The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-02-06
ONLY D|SSECT THE
BODIES OF FELONS
Senate Discusses the Needs
of Medical Colleges.
NO BIBLE KISSING WINS
Senator Durham Introduces Child Labor Bill!
Tending to Induce the Better At
tendance of Children at
Schools.

There was not an overplus of con- |
tnued oratory in the Senate yesterday, |
but it was approaching two o'clock when
adjournment came. Many bills were con-
sdered and put on the ways"
Many ladies were present in the gall |
Ieries. This was in marked contrast to
Wednesday as that rainy day had kept
vacant the seats, only one lady having
appeared.
The bill which does away with the ne
cessity of kissing the Bible in taking
oaths in official proceedings came up onI
its third reading. Not a word was spoken
in opposition, and so far as the Senate
is concerned the bill is a law. The
House will now take up the question.
When Senate Bills 49, ii and Is were
. reported favorably Senator Marshall,
(Rep), in each case presented minor
ity report. These are the bills affecting
the county government of Sampson coun-
ty, providing for four additional county
commissioners to be named by this Gen
eral Assembly, dividing the office of
sheriff and treasurer and naming a treas
urer by this Legislature and providing
by magistrates to be named by the Gen
eral Assembly.
Senator Marshall declared that this
would upset the county government asI
at present constituted and give to a mi
nority party the power which rightfully
belonged to party which in the recent
election had won by majority of about
500 votes, only 20 negroes voting in the
county. He declared the county was
wei managed, debts had been paid off, /
and that the people were entitled to self |
government.
Senator Durham introduced a ''Child
Labor Bill. This makes it unlawful for
manufacturing establishments to hire any
child under twelve years of age during |
the public schol term of the district; no !
minor after the public school term of 1903
who can not read and write unless he has |
a certificate of two weeks attendance on |
school, and in 1904 increases this to four
weeks. After 1905 no child under four
teen who can not read and write is to be |
employed unless he has a certificate of 4
at least an attendance of IS per cent on
the public school, or faS a certificate that |
non-attendance was caused by sickness. |
The bill also makes it unlawful for any
child under twelve to work between the !
hours of Z at night and 6 in the morning, |
except such as have been regularly en-
plOyed during the working hours of the !
day preceding Violation of this to be |
misdemeanor, with $100 fine, imprison-
ment thirty days, or both.
The longest discussion of the day came |
on the bill introduced by Senator White, |
providing for the obtaining of dead bodies |
for dissection by medical schools of the |
State.
The bill came up as a special order and |
Senator White said it had been intro |
duced at the request of the medical col |
Ieges, that it exempted from its pro-
vision inmates of soldiers home insane |
asylums and county homes. as well as |
criminals whose bodies are claimed by
relatives or friends. He declared that
100000 year was spent by North Caro-
lima out of the State each year for med
ical instruction, and that this bill would /
cause much of this to be spent here, be-
sides keeping the young men from the |
severe weather of the North and from
baneful influences.
He said that now the colleges in this
State had to get dead bodies by devious |
ways and by stealth, and that these were |
often decomposed and dangerous to han |
death of young Mcleod, at Davidson, |
whose life. he declared, was worth more
than that of all the bodies of the dead
criminals of the State. He urged the
passage of the bill and stated that there
was no expense on the State in furnish
ing the bodies from the penitentiary, |
Jails and asylums.
Senator Lamb thought the penalty for
not furnishing the bodies was too large
and offered an amendment placing S25 in
place of $100 and $50 in place of $3.50.
rms was accepted, was Senator Hicks
amendment to strike out shall and in
sert may, so as not to make the fur
hlshing OF the bodies imperative, and also
10 exempt children who died in orphan
asylums, and to prohibit bodies of white
people to be furnished colored medical
SCHOOLS Senator Burton moved to amend
ny eAemptlng the asylums for the Deaf
Dumb and Blind. This was accented
senator Pollock declared the bill an
excellent one, and said it pelased him
more than any bill he had ever passed on.
Senator Pharr moved to strike ont "or
other public institution" and to let tho
bill only apply to prisons hospitals and
jails. He did not believe that heeause
a man was unfortunate enough IN die
poor and unknown in strange land bis
body should be cut up. Senator Baldwin
offered an amendment limiting the act to
those who die in prison or are executed
Then came motion from Senator War
rem to re-refer the bill. Senator Justice
thought it could be settled now as all