The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-02-12
TO REGULATE THE
SPEED OF TRAINS
Corporation Commission to
Pass on Town Ordinances.
lNNKEEPER BILL PASSES
Senate After a Warm Debate Declines TO Re-
lease State Treasurer Lacy From
Loss by Martin Emb zzle-
ment.

The day in the Senate yesterday was
of the "scrappy" order Not in the real
| article of fighting, however, as that be-
| longs to the United States Senate, but
in little tits and differences in debate.
The Inn Keepers Bill" of Senator
Spence was the source of the first debate.
This came up on a substitute which pro-
vided that inn-keepers and hotel men
should provide suitable accommodations
and that in case of loss of baggage the
| inn-keeper is not to be responsible for
more than 500 unless the guest furnishes
list showing his loss to exceed that
amount. 1t limits the amount of jewelry
and valuables which an keeper is to
receive to care for to $500, exempt him
from loss by reason of fire or other
causes beyond his control, or when loss
is shown to be by the carelessness of
guest, proof of the loss of baggage how
ever, is to be prima facie evidence of
carelessness on the part of the inn
keeper.
Senator Spence carefully explained the
bill, and said that it only relieved the
hotel keeper of being the insurer Of the
Of a dangerous care. Hotels, such as
those at Pinehurst, or Asheville, had in
them millions of dollars in the valuables
and money of guests, and the loss of
these would mean the sweeping away of
an immense amount to the hotel keepers
who ought not to be held responsible
for losses caused by events beyond their
control
He further explained that the hotel
keeper was liable if burglars broke in,
but not if the loss was occasioned by a
person occupying the same room. There
were many questions asked Senator
| Spence who replied to the satisfaction
of the Senator's and the bill passed. Be-
fore it did Senator Wellborn wanted AL
leghany, Ashe and Watauga excepted
but his amendment failed.
The whistle and Bell bill of Senator
Justice, providing for warnings to be
given to parties ahead of moving train
came UP with a substitute bill and an
unfavorable report A minority report
signed by Justice, Mann, Hoey and Nc
Mullan was filed, declaring that the bill
put no additional burden on the rail-
| roads and ought to pass as it would
save human life. The bill was made
special order for Friday.
The bill requiring tags and branding
of concentrated commercial feeding
stuffs was taken up and passed with
amendments were submitted perfecting
the bill. These require a sample not ex-
| ceeding two pounds in weight to be
taken if such stuffs in order to see if
they come up to the guarantee, these
to be analyzed by the State Chemist.
In order that there shall be no hard
ships upon the farmers and mills of the
State the term concentrated feeding
stuffs" is not to include hays and straws
the whole seeds nor the unmixed meals
made directly from the seed of wheat,
rye, barley, oats, Indian corn, buckwheat.
broom corn, sorghum, cow peas, or sofa
| beans. Neither shall it include pure
grains ground together, but should the
unmixed meals and grains ground to-
gether, referred to in this section, be
found, on analysis, to be adulterated
they shall be subject to the provisions
of this act.
When the bill concerning the prohibi-
tion of the sale of fire crackers more than
three inches long, spring guns, etc, was
presented, Senator White made an ur-
gent plea for the small boys and the
spring gun. telling of its aid in making
marksmen out of American lads, as
shown by the deeds of American sailors
and soldiers. He told of his own happy
days in the woods, and said of this thing
KEPT up the Legislature would soon pass
a law to prohibit boys from climbing
trees. The bill was finally postponed
and Senator White will speak again for
the small boy and the spring gun.
The bill making misdemeanor of
| l.
attached was quickly squelched when it
showed up with an unfavorable report,
being tabled 1t is understood that this
bill was sent in by request of the South
ern Railway.
A lively debate enSued on the PROPOSE
ton to release State Treasurer Lacy of
the $374.S4 embezzled by Martin the in
stitutional clerk Of the State Treasurer
| under the Fusion administration, who
| is supposed to have taken this while act
| ing as institutional clerk for the new
employees. Senator Spence antagonized
it saying the bill was not right and set
a dangerous precedent.
Senator Durham spoke for it. saying
/ that it was no fault of Mr.. Lacy's that
, the money had been stolen. He said the
State ought to make the loss good and
not have Mr., Lacy pay it. He urged that
the bill pass.
Senator Wellborn expressed himself as
against the bill. Senator Blow said that
from all he could learn the s374.S4 had
dropped to about $50 as the other amount
had been traced up. Senator Allison
said he introduced the bill of his own
motion and thought the amount ought
not to be paid by Mr.. Lacy. Mr.. Webb
said that it did not seem clear under
whose administration the theft had oc-