The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-03-03

DEPRWES NONE
BUT ASSISTS ALL
Senator London on COnStitu-
tiOnai Amendment.
HARD HIT ON GAMBLING
COnnivance of Officials With Crime
Must Cease.
POLICE FORFEIT RG4r TO OFFICE
Senate Passed New SC | Law. Prohibition
For Three ctun i Bill For State Ar.
senal Delayed. Compulsory
Edurafion in Mifcbcll
Education in Mitchell.

The proposed constitutional amendment
by Senator London. which permits either
race to levy a special tax in an school
district for the schools of that race ex-
clusively, came before the Senate yes
terday with unanimously favorable re-
port of the committee. Senator London
then sent IN an amendment that all the
electors of any district could vote on the
proposition and not just the race ar
fected. This amendment was adopted
aLl Senator London was then recognized
and s;1.d
SPEECHES FOR THE BILL
the object OF this bill is to promote
the cause oe education among both
races and not to deprive either race or
every possible opportunity for improv-
ing their educational interests. This
does not affect the usual school tax
levied by every Legislature, which will
be expended hereafter as heretofore
among the children of both races equal
ly. 1t merely allows each race the OPP
portunity of levying an additional tax
at any time a majority may vote that
such a tax should be levied And this
additional tax, although it will be
levied for the educational purposes of
such race as may desire it, yet the
proposition to levy the tax must be
voted on by the qualified voters of
both races. That is, if the whites of
any township desire to levy an addi-
tional tax for the public schools of
their race the proposition to levy such
tax must be voted for by the whites
and blacks who are qualified voters
And so, if the blacks in any township
should desire to levy tax on their prop
erty and polls for their schools this tax
must be voted for by both races. Both
races must vote at these local elections
because it would be unconstitutional
for only one race TO vote.
The Legislature of 1897 passed an
act directing an election to be held in
August of that year IL every township
upon the question of levying a special
township tax for public school pur-
poses. This was voted down in nearly
every township in the State because
the whites We're not willing to levy
sepcial or additional tax upon their
property to be divided with the schools
for colored children. Hence the object
of that law was defeated and neither
race received any additional tax for it's
schools.
This proposed amendment to the
Constitution would not take away one
dollar of the axes now levied for the
colored public schools but would mere
~ allow each race TO increase it's
school facilities in any community
wherein it was desired. 1t would do
more to promote the cause of education
in North Carolina than any measure
that has been heretofore suggested. 1t
would not in anyway do anything to
discourage the colored people in their
efforts to educate their children but
would rather encourage them in every
way possible. For thirty years I have
done all / could to advance the moral,
mental and material interests of the
coiored people and would now bid them
God speed in all their efforts to better
their condition, and this proposed
amendment, while increasing school IA
cilities for the white children would not
deprive the colored children of any of