The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1901-02-28
From Our Regular Correspondent

(FrOm Our Regular Correspondent
RALEIGH. n. C.. Feb. 25. 1901.
1t is noticed that number of the week
ly papers OF the State are complaining of
the failure of the legislators to pass the
libel law asked for by the State Press As
ISOLATION. and have tried to secure some
information as to the cause of the in
action OF the House committee on the
judiciary (the Senate having passed the
billy and what | learned from several
sources is embodied in the following ex-
PLANTATION made by q Representative
whom l personally know is not unfriend-
~ to the newspaper fraternity. Said he,
in effect:
The responsibility rests at the door OF
those newspapers in North Carolina that
have often. and again very lately, pub
lished scurrilous and libelOus stories
about good and honest men-men not in
public life, some of them. but who have
been most basely slandered. If such out
rageous publications are made now
against the character and good name OF
quiet folk pursuing only their avocations
and professions. what ia there within the
realm OF possibility and meanness that
these vultures and hyenas of the State
press-few in number, am glad to add,
but numerous enough to deserve more
curbing at the hands of the law than
they receive-would not attempt, with
a more lax libel law? What is it they
would not essay to charge q gentleman
with If they could escape the legal conse-
quences OF the act by simply taking it
back later?
Il am afraid the decent. honorable,
self-respecting and respecters OF others
rights and good names papers, who do
not libel anybody and who have no care
really what kind OF libel law is on the
statute books. are permitting themselves
to be used for an unworthy purpose by
the class l have described, and which is
clamoring for larger license to assassinate
the characters of good citizens. If all the
newspapers in North Carolina We're like
ninety per cent. of the country press
this Legislature would not care what
kind OF law controlling libellous publica-
tions was enacted. or whether We had
any law on the subject at all. But, un-
fortunately, there are some character as
sasinating scoundrels among the editors,
as we'll as in other professions. and they
ought to be controlled by even q stronger
law than we have at present
| was told by another that the bill was
about to he reported favOrably, or at
least without prejudice" when one of
the instances evidently alluded to in the
foregoing paragraph occurred and caused
nearly all the friends OF the bill on the
committee to desert it. Now, there may
be 'other reasons. | simply state what
has been told me-
1t may be added, however, that the
structures of some of the papers on the
conduct OF the average small-fry politi-
clan and the self-seeking demagogue and
the office-hunting crowd generally. are
none too severe. 1t is the fact, and has
long been so, that they will use the news
papers to the limit to boost themselves
into office and Immediately exhibit the
baseat in9ratitude for what has been
done for them by the papers.
But the newspaper men are as much to
blame as they, by submitting to such
treatment when they have the remedy.
and most potent one, in their own
hands.
PROGRESS OF THE IMPEACHMENT PRO-
CEEDINGs.
Looks to me as though there will
necessarily be an extra session OF the
Senate (and the House also, OF necessity,
L believe) if the impeachment trial ia to
The judges will be entitled to a reason
able time to prepare their defense OF
course nothing could be done before this
week in that line-fOr. as Gov Jarvis, of
counsel. says. I'VE did not know until the
articles of impeachment were drawn.
what we would have to answer and
stand trial for
On Saturday next the General Assembly
will have been in session two months
exactly the 60 days allowed by law. II
only 10 days notice is given the judges
and their counsel to prepare their case,
the session will be almost at an end be-
lore the trial could begin-and it may be
more lengthy one than some people
anticipate. Each Judge may elect to be
tried separately, for instance
The lawyers in the case 40 far selected
are: For the defpnse-Gov. Jarvis. F. |.
Osborne, f. II. Busbee, W. d. Bynum,
c. NJ. Cooke. For the prosecntion-W. A.
Guthrie. L. F. Davidson, J. H. Merrimon.
J. II. Pou, C. B. Watson. c. NJ. Busbee
There may be one or two additions to
each side.
COURT OF IMPEACHMENT ORGANIZED.
At $50 Saturday afternoon the man.
ayers on the part of the House Qed by
W. 4. Allen. OF Wayne. the chairman),
followed by all the members Of the House
and the officers and clerks of that body,
repaired to the Senate Chamber. where
Allen officially and for
mally notified the Senate that the Honse
had adopted articles OF impeachment
against Justices Furches and Douglass.
and the same were then read by the Clerk
Of the Senate
President Turner informed the man.
ayers that the Senate would take proper
order. as required by law. and notify the
House later. The Representatives then
retired
ThereupOn the Senate adopted a resO-
luton, that the Senate would organize
as a High Court Of Impeachment on
February 25th. at 12:3Oo'clock.
Notice will then today be served ON
for the defendants and such time
act IA may be agreed upon for the trial to
be"in
This is the last stage reached in the
up to this (Sfonday) morn
my.
STATE PRISON MANAGEMENT.
The bill of Senator Woodland twho is
chairman OF the committee on penal in
to regulate the management
Of the State prison Tor penitentiary)
which will be taken mp this week. incor-
Dor ties that institution. making it a
mdy corporate as in case of Incorporated
and provides for directorate
II i've members. one of whom shall be |
,ha rman.
The board is given authority to employ |
offic' r and servants as it may see fit. fix |
heir duties and the compensation they
shall he paid The members of the hoard
hall receive four dollars a day and mile |
age. at rate of five cents per mile; but the |
BOARD may. if they deem proper pay the |
chairman thereof a stated salary in lieu
,f per diem. and canse him to perform |
inch duties az they see fit in the manage |
nent OF the institution. etc. BY this !
after provision the chairman OF the |
BOARD can discharge the duties now per-
ormed by the superintendent. and the |
after office need not be created.
The Governor. with the advice OF the |
Senate. shall appoint the directors. their
ERIN OF office being four years. and he |