The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1903-03-17
Work ofthe General Assembly
Commended.
HE DOUBTS BUT ONE ACT
/ ears That Revenues viii No. Meet Aporopria-
tons and Urges That Pay as You Go
is the Policy in Which the
People B-lieyo.

session of the General Assembly just
= closed no more patriotic leader than
9 General Theo. F. Davidson, who so ably
[ represented the county of Buncombe.
> he IS a wise and conservative legis-
; lator and in the House of Representa-
tlves great attention was given to his
views, these being Of great value in
, shaping legislation.
Gen. Davidson left the city yesterday
Tut before he left an interview was
had with him, and he was asked his
views as to the General Assembly and
the measures which it had made into
law.
zen. davidson expressed himself free
~, and III his remarks will be found
much of encouragement to the State
which he says he can truly congratulate
upon the result OF the work of the AS
stmDIy. Being asked first Of his opin-
ion of the Assembly as a body. he said.
II nave been either q member of the
General Assembly or connected with the
administration of public affairs which
brought me in contact with that BODY
Ior the last quarter of a century ana
| do not believe that there has ever
been one in my time in which the aver
age ability was greater than in the one
Just closed. In referring to this spaak
more particularly of the House with
Which | was, of course, more familiarlv
connected, being a member of that BODY
! was impressed at the beginning of
the season and that impression was in
tehSliied at the close by the unnsuaI
humber OF young men of great promise
IL seems to me that in respect to the
young men who are to come after rs
ana shape the policy of the State there
need be no fear"
WHAT is your opinion of the legisla-
ton effected?''
With respect to legislation generally
| think it was em%inently wise and con
servative. There was absolu+a1v ~
radical element in the General Assernbly
and there has been no radical legis1a- :
ton of any kind. {
Inc unfortunate condition of orr :
fiscal affairs made it very imnor+.n+ :
that the credit of the State should 10 ;,
maintained on the one hand and q due :
regard Tor the Taxpayers should be had =
VI 'ne o'her' and L believe both objects ;,
nave been secured by the legislation .
The only public measure of which :,
| nave any apprehension is the act :
winch takes the literary fund out Of
the treasury and appropriates it to the
CONSTRUCTION and maintenance of school
houses III the state. | doubt if there -.
- any or much necessity for such leeis- ),
ldtlon, as my information is that there =
IS scarcely a district in the State that :
uoes not nave respectable accommoda- ~
tlon Tor the school children and we a.
nave hafdly reached the period when wn -,
dnord TO indulge in fanciful aesthe- Ia
tic school, buildings however nlooean+ a.
they may be. ~
All past tinkerings with the Literary
fund have been disastrous and have
very injuriously upon the
cii.ical party that was responsible for
hem. Inc law in question seems to ia
pretty we'll guarded and if those Or.
'ho are charged with its execution fin
ave a due regard for their resnon- be
oill'y ana VIII discard sentiment in cas-
appllcatlon there need be no danger Jes
what are your views as tn +bo Of
evenues to be derived under the CHANGED Ion
lw?" hseu -
ooupt II the present Revenue Bill tri;
al produce enough to meet the RIM
ing expenses of the State. incIudina
ne appropriation for the common
ohools Tor the next two years. Evarv- A
Ing VIII depend upon the new assess the
'nto sumner and past experience. cas-
asht 10 teach us that it is nor eafo the
lely upon an increase of Assessment $40
an increase OF revenue. The Commit bur
: : opinion an Increase under plat
ie present levy chiefly upon schedules Der
ana the chief item was the Mes
creased liquor tax. Under norm.1 -
ions that estimate would ~
sound, but we must remember +h,+
at'o Dill goes into effect on .TuIv II
hrst and in May portions of tho Hos
WI make great changes in the The
4uoT business. Many manufa ctnrore of
sinoaa VIII go entirely out of Of
siheSs' While others will temDorari1v Of T
spehu SO tnat [ think it would not acte
unsafe to say that the volume of
slness Tor the next year would ha -
ced by one-half. After a while -
sihess VIII r~eadjust itself to the naw III
iicy ana L am inclined to think tb.+ 1or
e revenue derived from +bia 1na' bricl
II be vastly increased" Mr
- VI the most important acts of tho VIie
'slon' and which will, perbane bova mad
more lasting affect |han anv o+hn & Sc
Dill TO revise and codifv tba nI mem
"ork mas been too long de-
'ed and there has been proof -
INT and much Inconvenience .
II consequence. With tha avoa1 Re
I commission now apDointad ~ perrin
&c ior a great reform in this diractioa since
IS the subject which touches our NO. ty.
W 'helr oaily life at almost everv visit.
y. repor
nquor legIs-
Inc liquor legislation as Il booo
Y d&Dartrre br+ watts Dill, is a The
princ;n1o. se When its sessic
application it will be found ~ -
d very great step forward ~ : a. a
an almost universal demand. from
al districts and who II iiVe the Eigl
lection of municino, uehied the tirele!
from the disordaro Io'' lot re- Lie P
arose from tho ohaVoid- night
of LIQUORS IN -. Gnu hnanufac- ousne!
rs and cities could country. The all st
the men women a. 49, themselves, Easy,
oien IN the all dr.