The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-01-15
LOWRY LOST HIS SALARY
AND THE HOUSE HAD TROUBLE
GIVING 1T BACK.
A TOWN WITHOUT AN INHABIrANT
Il Consists Of a Foot. Log and Bar-ROom.-
A Hot Debate Over The Heriford
County Bill Averted by Timely
Adjournment,

Though it was only handful of days
ago that the General Assembly met. it
has done much, and the members yester-
day were wilted lot, who welcomed
today's rest with gladness
When the House adjourned at o'clock
it had worked itself to a standstilI. Yes
terday's session opened dull and dead,
and the members were hardly able to
throw off the ennui. During the whole
four hours of the session there was
with one or two exceptions-no liyeli-
ness, no spirit, no ardor of a high hope.
The real exception was the discus
sion over the proposition to make
horizontal reduction of 20 per cent in
the pay of employees.
When the resolution was read. Mr..
Williams, Of lredell, explained that he
was a member of subcommittee APP
pointed by the Democratic caucus to car
ry out the agreement to reduce fees,
and that it was in obedience to these
instructions that he had introduced the
measure.
Mr.. Patterson, of Caldwell, thought
there was some inequality in the oper-
ations Of such a resolution, in that it
did not apply to employees who received
50 and under. This, he argued, brought
the $3.50 man down to 50, and the $2
man still received 50.
1t was just at this point that Lowry
(Rep.) of Forsyth, got gay and sent up
an amendment, providing that the act
"apply to members of the General As
sembly."
For this smartness the member from
Steptoe Holton's county was soon to
repent in sackcloth and ashes.
Mr. Moore, of jackson, made the point
that the amendment was out of order,
the pay of members being fixed by the
Constitution.
- The Speaker declared that the amend
ment was in order and the Republicans
chucklcd in glee Mt the hole they had
digged for the Democrats to tumble
into
But the Democrat is not that sort of
bird. Mr.. Justice, of Mcdowell. amend
ed Mr. Lowry's amendment to make it
apply only to Forsyth county" where
upon Lowry slid down into his seat and
curled up like baffled porcupine, and
the Democrats, with laughter and ap-
plause, passed Mr. Justices amendment.
Mr.. Petrie Rep), of Stokes, seeing
the awful predicament of his colleague,
tried to help him out by moving to table
the resolution. He had evidently mis-
taken the humor of the House, for it
most emphatically refused to table.
Then Lowry offered up n plea in his
own behalf He said he didn't think
it wouldw be very generous Of this great
body Of men to draw big salaries them
selves and cut his down along with the
laborers."
Mr.. Julian, of Rowan, amended "that
the resolution do not apply to laborers
who are getting $3.50 day" The $3.50
men, he said, were the hardest worked
men in the General Assembly.
Mr.. Overman, of Rowan, wanted to
know whether or not the pay of clerks
had been reduced.
Mr.. Williams, of Iredell, said such a
resolution had been passed and the clerks
that had been getting So are now get
ting 81. The laborers, he claimed, were
not worked hard-not n one of them
working more than from two to four
hours a day.
Mr.. Julian: "Snce hearing the state
ment of the gentleman from Edgecombe
(Mr. Gilliam) / desire to withdraw my
amendment and all objection to the pas
sage of the bill. I'm not here to tight
the action of Democratic caucus
Mr.. Curtis, of BuncOmbe: 1T has
been suggested here that if the pay of
laborers is reduced it will not pay those
from distance to come here, and only
laborers from Wake county can be ap-
pointed. ! want to say in answer to
this. that l can furnish the Legislature
with all the laborers it wants from Bun
combe and they'll he glad to get the
places, even at the reduced c0mpensa-
ton
Mr.. James, of Pender, thought the
matter had better be left as it now
stands.
Mr.. Robinson, of Cumberland, explain
ed in detail the caucus action and the
of the subcommittee to
draft the bill and secure its passage.
Mr.. Ray still objected contending that
the $3.50 man ought not to be reduced
to 50 and the 81 man not reduced at
all. IF this is fair, then the $3.50 man
has all along been getting Just 80 cents
n day that he was not entitled to-"
Mr.. Carroll, of Alamance: "This
matter has been discussed and decided
in caucas, and / take it that every man
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