The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-03-06
Wednesday Night's Session.

Wednesday Night's Session.
The Senate began its night session at
s o'clock and the bills were being passed
merrily when the bill for Greater Raj
eigh' came up.
How the expansionists won after voting
down various amendments is told of in
another column In the fight Senators
Hoey Brown and others spoke vigor-
ously for extension, while Senators Vann
and Woodland and others opposed. The
bill finally passed by vote of 80
against 8.
A humorous incident came when the
reading clerk read a telegram to Sena
tor S. H. Milton, from Albemarle telling
him that a new ten-pound Senator had
arrived. There was much applause and
Senator Milton spoke after the Senators
had crowded around and congratulated
him He said ne thanked them all for
their kind expression and that he be-
lieved he was the richest man in the
Senate. Certainly he was the proudest,
as ne now had ten children at home,
five girls and five boys. and he valued
them at $4,000 each, or 100000 in all.
After disposing of a number Of bills,
the special order was called and the
Revenue bill was taken up.
THE REVENUE BILL
The Senate, after its joyous outbreak
over the happiness of Senator Milton,
went to work in Committee of the Whole
on section 80, the rates of tax on eX-
press companies. Senator Travis spoke
against the tax Of $500 a mile on it's
lines and urged that it should be S1.00.
Senator Justice said that the remarks
of the Senator from Halifax were
forcible and ingenious. On inquiry he
failed to find from him the capital of
the Southern Express Company, and said
that the information as to the gross in
come. said to be $10S,O00, was certainly
Incorrect, as in this only business done
strictly inside the State was considered
and no money for outside shipments was
considered. He urged that the $500
stand.
Senator Webb stated that he was in
fuenced in his desire to have a tax of
$500 a mile imposed by the fact that
in Virginia this was about the rate on
the express companies. No effort had
been able to obtain the amount of the
capital of the Southern Express Com
pany.
Senator Travis stated that from the re-
ports of the Corporation Commission
that sos, 900 was the gross income in
North Carolina and that in Virginia the
Southern Express Company had about
2 400 miles He contended with Senator
Justice that this was right, though Sena-
tor Justice stated that this gross income
was not correct; that he understood the
mileage in Virginia to be about $780, and
stated that he considered the company
a tax dodger.
Senator Mann urged that low rate be
made so that people in his section might
get express over steamboat lines.
Senator Aaron said that perhaps Is per
cent of all the express came from East
ern North Carolina, the trucking section,
and that because of the relations he
urged conservative measures.
There was much debate and many
amendments were offered. Against the
$500 rate Senators Travis, Lamb
Marshall and others spoke, while Sena-
tors Justice. Webb London, Brown and
others stood for the tax
In speaking of the gross income of the
company Senator Webb said he had
learned from reliable sources that in
Charlotte alone in one year the receipts
were $S5, GOO In reply it was stated that
in the gross income reported to the
Corporation Commission only intra- State
express was named.
Then these amendments were lost:
Senator Durham, to reduce to $3.50 a
mile; Senator Travis, to $l0O mile;
Senator Mann. to $500 on the main line,
$100 on branch lines, so cents on steam
boat lines; Senator Marshall, to $3.50
a mile. The following carried: Senator
Mann, to exempt steamboat express;
Senator Henderson, to put city or
town in place of corporation Senator
Brown provided that this section
shall not allow any county, city or town
TO impose any other tax except the sd
valorem.
In section SO Senator Spence tried to
provide for a franchise tax by county,
city or town. This was lost. Senator
GilIiam's amendment to the same end
was lost An amendment by Senator
Henderson carried this being to with
draw permission from any foreign cor
poration to do business in this State
if they failed to pay the tax.
There was some humor when the mar
riage license tax was taken up. This |
was made $1O0 for the State to be paid
the Register of Deeds. the counties be- |
ing given the right to levy the same
tax
The other sections were all adopted |
till the last was reached
Section 81. reading as follows: "Au |
laws imposing taxes. the subjects of |
,vbfcb n.y. ra,risad in this act are hnrehx,
repealed: Provided, that this repeal shall |
not extend to the provisions of any law,
so far as they relate to the taxes listed |
or which ought to or would have been !
listed. or which may he due previous to /
the ratification Of this act, was amend