The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1903-03-19
Made a Record.
The General Assembly of 1903
Did This
And The People of North Carolina VIII
Endorse 1.-THE Pledges of the Party
Have Been Faithfully Kept and a
Thoroughly Business Spirit Has
Dominated the Work of the Body.
Raleigh Times.

Raleigh Times
! The General Assembly of 1903 has
made record which the people of
North Carolina will not fail to en-
| dorse. The pledges OF the party have
been faithfully kept and a thorough
ly business spirit has dominated the
work of the body. OF course there
are many things which the Legisla-
ture would like to have done, but
could not accomplish at this time on
account of insufficient revenue. The
most serious condition confronted
the General Assembly when it met;
deficit in the State Treasury. The
paramount problem was toplace the
State on solid financial basis. This
was done. The work of the body in
caring for the States interests may
be divided in the heads Economic or
Financial, Educational, Moral, So
cial and Political.
Under the first head may be classed
the new revenue and machinery acts.
These wisely made no radical depart
ure from the policy of the past two
years. The revenue bill does not con-
tain the Objectionable inquisitorial
features of the former measures The
burden of taxation is not increased
save on a few things such as distiller-
les and dealers in futures, that have
not in the opinion of the financiers
born their just proportion of the
taxes. The revenue incumbered with
new and complicated provisions.
Then a bond issue of $500, O,OOOin ten
year bonds not bearing a greater
rate than four per cent. has been
provided to relieve the deficit in the
State Treasury The insurance de-
partment, which has been a source
Of protection and profit to the State,
is made more efficient and strength
ened by wise legislation. The act
providing for the registration OF land
grants in the Secretary of States Of
flee will bring the State about S11,-
600 annually. Local acts for munic-
ipal and county Improvement have
been enacted in numerous cases.
Educational legislation has been
most notable. The 100000 appro-
priation for the public schools has
been continued. The State literary
fpeea Qf Qfyn ynfarllXI m Tie $32SQa4} QQQe Yhaieh has
be put to work for developing the
common school system. Thecounty
boards of education have been again
elected by the Legislature, thus in
suring close harmony between the
superintendent and the local boards.
The superintendent of Public Instruc-
ton will be paid $4,000 instead of
81, 800. A training schoolfor teach
ers in Western Carolina is authorized.
The State, in so far as it is able, has
added to the appropriation to the
State University, the State Normal
and Industrial College and the A.
and NJ. College, while the other edu-
cational institutions have been pro-
vided for. The six colored normal
schools have been consolidated into
three and better equipped and main
tained. The body also wisely frowned
upon and discountenanced every ef-
fort to divide the schoolfund between
the races in proportion to the taxes
paid by the two races.
In moral legislation the temper
ance subject was the ostimportant
and no one can fail to recognize that
a strong temperance sentiment pre-
vailed in both Houses. The Watts
bill was enacted triumphantly and
prohibits the manufacture and sale
of liquor outside of towns. Prohi-
bition and anti-iug acts have been
extended to many other counties of
the State
Under the social head might be
placed the act prohibiting the en-
ployment of children under II years
old in mills. The new divorce law
| while allowing two years abandon
ment prior to Jan. l, 1903, and per-
hitting remarriage after two years,
is hedged about by safeguards which
will not make the law lax. The
crime of running off with another
mans wife has been made a felony.
The bill defining the practiseof medi-
cine allows Christian science.
There has been little political legis-
lation. The choice OF Il United States
Senator at the opening of the session
was ended in the election of Hon.
Lee S. Overman. The refusal of the
Legislature to pass the partizan
Sampson county bills and similar
legislation was most proper. In the
contested election case of Buckner
against Griffith, the Senate conld not,
under the Code, take any action but
the body did its full duty when it
provided against such conditions i'll
future.
Among the numerous other impOr-
tant acts were Incorporating the
Audubon Society for the protection
OF game and song birds; the famous
Durham union depot bill; giving rail
roads the right to appeal when towns
impose unreasonable regulations oi
speed of trains passing through the
town; increasing the State Librari,
rian's term OF Office to -four instead OF
two years.