The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-02-22

mediate passage failed.
The bill 10 reyiSe the corporation laws
was made special order.
The senate bill TO provide for a gen.
eral stock law for the state came up.
The committee recommended ii favor
ably with an amendment that any
county commissioners could exempt
their county or a district provided they
fenced it in.
Senator Brown opposed the bill, con-
sidering it unwise and dangerous.
On motion of Senator London the biz
was tabled.
Bills passed: Authorizing Johnson
county to work convicts on roads; pro-
viding a stock law for parts of BIa-
den county ito authorize the SeaDoarj
Air Line railway. successor to the Rich
mond. Petersburg and Carolina rail-
road. to exercise the powers conferred
on the latter. The company can not
consolidate with the Southern railway
and the Atlantic Coast Line.
Senator Morton offered an amend
ment to say "can not consolidate with
competent lines" which was lost.
The committees amendment was
adopted.
The pension bill came up. Senator
London offered an amendment that if
the fund be insufficient to pay pen
general fund, provided the amount for
pensions any wear does not exceed $780,
900. The subcommittee on finance had
agreed to cents on property and Is
cents on poll for pensions, but the full
committee reduced this to cents ana
II cents. saying it would raise a sui
hclent amount. This amendment was
TO assure that fact.
The amendment was adopted. and the
ma n nio1 e.
urday.
Two bills one a senate and the other
from the house providing for thesal
of the old court house of New Hanover
came up and were re-referred to com
mittee. The house bill for selling cours
house was deferred till Friday.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES..
Bills were introduced as follows:
BY Mr.. Moore, to pay Cyrus Thompson
$500 for extra clerical help; by Mr..
Rountree, to amend section 1896 of the
code, relating to pilots; also to charter
the KinstOn savings bank.
Mr.. Ebbs asked what the committee
on rules proposed to do with the pro-
tests filed by republicans against the
increase of the governors salary and
the Impeachment resolution. Refer
ence of these protests were unprec-
edented.
AlleH cdlleO dCCenIlOn TO the fact
that every protest filed in the legisla-
lures of 1897 was referred.
Mr.. Robinson, of the committee, sa d
the chairman was absent and as soon
as he returned the matter would be
considered.
Speaker Moore said the constitution
guaranteed the right of protest, but it
left it to the house to say in what Ian
guage 1t should be couched an1 For
DllrDOSa a ~
right to examine and report on any
resolution of protest.
Mr.. Rountree said he desired it un-
derstood that the bill introduced by
him related to repeal of the law COM
pelling vessels entering the port of
Wilmington to employ a pilot.
Bills were introduced as follows: By
Mr.. Ellis to allow Nash to levy a
special tax; by Mr.. Daughteridge, to
secure costs in justice courts; by Mr..
Pearce, to prevent stock running at
large in part of Craven; by Mr. Allen.
of Wayne, to punish disorderly con-
duct during divine worship; also to
to restore to the governor the apnoint-
ment of the board of internal improve
ments; by Mr.. Thompson, to prevent
fishing for perch with nets in New
river.
Bills passed final reading as follows:
Restoring to the governor the appoint
ment of the board of internal improve
ments; to enlarge the stock law of
Pitt.
A joint resolution of respect on the
death of DR.. George l.. Kirby, super
intendent of the central state hospital,
was adopted.
The bill to provide for the appoint
ment by the governor of a board Of
three examiners to visit and report on
the condition and management nf all
he
state was taken up.
Mr.. Spainhour explained that the
present system of legislative commit
tees visiting these institutions was not
a good one. These committees, at
great expense, make short visits to
these institutions and, without any
kind of means of proper investigation
or time for the same are feasted and
entertained and send in a report, al
most without exception, carrying out
the wishes entirely of the superlnten-
dent and board of directors.
Amendments were offered, provid-
ing that no member of the board should
be connected with any state institu-
ton and that no member should re-
side in the county in which inStitut' on
was located. These amendments were
accepted by Mr.. Spainhour, but object
ed to by Mr.. Gattis. who said they
smacked of populism.
Mk Blount moved to amend by in
serting elected by the general assem-
bly, in place Of appointed by the gov
ernor."
Mr.. Mclean said that as good a
man as the governor is, we are putting
too much in his hands. These men
ought to be elected by the leg stature.
Mr.. Robinson said 1t was well known
that IL the legislature elected 1t would
be done by caucus and political pull
would dictate the selections instead
of qualifications for position.
Mr.. Blount said he meant no refiec-
ton on the governor, and everybody
knew it. We do not know how long
we can have such an excellent govern
or.
Mr.. Graham said there were few
members Of the legislature qualified
to properly perform the duties Of the
board.
Messrs Beddingfield and Gattis op-
posed the amendment prohibiting the
appointment of men residing in the
county where any institution was To-
Gated.
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