The news & observer., 1901-03-10
NOT A WHITE MAN
IS DISFRANCH|SEO
The Permanent Registration
Bill Passed.
REPUBLICANS VOTE NG
Committee of Whole Votes For Board
of Tax Commissioners.
GRAHAM foR RE-AssEssMENT THIS YEAR
The Omnibus Bill For Justices Of The Peace
Passed. Lively Debate Over Sampson
Robins,n's Anti Trust Bill Referred
to a Special Committee.

to Special Committee.
The House Yesterday passed the per-
manent registration bill, which will pre-
vent the Acknowledgement of the ILL
terate white voters Of the State by the
constitutional amendment The Repub-
licans and Populists present, with the
exception of Mr.. Dean. of Macon, voted
against the measure thus putting them
selves in the position OF voting against
giving the ballot to the uneducated
white voters for the constitutional
amendment is already law. There was
quite a breezy and interesting debate
over the matter, in which Mr.. Ebbs
Mr. Rountree. Judge Allen Mr.. Craig,
and others took part.
Consideration of the machinery act
was taken up in committee of the
whole. and article 1, creating and en-
poWering the new board of tax com.
missioners, was adopted. Other sections
of the act. down to No. y, were also
adopted. MIR. Robnsons antitrust
bill was discussed and referred to
special committees consisting of Judges
Allen. Graham and Connot. 1t was made
the special order for Monady at 1870.
PERMANENT REGISTRATION
The substitute offered by the COM
mittee cn constitutional amendments
FOR II. B. No. sol, to provide permanent
registration of all persons entitled to
vote under section T. of article VI, of
the Constitution, YVES taken UP as a
special order at 1880. Mr.. Stubbs sub
mitted the substitute for the committee.
The original bill had been introduced by
Mr. Winston The substitute is printed
i'm another column. A slight amendment
offered by MIR. Duls. was Incorporated
in .Ee measure.
Mr. Gibbs entered a protest against
the bin.
Mr. Rountree said the constitutional
amendment had passed, and would stay
until doomsday.
Mr. l1bbs said he hoped doomsday
would not come before it was repealed.
Mr.. Rountree: The gentlemans S
party has been saying that we were.
trying TO disfranchse the iliterate
white people Now when the Demo
cratic party is proposing "a bill that
would allow the illiterate whites to
me his position is peculiar.
Mr.. Ebbs declared this was putting
him in false light. He thought that
the provision in section 9. of the bill,
that he shall be otherwise qualified
as an elector meant that some white
voters would be DISTINGUISHED.
1t was explained that this simply had
reference to the legal requirements as
TO residence, etc.
Mr.. Craig: Every white man in
North Carolina can come up to that re-
quiremcnt. The only people disfran-
chised by this act would be the con-
stituents OF the gentleman from Madi-
son. the black men. If the gentleman
and his colleagues vote against this
bill, they will vote contrary to their
pledges en- the stump that they would
do all in their power for the poor white
people of the State They care not FOR
the iliterate white man; but are look
ing out for the illiterate negroes, as
they have done before (Applause)
Mr.. Smith claimed that Mr.. Ebbs was
not loyal to the Constitution of North
Carolina
Mr.. IGbbs said he had taken an oath
to obey the Constitution of the State,
where ii did not conflict with the Con-
stitution of the United States. He was
not disloyal because he thought the
constitutional amendment so conflicted.
The debate had now become quite
heated and had created the liveliest
interest among the members of the
House and spectators. The applause
was frequent, as points were made.
Judge Allen: If this bill does not
pass, would that not prevent any il1i-
lerate white man from yoting?"
Mr.. Ebbs: when this amendment is
investigated it will be shown. l believe
10 be unconstitutional"
Judge Allen: rs it not possible YOU
are wrong?"
Mr. Ebbs: 1T is possible the gentle
man from Wayne is wrong"
Judge Allen: Every one that voted
FOR the amendment knew there would
be = provision of this kind passed thai
would exempt the white men who oueht
not tc be disfranchised. The gentleman
form Madison is not talking for the
poor white man. He is talking for Tho
negro. He is always talking about fair
ness, he is the fairest talking man
ever saw Great applause and laugh
ter)
Mr. Hayes asked if the Republicans
had not said on the stump that the
Democrats We're going to disfranchise
all the ignorant white voters.