The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-02-21
and lower than any this state has ever

sponsible bidder and be confined to
North Carolina The amendment was
adopted-yeas, SO; nays, is.
The bill as thus amended passed its
readings.
The next bill taken up was one to es-
tablish a bureau of labor and printing
under charge Of a commissioner with
an assistant who is to be a practical
printer. This was pendant to the bill
just disposed of. The democratic eau
Gus will select the commissioner and
the assistant. Actual travelling expenses
weer allowed in collection of statistics.
Mr.. Williams, of Iredell, offered an
amendment, which was adopted, re-
ducing the salaries to $1,000 and $700
respectively.
Mr.. Overman offered an amendment
striking out the provision allowing en-
ployment of assistants to collect statis-
tics. This amendment was adopted. He
then made motion to reduce the So, 500
appropriation for expenses to $4,000.
This was adopted.
Mr.. Clarkson offered an amendment,
providing for election after 1901 by the
! people of the commissioner of labor.
! His amendment was accepted. The bill
then passed.
The revenue bill was made a special
order for Tuesday and the state guard
bill special order for Wednesday.
: The third special order taken up was
/ the insurance bill. Mr.. Allen, of Wayne
interrupted the reading to say he hoped
/ there would be postponement as he
favored a combination of the duties of
t railway commissioners, insurance con-
troll and supervision Of banks and build
ing and loan associations. He, there
fore, moved that the consideration of
the bill be deferred until next Tuesday.
Mr.. Boushall made his solemn pro-
test against the crowding together of
duties of railway commissioners and in
surance commissioners. He said the
postponement meant a purpose to put
power in the hands of the railway COM
missioners. He said the persons insur-
ed in North Carolina favored an in
surance commissioner but not the plac-
ing of that duty upon the railway COM
mission.
Mr. Carroll wanted delay so the eau
Gus could discuss the matter.
Finally the bill was made a special
order for Monday.
The bill wastaken up to allow the
holding of local option elections in
towns and counties at any time of the
year, but not oftener than once in two
years and not in year in which gen.
eral election is held.
Mr.. Robinson opposed the BILL say,
ing a temperance agitator was going
over the state stirring up this matter.
(By this he meant Evangelist J. w. Lee
promoter of this bill.) He said local
prohibition was humbug.
Mr.. Carroll said this bill had been
before the senate and that Senator
Glenn had withdrawn it. Now the COM
mittee had amended it so as to make
it satisfactory. He said prohibition was
conducive to morality.
Amendments excepting counties were
passed in. At this stage Mr.. Carroll
asked consent to withdraw the bill. It
met therefore the same fate as in the
senate.
Bills passed as follows: To establish
a dispesary at Clayton. To allow Tar
boro to establish waterworks and sew
erage; also bill to allow it to establish
electric lights.
Mr.. Gillian was asked if this matter
was now in litigation and said yes.
Speaker Connor, calling Mr.. Council
to the chair, said he could not see how
the house could take cognizance of any
trouble between the town of Tarboro
and the contractors. He said the con-
tract could not be carried into effect
because it had never been submitted to
the people.
The bill to give Mecklenburg a dis
pensary was taken up, with a unani-
nous favorable report. Mr.. Ransom
said he favored the bill and hoped
the house would unanimously pass it.
Mr.. Clarkson said he heartily con-
CURED in what Mr. Ransom said and
that a majority Of 200 of the white citi-
zens of Mecklenburg demanded the
passage Of the bill.
Mr.. Stevens said he doubted the wis
dom of the measure, particularly at
this time. but he deferred to the wishes
of the people of Mecklenburg.
The bill passed second and third
readings by unanimous vote.
At Mr.. Leatherwoods request Mr.
Carroll withdrew his request for leave
to withdraw the local option bill so
the latter remains on the calendar
The house then took a recess
The house met at o'clock. Bills
passed as follows: To incorporate the
Bank of Alamance. To provide for
working Cumberland's roads. To incor-
porate the Bank Of Wadesboro. To in
corporate Eureka Mining and Manufac-
turing Company. To repeal chapter "a,
public laws of 1897, and to re-enact
chapter 296, acts of 1895. To prohibit
the sale Of whiskey at Shelby. To