The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-02-28
THE ROAD LAW DELAYED
Senator Woodland Declared Section
~ Dangerous.
ELECTION or THE UNIVERSITY TRUSTEES
Precipitates D,bate 10 Which Soma Strong
Words Are Used. Senator McN.iI Urges
Repeal Of Fayetteville Dispensary
Senator Brcughton Opposes.

The Senate had an unusually lively
session yesterday. with the Cumberland
dispensary, the general law end the cleo,
ton of University trustees as the principal
subjects that contributed TO the interest
of spectators.
The Cumberland county bill abolish
ing the dispensary there came up last
thing in the senate yesterday and the
debate will be continued this morning
soon after the Senate meets at -
O'Clock. The bill had an adverse re-
port from the committee.
Senator McNeill, of Cumberland. said
that he had hoped TO have q favorable
report but he had unfortunately made
remarks which had been construed as
an attack upon the Republican party,
and this caused the members of that
party to vote no in the committee. He
did not so intend and he hoped now
that his indiscretion would not be
charged against this bill. He had 4
heart full of gratitude for the western
Republicans, who in 1897 had defeated
the iniquitious police bill for Fayette-
Vile and had said nothing against any
Republican west of Raleigh.
The dispensary was put upon Cum
berland county in almost single night
without giving the people a hearing;
thereby vast property interests, protect
ed for 100 years, had been destroyed.
The people of Cumberland expected to
have this wrong righted two years ago,
but their representatives were Vacillat-
ing and the measure failed.
Senator Mcneil then traced the his
tory of the recent primary, which was
held February 10, under the call issued
by Representative McKethaan and him
self. He said the dispensary people be-
gan Immediately disparaging that white
primary. although it was first wanted
by them. This was a sign of weakness
itself and showed fear on the part of the
dispensary advocates that the institu-
ton was obnoxious to the people.
Cumberland is Il large county and
many live eight miles from the polls,
yet nearly a thousand men went TO the
primary and voted against the dispen-
sary. There We're many pairs all over
the county and that partly accounts for
the vote not being larger Besides this
the dispensary committee, on the Sat-
urday preceding the primary, asked for
a postponement which was manifestly
unfair at that hour.
He explained the rules and operations
of the primary, saying that there was
no reason for the dispensary advocates
not anticipating. except that they
knew that they would he overwhelming
~ beaten. The vote in the primary was
larger than usual in the municipal cleo
ton when there is no opposition.
Turning his attention to the petitions
for the dispensary he said that he yes
terday investigated these petitions and
found them full of fraud; whole sheets
were filled out in the same handwriting.
Now he asked the Senate to stand by
that white primary instead of misrep-
resented petitions.
He declared that crime had increased
so per cent under the dispensary, and
read certificates from ex-Sheriff Smith,
ex-Sheriff McGeddie and Sheriff Burns
to this effect. There have been 80 ar
rests for peddling whiskey against one
under license. Now as to prohibition,
the contention being made that the dis
pensary is in the interest Of temperance.
he said: why more liquor has been
sold under the dispensary than under
license in Fayetteville. Here are the re-
ceipts for the past four years of the dis
pensary. In 1897, $14,OS0 in 1898, $35. 497;
in 1899 $39,57S and in 1900 ST., 802.35, or
more than is sold in the city of Rail
eigh even. Yet of this amount, not 16
per cent was paid to the city. Don't
send me back to the people of Cumber-
land dishonored, don't let me go and tell
my people that you have turned down
their request"
SENATOR MORTON FOR THE BILL.
Senator Broughton moved to postpone
the bill until O'Clock tonight. The mo-
tion was lost.
Senator Morton said that a white pri-
mary was the best committee to pass
on such bill. This bill need never
have gone before a legislative committee
for the people of Cumberland had de-
cided it. Il never have had much faith
in petitions, but when you bring peti-
tions signed in churches, while the choir
was singing hymns and the preachers
urging that side OF the question. I am
convinced that the fairer decision is that
derived at the ballot box instead AZ
ter Senator is elected it is too late for
the people TO begin disparaging him.
After an election or primary it. is too
late to petition; the hour of opportunity
has passed.
SENATOR BROUGHTON OPPOSES.
Senator Broughton said that he hest
tated to oppose the measure of any Sem
ator on this floor, but there We're times
when a man must speak for his own
convictions and what he deems the i'm
terests of the people. especially when a
majority of them asked it. This dis
pensary was established in 1897, and no
matter why or how it was done. the fact
remains that the Democratic Legisla-
ture, of 1899 refused to repeal that law,
because it was shown to be good thing
for the people there. Everything that
the Legislature of 1897 did was not bad.
If the Republicans voted against this
bill from party standpoint in commit
tee, he did not know it,
This question was not an issue in the
last campaign in Cumberland county.
In circular letter after the August