The news & observer., 1901-01-13

/ UNDER THE DOME. ;


the libel bill which had been introduced
at the request of the North Carolina
Press Association. 1T was generally be-
lieved that the legislators would have
passed the bill ii it had come to a
vote. In order 10 give time for early
action, State Senator Henry A. London,
editor of the Chatham Record, yesterday
introduced the same bill in the Senate.
1t ought 10 become a law before the
month of January expires. The bill is
as follows:
The General Assembly of North Carolina
60 enact
Section /. That before any proceeding,
either civil or criminal, shall be brought
for the publication of a libel, the plaintiff
OF prosecutor shall at least five days be-
fore instituting such proceeding serve
notice in writing on the defendant or de-
PENDANTS, specifying the article and the
statements therein which he alleges to
be false and defamatory. If it shall ap-
pear upon the trial that said article was
published in good faith that it's falsity
was due TO mistake or misapprehension
Of the facts, or that there were reason
able grounds for believing that the state
ments in said article were true and that
within a reasonable time after the SER
vice of said notice a full and fair correc-
ton CT retraction was published in the
same editions of corresponding issues of
the newspaper or periodical in which said
article appeared and in as conspicuous
place and type as was said original arti-
Gle, then the piaintiff in such case, if
a civil action, shall recover only actual
damages, and if in a criminal proceeding
a verdict of mot guilty shall be rem
dered
Section 2. That in every prosecution or
action for libel, the defendant may show
in his defence that the matter complain
ed of was published in his paper or
periodical without his knowledge or fault
and against his wishes by another who
had no authority from him to make the
publication and whose act was disavowed
by him so soon as known.
Section s. That any person who wilfully
states, delivers or transmits by any
means whatever, to the manager, editor,
publisher or reporter of any newspaper
or periodical for publication therein any
false and libelous statement concerning
any person or corporation, and thereby
secures the publication of the same, is
hereby declared guilty OF a misdemeanor
Section 4. That no Indictment or civil
or periodical published within this State
shall be instituted except in the county
where the newspaper or periodical was
printed and published, or in the county
where the person libeled resided when
the offence was committed.
Section s. That this act shall be en-
forced from and after its ratification.
he of io Nf
the careful, painstaking members Of the
Senate and a rock-rbbed Democrat. He
seldom deserts his seat in the Senate, but
Friday it happened that he was not pres
ent when the vote was taken on the bill
to increase the Governors salary. The
Senators knew that Senator Burroughs
had some good reason for his brief alb
sence, and today it leaked out that the
Senator was at that moment on a mission
of mercy. He was trying to get a poor,
sick Confederate soldier into the Soldiers
Home here and when he returned to
the Senate he found that the vote had
been taken. Senator Burroughs is such
a modest man that when he rose today
and asked permission to have his vote
recorded on that bill he did not give
the reason for his absence. He is a Con-
federate soldier himself and their well
fare lies close to his heart. The Senate
ought to know why he missed that one
roll-call even if he was to modest to tell
them.
Senator Speight is deeply interested
the bill amending the present libel law
and it will come up before the Judiciary
committee in the Supreme Court room
Monday afternoon at o'clock. Senator
London says: This bill is the one
had introduced for the State Press Asso-
ciation two years ago in the House where
it's fate has since been the subject of
comment This time Senator London
thought he would introduce it in the SEN
ate first.
Senator Speight is deeping interested
il the States charitable institutions aud
his bill of yesterday appropriating $1,000
for the criminal insane carries out the re-
quest made in the memorial from the hos
pital executive committee read Friday in
the Senate.
Senator McNeill. of Fayetteville. in his
speech before the caucus nominating Catp |
]. B. Smith for sergeant-at- arms, paid |
him quite handsome tribute as a vet |
eran, in the following sentiment THAT |
his record as a Confederate soldier was |
one that any man can justly be proud of |
That he was literally among the first at |
Bethel, being a member If the First |
North Carolina REGIMENT ald on the |
skirmish line on that battlefield, and was |
also last at Bentonsville. having surren- |
dered his gun to Sherman after Appomat- |
tox had become memory-men with such |
a record as he has, who 40 years ago of |
fered up their young manhood willing |
sacrifice to the cause that we all hold so |
dear are entitled to and should have the |
fullest consideration from the present
especially when to honor them |
is not incomplete with the public inter- |
ests.
The first bill to pass both Houses and |
be duly enrolled and ratified, is the one |
introduced by Mr.. Rountree to change the |
name Of the Guardian, Security Trust !
and Deposit Company, of Wilmington 20 |
The Peoples Savings Bank. of Wilmington |
1t was quite funny in the House yes
tcrday when Assistant Door keeper How |
ell came with a message from the Gov |