The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1900-12-20
THE LEGIsLATURE OF 1901.

assemble In the capitol to grapple
with the questions that are up for
settlement. A large number OF the
citizens OF this State are curious TO
know Just what the oncoming gen
eral assembly will undertake TO do,
and just how much OF 1t they Will
got accomplished. 1t would be
profitless to try to forecast the &C
lions OF this rather remarkable
body; and we shall not try our
hand al a prophet at this time. For
the honor Of the State, we hope the
Legislature OF the year 1901 may
be more creditable than was that
OF 1899.
While we shall not venture any
predictions as to what this Demo
cratic legislature may do; we want
to point out some things that they
will ba compelled to face whether
they want to face them or not.
There will be the irrepreSsible
conflict between the corporation
wing and the anti corporation wing
OF the Democratic party. How
these two factions are going to
keep a peaceful house together does
not appear to an ordinary observer.
The fueionists In North Carolina
will have whole "gobs' OF fun, as
they stand of and watch the dis
plays OF unity aud beautiful broth e
erly kindness evinced between the
followers OF the News and Observer
on tho one hand, and the gallant
coharts Of the Charlotte Observer
on tho other. 1t is known that
those who-to use, In slightly
modified form Governor RusselP-
now famous saying-voted for Bry
an and prayed for Mckinley, dc
love the News and Observer faction
for all the world just like a cat does
hot soap and we make no doubt at
all that there will be enough OF
that peculiar sort Of affection exhib
tied In the forthcoming session o.
the legislature to make the sixty
days following the ninth OF mex
month to be red letter days in thu
lives Of all fun loving fusionists N
Pal a IA
you, one and all, old fusionist breth
rem, aud advise you to get your but
tons sown on tight
Then the question Of providin,
such numerous and such efficien
public common schools as will en-
able all the white people in tn
State to educate their children g
that they can read any section 4
tho Constitution by the year 100
will have to be confronted, an
will have to be settled. This Is
most interesting question. Jus
what means will be used to settl
It one does not know. Several way
have already been suggested
but no one OF them seems to b
quite satisfactory. For exampl
1t has been said that large an
altogether adequate public, con
mon school fund might be gotte
into the Treasury by a tax upon tt
gross earnings of all the railroad
within the State.
No doubt this might be don
And no doubt Democratic state
men might be found who wouI
make an affidavit, If required so
do, that such tax upon gross ear
ings would be equitable, but 1t
not believed, to any considerab
extent, that the railroad corpor
tons now doing business within Il
State would be enabled to emf,
such q scheme of taxation We
much. And, IL numerous and eff
Client public common schools shou
be provided for by the next legisl
ture in such way as to be une
joyable to the great carrying corr
rations Of the State, they might n
be willing to help The Democrat
party to carry the State in the We
1902. Upon somewhat mature CO
sideration, we do not think t
gross earnings tax will be resort
to In the pending emergency.
The common public schools,
desirable in the Immediate futu
IL no white child Is to be allow
to be ignorant Of the States &C
stitution after 1908, might be pro
ded for by raising the valuation
property for taxation within
State. 1t Is reported that quite
number Of real good Democr,
have lately sworn before Jud
Shepherd that there is now, q
has been for many years past,
uniform rule amongst assessors q
llSt takers In North Carolina
which they have put down all Or,
erty for taxation within the st,
at about two-thirds of its act,
value. II this sworn testimony
true, or, If it be not true. the les
lat are might direct large incre,
in the valuation Of taxable prop
ty, and thus make sufficient pro
sion for the public, comm
schools. Certainly, this might
done. And, maybe it ought to
done. But, IL the next legislat
should order this thing to be do
and, II their agents should t,
them at their word, and actua