The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1899-03-14
LEGISLATIVE PROCEEDINGS,
FORTY EIGHTH DAY-Feb. %

(HouSe-COntimWed from last Week.)
The bill then passed its second and
third readings. 1t is titled ITO Pro.
vide for the Election of the Commits
sioner of Agriculture by the People
and to Re-organiz3 the Department of
Agriculture and immigration" On
third reading it adopted an amend
ment offered by Mr.. Winston, that the
board shall investigate the timber in
terests and promote the growth and
protection thereof.
The next bill was to provide for the
governmental the Agricultural and Nc
chanical College at Raleigh; repeating
all former laws. Mr.. Winston cf3red
an amendment which provides that
the management and control of the
college shall be vested in a board of 20
trustees, and the president of the col
lege is made ex of1cio president of this
board. There are to be seven trustees
elected for two, two for four, and seven
for six years. 1t provides for the cleo
ton at present of a sufficient number
to make the number 81, as the fusion.
lists whose terr2s do notexpire continue
to hold eff e until the expiration of
such terms. Mr. Justice said the main
change from the old law is the election
Of the trustees by the legislature, and
the provision that the trustees shall fill
vacancies. The trustees arc to meet
on the second Monday in March and
re-organize. Passed. &
Mr.. Thompson, of Onslow, for the
pensions committee, introduced an
omnibus" pension bill, covering 100
bills introduced, and it passed, while
the 100 bills were tabled.
At 1 o'clock the election bill was
taken up as a special order. Mr.. Win
ston, in charge Of the bill, announced
that each side Democrats and fusion
iste) would be given half an hour for
discussion.
Nj. Petree, Republican, in charge of
the Republican side in the debate,
offered an amendment to strike out
section 81, which allows challenges on
election day. He said that this was
pjuet, and that undue advantage
might be taken of it. MI. Winston
said this provision had for years been
in the election Law Representative
Smith (col } wanted to know Of Mr..
Petree how much time was to be given
him. Mr.. Petree told him he could
spare him no time. This aroused the
ire of Smith, who ratified on at a great
rate on his privilege as a member"
Mr.. Hampton made a ten minute speech
and sent in several amendments, these
being to hold the election in November
instead of in August and to providefor
registers Of election instead of n
registrar, and to provide that there be
two Democrats, two Republicans and
one PopulIst. Mr.. Hampton said he
would not discuss the Democratic
methods in the last election law, as to
do so would be painful to him. He
said the people had rebuked the Demo
CE6GB LII 4OS8 64O LOU IL 0A6 6dAO
that he gave warning that the PEG
pie would do some more rebuking if
this election law, particularly the hold
ing of an election in August and also in
the selection of Democrats as election
officers save as to judge Of election on
precinct board, passed. He made a
plain declaration that the people would
repudiate this election law at the polls.
He said the worst Of the provisions
was that of challenges at the polls.
Nj. Williams, of Yadkin, offered an
amendment providing for registrars
and poll holders of different parties.
H9 declared that 1.-The great R9publi-
can party here in North Carolina is
not dead, but sleepeth," He added
that this election law would car the
Democrats in Western North Carolina
away from the constitutional amend
ment. Mr.. Pritchard, Of Mitchell, said
the Western people would not submit
to such a law; that the white men
there would not be trif9d with OF
suffer their liberty at the ballot-bOx to
be abridged. Mr.. Williams, of Ora
ham, also spoke briefly in opposition.
Upon suspension of the rules, after OBJ
lection by Mr.. Gillian, Smith was
given five minutes to speak. He spoke.
He offered an amend ment to strike out
the words that applicants must prove
their age. Smith, continuing his speech,
said that the provision requiring the
testimony of two witnesses as proof Of
age would de0ar him from voting, as
ne could not produce two witnesses to
swear to his age. He said the Cover
nor himself could give such proof.