The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1899-02-02
THE LEGISLATURE.
(Continued from First Page.
SATURDAY, JANUARY 18th.

vlding that local option elections may be
held on petition of one third of the qua.
lifted voters and at any time except with
in 12O days of a general election, but no
| oftener than every two years, created
something of stir.
Senator Franks said he objected to
the bill because it permitted too many
elections. 1t wouid cause confusion and
keep up continual racket.
Senator Glenn said he did not see
that it would interfere With the rights
of any one. He thought the petition
ers were entitled to what they asked
| for.
Senator Bryan thought that unless
there was some necessity for a change,
none should be made. He was opposed
to all local option laws as now carried.
They were VIGOROUSLY a failure. It
caused young men to live lie. In
stead of buying their whiskey in bar
room or taking 1t at home like gen
tleman they patronize blind tigers.
The whole system of local option in
this State is failure. They carry in
to the localities having local option
the vilest stuff made. There we're two
sides to the question. He did not
drink liquor but if he wished to do so
| he had as much right as the local option
list had to wear straw hat. Temperance
people would resort to the same methods
to get petitions signed as liquor men
There were fanatics on both sides.
Senator Mcintyre said he favored the
bill. In due Difference to the gentle
man from Newberne he wished to tell
him that local option does prohibit.
Fifteen years ago Lumberton was dis
grace to North Carolina. A lady could
hardly pass the streets. Now there
are not 100 arrests for drunkenness In a
year. The best people Of the county
favor the law. The theory that town
cannot prosper without bar-rooms has
been exploded. He believed that the
women and children should haye as
much opportunity as the liquor men.
There is not in Robson county one
hundredth part of the former drunken
ness, and crime has decreased since
local option was adopted. He says
make the traffic respectable by putting
high license on it. It won't make it
against an amendment requiring one
halt the voters to call all election.
Senator Ward said that he thought
the truth lay about half way between
the two gentlemen. He favored max
ing it apply to the whole counties
Unless the amendment was made he
should vote against the bill. It was a
dangerous thing for politicians to
touch, but he was not politician. He
thought temperance should come
through education. The saloon APP
peared to him to be doomed and that
the men who were at the head OF the
temperance movement were trying
merely to get the credit for doing what
was being done by civilization, Chris
tianity and enlightenment.
Senator Bryan said that local option
might prohibit In Robson but there
were other counties where 1t did not.
He could prove by general statistics
that local option was a failure. He
favored making license $4,000 If nee
essary. Put liquor sellers under such
bond as only respectable men can give.
Then every liquor seller would become
a conseryator of Temperance. Such
law would break up illegal selling. He
was as much an advocate of temperance
as the Senator from Robson but he
favored protecting the rights of all.
Senator Glenn did not think it the
time for temperance speeches. He
asked that as precaution the bill be
recommitted to the judiciary commit
tee.
Senator Lindsay opposed re-commit-
ting. He thought it should be settled
now.
Senator Justice said that under the
law there could be agitation every
month III the year. His county was
prohibition and the law was likely to
give the county trouble.
Senator Brown wished the bill to be
referred.
Senator Travis thought the matter
OF high license was foreign to the ques-
ton. The bill was recommitted.
Among the bills passed we note:
s. B. 273: To protect cattle from
splenetic fever and other diseases, by
making it an offense for which dam
ages may be recovered to bring cattle
with infectious diseases into certain
sections in Western North Carolina.
s. B. 1928: To amend chapter l59.
Laws of 1895. A substitute providing
that no judge shall Issue a restraining
order to prevent county officer from
dlscbarging the functions of his office.
S. B. 1858: To incorporate the Car
DINA Bonding and Surety Company OF
Winston.
TO authorize the payment of school
teachers in Halifax for services in 1897.
HOUSE.-There was not much done
In the House except consideration of
private and local interests.
Among tho bills introduced, we note
the following which Interest our read
ers in Halifax county:
/ H. B. 821: Act for relief of J. E.
Mabry. of Halifax county. By Harri-
son, of Halifax. Committee on Pro
positions and Grievances.
MONDAY, JANUARY Both.
SENATE.-The bills recognizing
the Atlantic and North Carolina Railway
passed the Senate. Under these laws the
road will pass under Democratic control
and the directors will be chosen by the
Board Of Tntorna1 TDnprovornont wbio oh