bill was or
dered enrolled for ratification. 1t will
be ratified Monday.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE
Bills were introduced as follows: By
Mr.. Leak, to incorporate the Bank Of
WadesbOro; also to prohibit carrying
of concealed weapons by soldiers. By
Mr. Rountree, to amend chapter 1874,
acts 1893, as to New Hanover and Pen
der regarding the ferry over the North
east river; also to amend section 1864,
of the Code in regard to refusal of rail-
ways to receive and forward freight.
By Mr.. Robinson, to provide for work.
ing Cumberland's roads by taxation.
By Mr.. Boushall, to allow Wake coun-
ty to have two additional county COM
missioners. Under suspension of rules
this passed)
Mr.. Boushall presented petitions for
a reformatory, with /, 100 signatures.
The bill passed to incorporate the r.
]. Reynolds Tobacco Company, of
Winston, with a capital not to exceed
s12,OOO,OOO.
The house took Up as a special order
the public printing bill.
Mr.. Thompson, of Onslow, offered an
amendment reducing the cost of bind
ing, which Mr.. Hoey, who was in
charge of the bill accepted.
Mr.. Justice, of Mcdowell, offered an
amendment to give the printing to the
lowest bidder in North Carolina.
Mr.. Boushall opposed this amend
ment and defended the bill, saying the
experiment of letting the printing to
the lowest bidder had proved a failure
He said the bill reduced prices as fixed
by the Code. During the four years of
fusion rule the printing had cost the
state $4,000 more than under democratic
rule.
Mr.. Justice said that all other things
being equal he was for Edwards &
Broughton. He asked Mr. Boushall if
the latter did not have a favorite. Mr..
Boushall said he did. Mr.. Justice said
he had none. Mr.. Boushal1 said he was
speaking in the interest of skilled labor;
| that he had protests of all labor or
ganizations in the state against the
! unfair treatment of organized labor.
! Mr.. Stevens said while preference
| ought to be given to North Carolinians
yet he did not want to bind it down to
North Carolina.
| Mr.. Boushall asked Mr.. Stevens if
he was willing to go outside the state.
Mr.. Stevens replied yes if the people
Of North Carolina said SO and that he
was speaking in the interest of the tax
! payers. He was more in favor of dis
! organized rather than of organized la
| bor and opposed paying a bonus to or
| ganized labor.
| Mr.. Justice had his amendment again
read which provides that the cost of
freight is to be taken into considera-
ton, and that the printing is to be
| done by a firm which delivers it here
! in Raleigh at the lowest price.
Mr.. Boushall said he spoke for skilled
labor which would not sell itself at less
than it was worth
Mr.. Justice said the bill provided for
paying Is 2-3 per cent. more than was
necessary. He said the taxpayers were
not interested in paying fancy price for
organized labor.
Mr.. Justice said his amendment put
the burden upon the committee. Mr..
Winston offered an amendment to the
Justice amendment, that in every con-
tract regard is to be had to the char
acter of the work and the quality of the
material j. "-varding the public print
ing and = lssing on bidders respon-
sibility. Mr.. Justice accepted this.
Mr.. Foushee said H. E. Seaman, a
practical printer of Durham, assured
him that the giving of the public print
ing to the lowest bidder was a delusion
and a snare and that there ought to
be public printer Circulars had been
distributed by Nash Bros, Of Goldsboro,
Offering to do the printing for Is 2-3 per
cent. less than under the bill.
There were several illusions to this
in the speeches. Mr.. Boushall said the
committee had deemed 1t best not to
award the contract to Nash Bros. He
said it was following a democratic
precedent to decline to award the print
ing to the lowest bidder. He declared
there was no bonus in the bill; that the
rate was lower than in any other state