The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-02-01

THE WORK OF THE LEGISLA
TURE-IMPORTAN MEAS
URES NEARLY READY.

The important work of this session of
the Legislature is in such shape that
within short while it will be upon the
statute books.
The caucus is now discussing the bill
embodying the Constitutional amend
ments that are TO be submitted to the
people. That is by all odds the most
important matter that will come before
the legislature The time already
taken by the committee in perfecting
the measure that is before the caucus
has been well employed. The measure
as it stands, with an amendment to eX-
tend the time OF completing registra-
tion till 1902. as suggested by Mr..
Llewellyn, of Surry, is about as perfect
a measure restricting suffrage as could
be framed. There are three things
about it that. commend it: l. 1t is hon
est There is no loop-hole in it for
fraud or the suppression of qualified
voters. No suggestion that made 1t
possible for the election officers to have
the power to prevent a legal voter from
exercising the franchise has been incor-
porated into the amendment. Under its
operations poll-holder will be ma
chine. He cannot deprive any voter of
his right, if he complies with the regula-
~
for fraud. 2. 1t is constitutional. There
need be no doubt upon this score. The
exceptions are in line with judicial de-
cisions, and founded upon sound reason
ing. g. 1t is simple and plain. The
humblest citizen can understand its pro-
visions. 1t guarantees to every citizen,
now and for the future the right to
vote, if he was a voter in 1867, or if his
father or grandfather had the right to
vote ut that date. All others can vote
il they can read and write. While Radi-
cal politicians may desire to mislead the
voter, this provision is so plain that the
most illiterate voter can understand it
as perfectly as the best educated, and
those politicians who hope TO deceive
the illiterate voters will not have an
argument upon which to make a cam
paign of deception. 1t is within the
bounds of an almost certainty that this
bill will be ratified within ten days.
The election law is virtually completed
and ready to be offered as soon as the
caucus has agreed upon the Constitution
al amendment 1t has been prepared
with great care and its provisions are
along lines that will be approved. The
committee has examined the laws of
leaders, including the chairman of the
State Democratic Executive COMMITTEES,
and has incorporated the best features
of the best election laws in the several
States. 1t is, moreover simple and free
from complications, and under it eloc
tions will be conducted fairly and hon
estly. As soon as the amendment has
been submitted this law wlll be present
ed and enacted.
The Committee on Education has beer
industriously at work upon bill thai
will advance the educational Interests
of the State, make the school fund ac
complish more by using it in accordance
with the needs Of the schools instead o
dividing it upon the old inequitablt
basis. and make such changes in thu
machinery as will be both more popula
and more effective. BY Saturday o
Monday this bill, one of the most i'm
portant that will engage the attention
of the Legislature, will be ready TO
discussion and adoption.
The Finance Committee has made eX
celient progress on the revenue bill. |
will be ready next week. That commit
tee is composed of some of the ables
men in the Legislature, and when
presents its measure of taxation, ever
provision will have been well considered
1t is hoped that it can see its wa
clear to recommending a decreased rat
of taxation, and to that end the Legs
Iature so far has not authorized an
large appropriations.
Next in Importance, if not of eve
greater Importance, is the matter of NJ
preparations. Very little time ought t