The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-02-05
NO BIBLE KISSING
VOTES THE SENATE
Germs and Microbes Must
Lose Their Meals.
TO AID SCHOOL TEACHERS
For Seven Years Faithful Service Life Certfi-
cate Urged--- Senator MarshalPs Bread
Cast Upon the Waters" Returns
10 Him "After MANY DAYS."

- 1900 '"'S' ''~''l
1t was a case of bread cast upon the
waters that aided Senator Marshall,
Republican, of Surry, yesterday.
Diligently he has sought to obtain the
passage of a bill making a change in
the line between Stewards Creek and
Franklin townships in Surry county. The
bill came up with favorable report
but some Senators at first thought there
was politics" in it and it was deferred.
Yesterday it came up again and Sena-
tor Marshall urged it's passage as q local
measure. which all parties asked for in
the territory affected, and again declared
that any politics" was behind the bill.
Senator Webb, who had interposed an
objection until Representative Doughton
was heard from, withdrew his objection
as he had not heard from Mr.. Doughton.
Senator Henderson thought that the mat
ter might properly go to the county COM
missiOners. Senator Pharr thought 1t
was just to Senator Marshall to let it
pass, and Senator Glenn took the same
view. Senator Hoey read petition from
the people affected asking the change.
Senator Blow moved to table the bill
He had read from the law and showed
the relief sought could be obtained from
the county commissioners. He also gave
notice that he would move to table ali
future bills which could be attended to
otherwise, and would do this for the
good of the State. He withdrew his mo-
tion to table on request of Senator
Mitchell, and here is where the bread
on the waters" story comes in.
Senator Mitchell said that in 1895
when he was contestant for seat in
ssssl Z =, assus<ssr hafshafii
had the deciding vote m committee that
it was cast for him. 81 feel under spe-
cial obligations to him. he said. land
I hope this faNor will be ranted to
him.
Senator Blow renewed his motion to
table, but it was lost, only his voice
being heard on the ''aye" side. The bill
passed its final readings and Senator
Marshall was happy.
When Senator Godwin's bill to prohibit
Kissing the Bible in taking oaths came
up there was a scrambling debate, many
members coming in. substitute bill
was offered by the committee, which
simply abolished thc necessity for kiss
ing the Bible. This left the solemnity
VI the OdIu III the token gwen Dy laying
the hand on the Bible.
Senator Mcbride said it was an old
custom TO kiss the Bible learned that
it had been in the laws of North Caro-
lima since 1777. probably before and was
opposed to the bill Senator Pollock
also opposed it and said that germs and
microbes might be talked Of but the
idea of these IN the Bible did not fright
on him and 10 Cod To tbo
walton. He suggested that people might
get individual Bibles if they desired.
Senator Henderson said he knew moth
ing Of the doctrine of microbes ana
germs, but he thought that there might
be millions of them in the Bibles kissed
by a mixed crowd in a generation es-
pecially as he had heard that in a pound
of cherries there was a million microbes.
He saw no added solemnity in kissing
a lid to the Bible.
Senator Goodwin explained that he did
not want to take away the solemnity. but
that he wished to protect ladies and
children from pressing to their lips q |
book handled and kissed by many. Those
experienced in such matters did not
kiss the book, but only went through the
motion. He thought the laying on of the
hand sufficient.
Senator Wellborn announced his oppo-
sition to the bill, and Senator Hicks did
likewise He said the kiss was not the
first kiss of affection, nor did he expect
people to take in half the book at 4
kiss. He told of Granville county and
said they had white Supremacy" Bibles
there, one set for the white and one
for the colored. He proposed that old
Bibles be given to the poor and new
Bibles be bought frequently by the
courts
Senator Beasley favored pressing the
old landmarks. but wanted these to be
little clean. He dsclaimed a knowl- |
edge of microbes and said that a man |
must either violate the order of the
Judge or violate his sense of personal
cleanliness in kissing some Bibles pre-
sented, as these We're often as bad and |
dirty as if they had been in an ash heap. |
man who values cleanliness lodges |
such kiss" said he. Senator Hicks |
SAID that he advised that Senator Beas-
iey's county have Bibles as did Gran
Vile.
senator White remarked that for some
reasons he opposed any kind of legisla-
tlon that prohibited kissing, but that
ne ala oppose this kind for sanitary rea-
sons. Senator Baldwin said this was Il
progressive age, but he was opposed to
this kind of progression, that it was TAX
Ing great solemnity from the oath and
that many young man, ready perhaps
TO perjure himself, was kept straipbt
when he kissed the Bible he had learned
to revere in childhood when at his moth
er's knee.
Senator MARSHALL did not favor an oath