The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-02-12
THE LEGISLATURES BIG VOL
UME OF WORK.

UME OF WORK.
The hope that the Legislature would
be able to complete its work by the
25th of February is no longer entertain
ed.
The general verdict of those who have
watched the work of these bodies many
years is that more important iegisla-
ture, of both a public and priy.l'e la.
ture. has come before this body than
any Legislature in the history Of the
State, except possibly the first Demo
cratic Legislature after the war when
there was no sixty day limit On the SEES
sion.
This Legislature is more than an or
binary law-making body. 1t is both 4
General Assembly and a Constitutional
Convention. In its legislative capacity
it has been forced to devote ono third
of its time to undoing the hasty, crude,
improper and Ubiquitous legislation CT
the two preceding bodies. For four
years no legislation has been asked by
the progressive communities Of the State
except such as was absolutely accessa-
ry. This year finds many towns asking
to have their charters changed and codi-
fed. In an even larger sense there las
been a spirit of waiting upon The part of
the business men of the State, and until
satisfied that stable government would
be restored they have been slow to 90
into new enterprises. Now they feel
safe and hopeful as the many new char
tiers secured attest. Dispensary iegisa-
have consumed much time, and there
has been such volume of local legis
lation OF vast Importance 70 the section
affected as to require many Gays for
its consideration. Besides, there have
been knotty problems to solve in the leg
Station affecting schools, the removal Of
Maj. Wilson and s. Ohio Wilson ny the
Governor, the penitentiary mucdla, the
demand of the people for the Jim Crow
Car the provisions of the revenue bill,
the requests from all institutions fol
increased appropriations, antitrust leg
islation, reduction of salaries AMI ices,
the impeachment of Judge Norwood.
the change of the election law, he cod
ification of the insane laws, the legista
ton to put foreign ard State corpora
tons on the same footing, the petitions
for stock laws, local option petitions.
whether to permit dredging for oysters
or not, and dozen other quite as i'm
portant matters, not to mention tn,
Scotland county agitation, which, like
the poor, we have always with us.
As a Constitutional Convention. thu
matter of agreeing upon an amendmen
to be submitted to the people has en-
crossed the attention and demanded III,
best thought of the body. An agree
ment has been reached after the mos
thorough study of the Constitutions o.
South Carolina, Mississippi and Louis
lana by the able lawyers in both
bodies. An agreement was nor had n
matter of course. There were wide
differences of opinion as to the best plas
when the Legislature met, ana ther'
were those who thought a radical elec
ton law would eliminate the neccSsit1
for any amendment to the Constitution
There We're enough differences to haAa
split the party if a spirit of patriotism
concession, devotion to party and Stat,
had not, animated the Democratic legis
lators. Instead of spirit of Pride 0
opinion and a resolve for each 10 carry
his views, the legislators have bter
moved solely by desire 20 secure tn,
best plan to perpetuate white snprcma
cy and good government in North Caro-
lima. The amendment adopted ~ vel!
like the Louisiana plan, except thai
it wisely extends the date Of regstra
ton. 1t is better than any other plan
for two reasons: l. 1t is the only plaI
that is self executing and which leave
no opportunity for an election officer t,
deny suffrage, and 2. 1t does not dis
franchise single white voter III III
State. 1t cannot be misrepfosantcd Ey
political demagogues for it is as sim
pie and plain as it is honest and consti
tutional.
Most of the iinnortant Ieoislation IN,