The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-03-12

The senate met at o'clock and held
an hours session.
Bills passed third reading as follows:
To declare the East Carolina railroad
duly incorporated and enlarge its char
ter; senate bill. to amend the act incor-
porating the Carolina Mutual Insur-
ance Company; house bill. for consoli-
dation and government Of colored nor
NAL schools; house bill. to incorporate
White Oak academy. Bladen county;
house bill. to prohibit the manufacture
and sale of liquor in certain localities;
tbis is the omnibus prohibition bill, in
cooperating many churches and schools
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE
The committee on propositions and
grievances recommended the removal
of the arsenal from the capitol square
and the building of an arsenal and hall
of records on the site bought two years
ago.
Bills passed as follows: Relating to
public roads, bridges, ferries and fords.
(the Alexander road law passed by the
senate, about half the counties being
exempted from it's application); to in
corporate the Aberdeen and Gibson
railway; to allow Kaintuck township
Pender county, to levy a special tax;
to authorize the superintendent of
public instruction to receive passes over
| railroads; for the consolidation and
government of colored normal schools,
(gives power to board of education to
discontinue or consolidate as it may
deem BEST appropriation formerly
given continued.
The bill to provide permanent regis
tration Of all persons entitled to vote
| under section article of the constitu-
| ton came up as special order.
The bill as amended by the commit
tee to whom it had been re-referred
would have passed without debate, but
Mr.. Ebbs, republican. said he was un-
willing to let the bill pass without a
protest, because the constitutional
amendment was unconstitutional and
this bill q worse iniquity.
Mr.. Rountree said the constitutional
amendment was now the law and
would remain so until doomsuay un-
less declared unconstitutional and the
only effect of this bill was to enable
those white men who could not read
and write, and who were otherwise
qualified, to vote. That was q pledge
| made by the democratic party and
now that pledge is about to be fulfilled.
The republicans are protesting against
it. 1 want them put on record as re-
fusing to give the illiteratc white men
| of North Carolina opportunity to vote.
Mr.. Ebbs made a redhot partisan
| speech.
Messrs. Craig, Smith and Allen re-
piled, asserting that this carried out
pledges made the people that no white
! man should be deprived of voting be-
cause of his inability to read and
write. The speeches were all warm
and brought round after round of ap-
plause and cheers form the majority
The roll call on the bill showed-ayes
81; noes, 16. Mr.. Dean was the only
republican voting aye. The bill then
passed it's final reading.
Mr.. Wright, for the committee on the
| judiciary. reported unfavorably on the
| bills to regulate employment of labor
| in textile factories. He submitted an
| agreement by the mill owners to carry
out the spirit of the bills proposed to
| be enacted into law. and recommended
that this agreement be spread upon the
journal with the names OF signers at
tached. The report was adopted with
| out dissent.
| The anti-trust bill offered by Mr.
| Robinson, of AnSon. was advocated by
him and Mr.. Mclean. Messrs. Hoey,
| Marvin, Winston and Shannonhouse
spoke against it on the ground that the
Ward bill with Mr.. Robinson's amend
ment to it had passed the house and
senate; that Mr.. Roblnson's bill had
not received a favorable report form
any committee and that It's passage
| would be useless.
The motion to table was lost-ayes,
| 13; noes. 55.
Mr.. Robinson said he did not care to
rush the bill through without giving
everybody a chance to examine it. Its
| reference to a special committee COM
posed Of Messrs- Allen. Con.aor and
Graham to report it back Monday was
ordered.
The committee to investigate the
deaf, dumb and blind institution al
Raleigh submitted it's report, which
says the charges made against the in
stftution were not frivolous nor made
maliciously, and comoilmented courage
OF White. who made the charges. The
report stated that. on the whole. the