The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1899-02-09

S>.O
lstruction Of the statute, but that Sena-
tor Campbell was not lawyer and on
that account he had thought it fair tor
committee of the whole to hear argu-
ment from counsel.
Senator Travis said he was willing to
F.! trust the committee.
| Senator Justice considered it a dan
gerous precedent. He should be glad
to sit at the feet of able counsel and
learn the law, but the Senate did not
have time. If there had not been a
fair hearing the case should be re-refer-
ed.
Senator Mcintyre said that as mem
ber of the Elections Committee he was
willing to hear the case to the end OF
the session if necessary, but was op-
posed to the appearance OF counsel on
the floor of the Senate.
Senator Glenn said that ii Senator
Campbell could show justice was on
his side he would not lack for lawyers
to help him argue his case.
Senator Goodwin moved to go into
committee of the whole for one hour
to hear counsel. Senator Black oppos-
ed it. Senator Skinner said full and
free hearing had been given in commit
tee. The law had been carefully look
ed into and found to be in favor of the
contestants. The motion to go into
committee of the whole was lost.
Senator Campbell then took the
floor and spoke at some length in favor
OF his report. He said the committee
had been careful and fair, but he
thought their construction of the law
was too strict.
At the close OF Senator Campbell's
argument Senator Glenn asked that
some member of the majority present
that side of the case. Senator Daniels
gave the ground of the majority re-
port.
He said that after careful consid-
Grafton the committee had ruled that
electors registering on off days were
not entitled to vote. When the com-
mittee made that ruling they did not
know whether it would seat contestants
or contestees. The precedents mention
ed by Senator Campbell had all been
before the committee, aud after study
Of them they decided that they did not
apply, as they were cases under diff
ferent election law. The law had
been changed by Senator Campbell's
party.
| Senator Justice said if the Legis-
lature OF 1895 bad let the Payne Elec-
ton Law alone they would now have
two more Senators. But the proviso
in the new law as to registration was
absolutely mandatory and was capable
of but one construction, that registra-
ton on any other than that prescrib-
ed by law was absolutely null and
void.
Senator Skinner said that there we're
such Irregularities in nearly every pre-
cinct in Mitchell county as woull have
justified their being thrown out. No
| Laxoc I'D hoor l. rou,o o,,f ,rhoro irrou
ularities were traceab!e to election Off
GERS. But it seemed that anyone from
mere reading of the law would see
that it was mandatory.
Senate: Osborne called the previous
question and it was lost.
Senator Smith called for the ayes and
noes on the majority report. The vote
resulted, ayes "a, noes 6, all Republi-
cans aud Populists voting no. Messrs
Eaves and Lambert came forward and
were sworn in, Messrs. Kerley and
souther retiring.
On motion of Senator Smith the Sen
ate went iuto committee of the whole
to consider the bill codyiying the in
sanity laws of the State. The President
of the Senate by unanimous vote, was
asked to preside.
Senator Wilson moved to reconsider
section 46 as to INDECENT insane. After
some discussion an amendment offered
by Senator Travis was adopted. The
section of the law now reads: "In the
admission of patients to any insane asy-
lum, priority Of admission shall be Civ
en- to the INDECENT insane; Provided, I,
that the Board of Directors may resu-
late admissions, having in view the Gu
rabillty of patients, and the welfare OF
their institution and exigencies OF par
ticular cases; Provided furtuer, that
if any inmate of an asylum shall require
private apartments, extras or private
nurses the directors, if practicable, shall
provide the same at fair price to be
paid by said patient"
Section 25, which imposed a fine OF
p3EO -, ,,,, cbor;H for fak{nv apy Da-