The news & observer., 1901-03-15


1t was something new to him that this
fund was kept for new school houses.
The gentleman from Wake overlooked the
fact that the fund was only to be used in
case the appropriation fell short What
cause had this Assembly for thinking that
the Governor was not acting for the best
interests of the school children?
Mr.. Smith considered that, after the
appropriation of 5000, 900, had been made,
it already belonged to the educational
fund, and could only be used along with
that fund for the benefit Of tho schools.
Mr.. Blount said that appropriations
made strange bedfellows. We have seen
the lion and the lam lie down together
righteousness and Peace had lain down
together
Mr.. Craig: "Am Righteousness?
Mr.. Blount: "es, but Peace (Mr Ebbs)
has left us, and L am sorry for it,"
There was much laughter over this lit
tie diversion, and then Mr.. Blount be-
came serious.
He went on to say that when that
5000 900 had been appropriated he hoped
a noble thing had been done But he. for
one, the day before, when the gentle
man had gone so deeply into the treasury,
that something like this was going to hap
pen.
IF you are in earnest" he cried.
amend this bill so that the 100000
should be given in addition to the school
fund. 1t would be a stupendous bunder
to pass this bill as it is"
MIR. Duls said he thought this was
true. 1t would be political blunder to
say We had made an appropriation. and
then taken it out of the fund that had
been already collected. He was con-
vinced now that the revenue would cover
all the appropriations since they had
been scaled down.
Mr.. Baldwin opposed the bill as not only
bad politics, but bad flnancering. 1t re-
minded him of the man who mOrtgaged
his horse to have a bicycle. 1--WE seem
TO have gone mad on the subject of ex-
penditures. We have spent too much on
frills for a poor State. 1t is time to call
halft. This fund ought not to be spent.
If anything has to fail, let it be those
departments that have had these excess
sive, outrageous appropriations.
Mr.. Thompson moved to table, but with
| drew upon request.
Mr.. Beddingfield said we had Just as
well face the situation. eve came here
pledged to give the children education
before 1905 The first thing we dil was
! to give $210,000 to the schools, and the
people said we had done well. Even the
gentleman who has introduced this BILL
congratulated the Legislature on what it
had done. Now he comes with this bill
to take the money out of the fund the
children already have. 1t is on the same
principle as if owed you $50, and found
your pocket book and paid you out of it,
1t is not carrying out the pledges we
No off 10
cause it is wrong in principle, and be-
cause it would be political blunder How
could we defend it on the stump? We
have provided for the institutions and the
rich who can go to college Now let
us stand by the poor children who can't
go to college,"
Mr.. Beddingfeld then moved that the
bill lie upon the table.
Judge Connor said he had introduced the
bill because he considered it the proper
course to take. He asked to be heard
further, saying it was the last request
he would make to a Legislature of North
Carolina.
Mr.. Beddingfeld, thereupon, in defer
ence to Judge Connor, withdrew his mo-
tion.
Judge Connor said he was willing to
abide by the decision of the House. and
he moved to refer the bill to the Com
mittee on Finance. Mr. Beddingfeld
moved to amend that the bill lie upon the
table. Amendment was lost by a vote of
q to 2S. The bill was then referred to
the Finance Committee by a vote of
40 to rs.
THE TIMBER BREEZE.
The little breeze over the timber bill
happened something in this wise. On
Wednesday night, the House passed a
Dill OF Mr.. Rountree's making 1t a mis-
demeanor to cut timber which is the prop
erty of another, whether on land of such
person doing the cutting or not.
Yesterday morning, soon after the
House convened, Mr. Dees, of Pamllco
moved to reconsider the vote by which
the bill had passed, as the measure would
work hardship upon many poor people
and was already covered in the laws Mo-
tion prevailed.
When Mr.. Rountree came in and heard
what had been done, he informed the
House OF the fact, and said that it was
unnecessary TO comment upon the cour-
tesy of the action taken in his absence.
lie then explained that the bill was
merely to prevent knowing and wilfuI
stealing of timber
Whereat Mr. Dees arose and said he
was the gentleman who had moved 10
reconsider, and he would have much pre-
1erred for the gentleman from New Han
over to have been in the hall at the
time. This" he declared. 'is a law TO
terrorize the poor people, Those shylocks
the lumber agents. have gone through
the country, buying up timber and promis-
ing the owners that they could use the
small trees for fire wood, and now they
want law to give them power to exact
the last ounce Of their land" He moved
the bill lie upon the table
Mr. Nicholson said it was a fact that
corporations had gone through the coun-
try, buying timber with the understand
ing that the owner could cut all the fire
wood he wanted. This was sometimes
verbal understanding not mentioned i'm
the deed He mentioned ases under his
own knowledge where great injustice had
been done.
Mr.. Rountree said he wanted to reply
to the more or less demagogical harangue
of his friend CMr. Dees) The cases sup
posed by the gentleman from Pamlico and
tie gentleman from Beaufort were entire
ly irrelevant
Mr.. Nicholson said this act would have