The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-02-05
THE HOUSE PASSES THE BILL FOR
RESTRAINING LOBBYISTS
AN AMENDMENT TO THE BILL
Strikes Out the Clause Requiring Reg
~fstratfon OF Fees Received by Lobby
ists-Mr. Willard's Great Concern for
the Guileless Country Members-A
Message from the Governor as to the
Railway Tax Compromise Divorce
Bill Passes FiIal Reading In Senate.
SENATE.

(Special 10 The Messenger.)
Raleigh, n. c., February 1.-The SEN
ate met at 1880 o'clock.
Bills were introduced as follows: BY
Senator Miller, of Pamlico. by request,
Cresolution) investigating the soldiers
home; by Senator Warren. to incorpo-
rate the Farmers bank. of LAGRANGE;
by Senator Lindsay. TO authorize the
committee TO investigate the manage
ment of the institution for the deaf,
dunn and blind; by Senator Foushee,
to protect m and mechanics; by
Senator Alexander, to encourage man
ufacturing, n to aid the state horti-
cultural society; by Senator Buchanan,
to amend the laws of 1899. relative to
examination Of state banks.
Bills passed as follows: Senate bill
to allow alimony in cases of divorce a
vinculo matrimonii; senate bill, 10 al
low Raleigh to issue bonds and levy a
special tax; house bill. to change name
Of Union City to Ashpole and TO
amend its charter; house bill, to allow
| Charlotte to issue bonds to fund float
ing debt; senate bill. to allow any city
or town along the line of the Great
| Eastern railway to subscribe to the
capital stock; senate bill. to authorize
a graded school at G~reenville; house
bill, to establish graded school at En-
field; senate bill. to incorporate Rich
mnd County savings bank; house bill,
to incorporate Rose Hill: senate bill. to
pay J.. S. Mann the balance due him
as shell fish commissioner: house bill,
to regulate working convicts in Pas
quotank; house bill to allow defendants
to appeal from a bonds.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
The house met ait 10 O'Clock.
Petitions were presented as follows:
By Mr.. Britain, regulating the hours
of labor ;ntextile mills; by Mr.. Thomp-
son, asking to prohibit the sale of
liquor in Whiteoak township; by MI.
Carlton, to prohibit the sale and manu-
| facture of whiskey in Duplin.
Bills and resolutions were introduced
as Follows: By Mr.. Page, to provide for
heating and ve%ntilating the capitol; by
| Mr.. Bradsher, to regulate employment
| of labor; by Mr.. Dean, to amend the
code relating to grants.
The resolution passed final reading 20
authorize the chairman of the judiciary
| committee ITO compel the Of
| witnesses and the production of papers
1 III lIpc IldClCT ol lInpSdCIIIISul u JUS
| tees FurcheS and Douglas.
The bill to regulate Hobbies came up.
Mr.. Graham said the bill was an ex-
act copy of the Wisconsin Law and in
tended to regulate the great evil of lob
bying. 1t would locate paid agents of
different measures, requiring all who
were employed as agent or attorneys
to register the fact of such employ
ment and whom they represented. From
fIn yoil114 70 49, olnca - v0rx coocinr
members were b~uttonholed and annoy
ed to such extent that 1T was a serious
interference with transaction of bust
ness. The object is to know what lob
byists are employed and paid to inf1u-
ence legislation. Asked by Mr.. Thomp-I
son, he said the law would apply alike
to visiting statesmen, whether they
were lawyers or not, h came here
to get pet measures through.
Mr.. SiInmS said it ought to be enti-
tied "a bill to encourage lying by lob
byists." He opposed the feature re-
quiring, the agent OF attorney to file theI
amount Of his fee.
Mr.. Willard said the law was intend
ed to protect members from impOSitiOnl
as we'll as ~noyan 1t is said that
over $1,000 a a lis being pai6 out now
by certain corporations to leg-I
islation. These men come right on the
lHOOI VI LIZ uOuSe, Sit UOWH ny SoiHcI
country member and begin to chin him
about a bill, and a guleless member
never dreams that he is by a lobbyist. |
Some states have sought to nave all
agents to wear yellow badges. We arei
constantly annoyed by receiving nOtesl
calling us from our seats into the lob
bies.
Mr.. Simms offered an amendment tot
strike out the requirement of amount
Of fee received being registered. saying
with that amendment he would hearth
ly support the bill.
Mr.. Willard accepted the amendment.
Mr.. raj opposed it.
Mr.. Green favored the amendment.
He said the Did leaders of the house,
needed protection. Lobbyists do not
dc experienced legislators they work
on.
Mr.. Graham stated that if Mr.. Will
lard, author Of the bill, accepted the
amendment. of course, that settled it,
but he thought it an important fea-l
ture.
Mr.. Willard stated that he accepted
the amendment rather than AVE Serf-I
GUS opposition to the bill.
Mr.. Graham said the bin was noti
aimed ait legitimate paid attorneys who
openly appeared before committees and
did not seek to hide their mission. I'll
is aimed against the man who comesl
aroun pretending to be wholly disin-
terested, when he is a sneak, If not a !
spy.
The bill passed its second and third
readirg-ayeS, 40; noes, 80.
Bills passed as follows: To increased
license for retailing liquor in Green's
hnra- RI r-anaol nharrnr 159 Iouc 1907 |