The news & observer., 1901-01-26
DEBATE OVER ALlMONY
Bill Supported by Senators Henderson
Justice and Morrison.
WARD AND WoODARD AGAINST IT
The Bill Deferred Until Next Tuesday at Eoon'
Libel Bill Passed Sec md Reading. Sens-
tOr Scott Speaks Earnestly on the
Agricultural Bill.
Agricultural Bill.


Yesterdays session ~ the Senate was
enlivened by lwo strong debates-one
over scotts bill providing that no one
except farmers should be elected to fin
vacancies on .he.Agr.elltura Board and
the other over Senator Hendersons bill
to grant The judge power to award
aimony in cases )r absolute divorce.
Neither OF these bills were finally acted
upon, the lorincr wen; back to the com
mittee anil the latter Is now the special
order for next Tuesday noon. The libel
bill prcparel by Senator London and
endorsed by the State ress Association.
passed It's second reading, but Senator
Dula. RepuDlt"an offered objection so
that II went over. until tomorrow
sEN.4ToR SCOTS BILL
The biz IS senator scott provides
that no one 9taIl be chosen to FIJI pa-
cancy on slr State E,ard OF Agriculture
except a pra ,tical tanner. and second.
that IN case lie ofiio, of Commissioned
of Agriculture becomes vacant by death
or resignation then the Governor ap
points to fil the vacancy.
senator Motion said when he saw
that the bill had been favorabiy re-
ported he was SURPRISED. for IA his
opinion It Nas clearly unconstitutionnl
no Offices colld be restricted TO any
special class ~ citizens. The consttu-
ton gave any citizen n right 90 aspire
10 office. one might as well say that
only a business man should be Governor
AS that no one save farmer shall serve
on this board. our laws have always
been so fair and liberal that even man
who Is not a lawyer might aspire to q
seat on the bench, and if the people
elected him he would 90 judge as
truly as learned jurist would. He was
opposed TO such class legislation.
Senator !3loughton said that he had
received communication from the
Farmers Alliance reeitlng that three
members from this District of the Agfi-
cultural Boarti were ret farmers. While
he believed the Agricultural Depart
ment shoald i'elong - the farmers. still
he agreed with Senator Morton, that
tho ail was class Legislation and uncon-
stihltional. if the Legislature decides
that only practical farmers can hold
that position, then II Is step in the
direction OF condition when the prin-
tefs, the carpenters and the profes-
sion shall Dc mand tnat no one but
member Of their trace shall bold some
other office He could not support the
bill
SENATOR seOTTS PLAIN WORDS.
senator Scott. the intf1duocr began
his reply ~ stating: Il am only
practical farmer myself and | look Ut
ths question from q common sense and
not constitutional standpoint The
Ht. a.. ~.
plainly says the Commissioners Of Ag-
riculture shan be q practical farmer.
and ! cannot understand why If that
qualification can be applied 10 the office
Of commissioner. the same requirements
cannot be exaoted for membership on
the board o. introducing this bin al
J sought vas 10 prescribe the same
qualification for trLstees as for com
niasoners. iali Immediately this prin-
cipa hitherso undisputed, becomes in
some way unconstitutional"
Continuing senator scctt declared
With earnes ness, he only aim In my
mind was the lcreased efficiency Of the
department. making il Of real value 70
the farmers / believed IL only just and
proper. bit since Introducing 1t ! lind
that IL ha8 made me- famous Il have
10 be plain lie ad,.ed. and ! believe
when pollt e:ans. business men and men
who have 80 practical knowledge Of
farming are Llaced or the board It's ef-
ficiency is tn,Daired. There are eompe-
tent men in tne ranks Of the farmers
10 constitute boaru Of real value 10
the agricultural class / am glad to
recognize gll h men as Col Juo. $. Cum
ingham AMI Major Graham ~ the work
for farmers. but TINS Board of Aeri~
culture has nut been madc what its
name implies and TO objects stiDulate
Right here in Wax county ] under
stand there have been three men on
the board vha lived right In town ana
had no prataal knowledge of farming
successful business man is not neccs-
sarily acqlainted with farming. but
prosperous thrifty farmer must under
stand business methods From my own
district there has peen man, on the
board who nothing but politician. |
he ran for ',ongregs this fall" In c!os-
inR Senator seott said Tho bill had been
unanimously reported fayorably by the /
committee on agricu'tdre and he hoped /
i would pass II il was uneonstitu- /
tional. thou 80 was the act of 1880. ana /
let the courts decid that after the |
Legislature had done It's duty
SENATOR WOODARD's POSITION.
Senator Woodard said that while /