The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-03-01

subterfuge to get through the constitu-
tional amendment.
Eaton (col), of Vance, cade some in
quiries as to certain sections Of the
bill.
Mr. Williams, of Graham, objected to
the provision roping off the voting place,
This exhausted the time of the oppo-
sition,
by general consent Isaac Smith was
then given five minutes to present his
views. This was all he asked
Christ brought salvation in five min
utes and He saved the world in five
minutes he said, land l don't see why
| can't make Il good, little speech iii five
minutes"
He then sent forward an amendment
TO strike out the section requiring the
applicant for registration to prove his
age by two reputable witnesses.
My good Republican friends who
tried so hard to keep me from speaking
will find if my amendment is adopted it
will do the Republican party more good
than all the amendments they have
adopted. They amt none of 'em said
nothing in tlgir speeches about this
section.
"Why it'll disfranchise every niger
in the State. and many white people too.
1t will dsfranchise me. / couldn't get
two men TO prove my age ! don't be-
lieve the Governor of the State could
get two men of good character to prove
his age.
And as for my getting back here
thatll he out of the question. But as
far as that is concerned you all know
| don't want to come back. I'm losing
here every day.
Mr.. Winston. who was in charge of
the bill explained it and said he was
deeply grateful to the Republicans for
the concern and fears they We're ex-
pressing in regard to the future of the
Democratic party. He said the law.
with the exception of the State and
county election boards, was the same
as that in effect up 10 1895.
Mr.. Petree-"Does the Republican
party have any representation on the
State and county election boards%
Mr.. Winston-"None whatever"
Continuing Mr.. Winston spoke of the
election law passed by the Fusionsts in
1855 and amended in 1897 and said:
fered has been in the name of Fair
Election Law
The provisions of the law. he said.
had been thoroughly discussed in caucus
| and need not be- gone over on the floor
of the House. He therefore called the
previous question.
All amendments We're voted down.
On final adoption of the bill Mr. Hamp-
ton called the ayes and noes.
| The roll call resulted: 13 for and 20
against.
The vote was a strict party vote, ex-
cept the one Democrat Mr. Mcneil. of
Brunswick, who voted against the bill.
In doing SO he gave the following expla-
| nation:
During the last campaign I prom
| ised the people Of my county that
would vote for no unfair election law.
| As thsre are provisions in this bill that
strike me as being unfair, j shall
be as good as my word and vote no."
Applause from the Republican side).
The bill passed its third and final read
| ing without discussion ana was sent to
the Senate without engrossment
The new election law is in its main
features a copy Of the law in force previ-
| Gus to 1895. The bill provides:
j. That the election for State and
county officers shall be held on the first
Thursday in August and every two
years thereafter.
2. That there shall be a State board
OF elections composed of five persons
elected by the Legislature for term of
| two years.
3. That there shall be Il county board
of elections consisting of three persons,
appointed by the State board for a term
Of two years.
4. That the State board of elections
shall meet in Raleigh the first Monday
i'll May, 1899, and organize by electing
one of their number chairman and
| another secretary. Another meeting
| shall be held on the first Monday in
April in each election year. Special
meetings may be called when necessary
For their services the board shall re-
ceive four dollars day and travelling
expenses.
). That the county boards shall APP
point all registrars and judges of elec-
ton. Members of the county boards
| may be removed by the State board
| and the county board in turn may re-
move any registrar or judge of election.
g. That county boards must meet not
later than the first Monday in May for
organization, and for dividing the coun-
ties into precincts and fixing polling
places.
Z. That before the next general cleo
| tion there shall be an entirely new reg
istration. Among questions to be asked
| applicant is 'whethes he has listed his
poll for taxation for the current year
in which he applies for registration. and
| for the year next preceding. And il
any applicant shall falsely swear he has
listed his poll for taxation, he shall be
guilty of perjury and punished as pre-
scrihed by law"
| 8. That the registration books shall
| be kept open for twenty days and closed
ON the second Saturday before the cleo
ton. On each Saturday during this
period the registrar shall 80 to the poll
! ing place TO register voters. On such
days the books shall be open for inspec-
ton by voters of the precinct. There
shall be no registering on election day,
| but voters may be challenged.
o. That on or before the first Mon
day in July the county board shall APP