The free press. (Southern Pines, N.C.) 1898-19??, 1899-02-10
FROM THE STATE CAPITAL.
Doings in the Legislature During the
Past Week,
(From Our Special Correspondents

RALEIGH, N G., Feb. 7, '99.
1t has been decided that the State
textile school shall be made a branch
of the Agricultural and Mechanical
College, instead of a separate institu-
ton, as was intended. $4,000 is APP
propriated to erect the necessary
buildings and it will be conducted
without any expense to the State fur
Their than the regular appropriation
to the College 1t is thought the bill
as amended will pass easily.
Senator .Glenn's bill providing
that local option election or prohi-
bition shall be held at any time one
third of the voters may petition for it,
has been one of the most discussed
bills in the Senate. To-day it was
withdrawn because it had been loaded
down with so many amendments that
Mr.. Glenn thought, even if passed,
it could hardly accomplish its object.
There has been several bills in both
Houses to reduce the fees of county
officers and these have created some
opposition, especially from the small
err counties, where it is claimed that
the officers are not any too well paid
anyway. When one of these bills
came up in the House it was apparent
that almost every other man wanted
his county excepted from the proyis-
ions of the act. There will doubtless
be some reduction arranged for, An
excellent bill providing for shorter
form of chattel mortgage and crop
lien would have passed If it had not
been overloaded by Legislators who
were afraid some of their county
officers would lose some fees.
The bill to codify the laws of the
State relating to insanity and the in
situations for the keeping and treat
ment of the insane, has been passed
by the Senate. 1t is a great improve
ment on the present laws.
The bill making it misdemeanor
to adulterate food products has
passed the House and will soon pass
the Senate. Heavy penalties are pro-
vided.
To give an idea of the enormous
mass of bills and resolutions now be-
fore Legislature, 1000 bills, eXclu-
sive of petitions or resolutions, have
been presented in the House alone,
besides the large number introduced
n the Senate. The Legislature has
resolved to ad journ on the 25th of
february and that gives them only
fifteen working days in which to dis
pose of this immense amount of bust
less. 1t will take hard, steady work
o accomplish it.
The new Democratic directors Of
he penitentiary are: AT large. M.
:. Bryan, of Madison. w. c. Newland
# Caldwell, and Thomas b. Crowdcr
i Wake; lst district, b. F. Thomp-
on; End, Z. l.. Travis; 3rd, r. H.
Kicks; 4th. J. W. Perry, 9th, w. H.
osborn; 9th, j. G. Davis; 9TH, Jas. 7.
.egrand Sth, Alfred Young; 9th, j.
!. Gwaltney; 10th, DR.. NJ. +. Nor
thew; 1lth, }, Ii, Wellington; 18th,
amuel l.. Rogers.
There is general disposition on
he part of this Legislature to make
Il the principal State officers elective
0 that the people may choose them
t the ballot box. This is one of the Is
eatures of the scheme to reorganize M
he Department Of Agriculture. Ad- NJ
itional directors are to be appointed
nd they will elect successor to N
ninth, but two years from now the #
'eople will elect the Commissioner OF "a
agriculture. 1t is also designed that II
n the creation of the new railroad ~
the commissioners shall W
&c elected by the people.
Mr.. Starns' antitrust bi which
,rovides that those who purchase
rom trust are not compelled to pay
Of the goods bought has aroused Il
reat deal of opposition on the part
I corporations and combinations.
The jim Crow car bill has not yet
een reported from its committee,
nut is under discussion.
Quite a large number OF railroads,
rusts, insurance, banking and man
featuring companies have been
ormed during the past week. Most
I the bills on the calendar relate to
hanges in stock laws, relief of GER
ain persons from taxes, putting old
olders on the pension list, making
ertan streams legal fences, and
UGH minor bills.
The amendment to the constitu- \
ion agreed upon by the Democratic
aucus will undoubtedly be the suf-
rage act that will be submitted to
he people. 4