The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-01-14
DEBATES IN THE HOUSE.
Members Show Fondness for Old
Indian Names.


An interesting bit of discussion on
the question of names enlivened the
session of the House yesterday morning
Mr.. Nicholson, Of Beaufort county.
had introduced bill to change the name
of Chocowinity creek to Chocowinity
river 1T came up for passage during
consideration of the calendar. The sub
ject of this change in name. Mr. Nichol-
son explained, was to get an appro-
priation from Congress to dredge the
stream. There was. he said, great deal
of transportation over it and it badly
needed cleaning out. but Congress would
make no appropriation for creeks.
Mr. Willard, of New Hanover, oppos-
cd the change. He was willing for ii
to be called Chocowinity river, if they
liked. This would accomplish the end
desired. But he did not want all the old
Indian names in the State changed or
Abbreviated. Too much of this sort of
thing had been done already. The old
Indian names were beautiful and he
for one wanted them retained.
''Some years ago the name of Smith
vile. in Brunswick county, was changed
to Southport. and for no reason except
that Northern firm who had come
there and invested in property asked it.
| have always regretted this. Smith
vile was so named for Governor Benja-
mine Smith. one of the States earliest
Governors and one of the first benefac-
tors of the State University.
III vote to change the name of
Choeowinity creek to Chocowinity river,
but I'll not agree to have it nick-named
and call it Choco river.
Mr. Barnhill, of Pitt had conscien-
tious ecruples on the subject. He was
willing to vote to call it Il river if it
really was a river. but if it was only
creek he was in favor of letting it stay
creek. As to what it should be called.
any old name would do, so that it was
only true.
Mr. Reinhardt suggested that if it
was not a river now it never would be.
Mr.. Carraway. of Lenoir, expressed a
fondnesss for old Indian names, especially
for streams and opposed the fashion of
ahreviating them. History, by the
changing of these old Indian Names
he argued, ''has been completely
confused and put to sea, not
only as to their meaning, but also as
to their proper location on the map-for
instance Saxapahaw TO 'Haw. Tar
river has been changed and called the
River of Tar. whereas it is well
known fact that there are but few pines
along its banks, and no tar in it. Tab
kete-os-keh was its original name corr
rupted into 'Tarkeester,' then into Tar,
meaning rolling, tumbling, swift waters.
This river is swift rolling, tumblirg
ctrnn,,1 fro,r, Nount IN itc co,1-ca
hence Tar-keester is corrupted into Tar
Chocowinity is a soft Cohee's name with
a meaning Along its classic banks
many skirmishes were fought during the
war and local history so has it, and
change in its name would put history at
sea again; boundaries would DC changed
The people living along this beautiful
stream would not agree to hail from a
section known as Choco. 1t would be
COMPOUNDED with another historic creek
in Warren known as Shocco. BY this
change the historian would be as much
confused as if we were to change the
soft Cohee's name of PamplicO to
Pam
On motion of Mr.. Nicholson, his bill
was amended to change the name from
Chocowinity creek to Chocowinity river.
The next discussion arose over the
question of allowing certain counties to
pay registrars and judges of election.
This bill as originally offered applied
only to the counties of Lincoln and
Rockingham. In committee Mr.. Foushee
had amended it by putting in Durham.
When it came mp yesterday in the
House. the counties of Person, 1redell,
Caswell, Chatham, Yadkin, Caldwell,
Watauga and Forsyth We're added in
rapid succession.
Mr.. Clarkson, of Mecklenburg, there
upon moved to re-refer the bill to the
committee and have it made general
Mr.. Hartsell, of Cabarrus, saw no
reason for this, as new election law
was soon to be passed and i'll it prOvis-
ion would be made for this.
Mr.. Foushee insisted that this act
ought to be passed to make assurance
doubly sure. 1t might be forgotten in
the Election Law In his county, he
said, many of the candidates had to
contribute to a fund to pay these Off
GERS of election for their services.
Mr. Thompson, of Onslow, said that
down in his section there We're white peo-
pie who had the patriotism to perform
these duties without payment.
Mr.. Council, of Watauga. thought the
matter might be overlooked in the pre-
paration of the election law and that
this act could do no harm. The boxes
under the present law. he said. were
bushel boxes, cumbersome and heavy, and
he had known men to ride many miles
in the mountain counties, carrying them
on horseback. While all men ought to
be patriotic and do their duty, yet it,
was hard TO single out any man and
say he shall give his services. He sent
forward an amendment making it "A gen
eral law applying to every county in
the State.
Mr. Hampton Rep.) of Surry. thought
if the Legislature intended TO pass fair
election law there would be no use pass
ing this act.
Mr.. Rountree. of New Hanover, re-
piled that the election law passed would
be as fair as that enacted by the last
two Legislatures He thought it would
be proper to refer this bill to the Com
mittee on Election Laws.
II was so referred.
At the conclusion of the calling of the
roll on the bill providing for the removal
of i'm Youno'S nama from tho pornpr-