The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1901-03-19
The Legislature.
sIxTY-sECOND DAY-MARCH IL.

Election of Senators by Popular Vote-COun-
try soEoOl Libraries-Llbel Bill-schOol
Taxes.
A makeshift substitute for the re-
fOrmutory bill passed, providing that
whenever any person under II shall
be convicted of an Cffense for which
the punishment is imprisonment or
work on the roads, the judge or
mayor shall give such person into
the custody of the parent or guardian
for correction. If there Is no parent
or guardian, the criminal Is to be
bound out "a an apprentice to some
responsible person. An inquiry is
required on the part of the clerk Of
the court. An affidavit of at least
two free holders is required as the
character and fitness of the person
to whom the convicted person is
bound out.
In accordance with the message
received from the Governor on Fri
day, Mr.. Winston introduced a reso-
luton, which was adopted, request,
ing Congress to call Il convention for
the purpose of proposing an amend
ment to the Constitution of the
United States, providing for the
election of United States Senators by
direct vote of the people.
The bill to encourage schools to
establish free libraries, carrying S.,
600, passed both Houses after some
discussion. The State Board is to
appropriate $40 and the county
board $40 for this purpose to every
school whose patrons shall first con
tribute SO toward the purchase of
books.
The London libel bill passed with
practically no opposition. Senator
London says: This libel law does
not license any editor to libel any
body, but it only protects from punt
tive damages an editor, who under
an honest mistake of facts, publishes
a libelous article and promptly pub
fishes an apology, retruction and
~cOrrecti IN"
Representative Sheets and Senator
Marshall, Republican, asked to have
their votes changed from ''nO > to
aye on the Stubs bill, providing
for permanent registration of white
illiterates under the grandfather
clause of the Constitutional amend
ment.
The Progressive Farmer of last
week was in error as e. the assertion
that Judge Allen made the opening
speech for impeachment to day. The
court organized and the Senators
were again sworn but Judge Alltn
speech was postponed till Thursday.
In the rush and hurry of getting to
press, we accepted as true the report,
which came from Il seemingly re
liable source, but which we did not
have time to investigate.
The Post gives this account of to.
days meeting of the judiciary com
mittee:
"The bill introduced by Mr.. Stubhs
of Martin, proposing an amendment
to the Constitution, by which the
school fund can be apportioned he
tween the races as the races pay
school taxes, was considered by the
House Judiciary Committee. Mr..
Stubbs of Martin, the author of the
bill, and Mr.. Marlborough of Frank
lin, champiOned the measure To
day before the committee. They
sought to reach a vote, but Mr.
Rountree insisted on the point of no
quorum, which he raised. Mr..
Rountree said the bill was the most
dangerous that had been before the
committee and he declared that he
would take every advantage to ecure
its defeat. Mr.. Common and Mr.. Pat
terson also opposed the bill"
Judge Connor pronounced it a
dangerous measure, all the more so
because popular.