The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1903-03-10

It is too soon yet to review the work
| Of the LEGISLATURE of 1903 and to estimate
how it will be received by the people.
In its LEGISLATIVE EDITION. to appear
next week, this paper will make a COM
| prehensive review of all that has been
| done. before such a review can
be carefully prepared, 1t is gratifying TO
| the News and Observer, and will be to
its thousands of readers,-for whom and
| all the people of North Carolina it does
battle,-to be able to state that those
! measures which this paper has earnestly
championed have already been enacted
into law.
This paper, independent in the true
| sense that characterizes a useful party
exponent, does not wait for legislators
and party leaders to tell it what to adj
for the measures hat it believes are
Wisest and most necessary and against
those measures it deems unwise and un-
necessary, seeking to serve its party by
helping, in every way possible, to keep
the party rudder true. No paper Or legis-
lator can have influence if it seeks to do
too many things. Both must throw their
whole weight in behalf Of the few meas
ures deemed of the highest Importance.
During the past sixty days this paper
has earnestly and sincerely, day after
dow oonGno3 81, o5;+or;o1 af -
opposition to the following measures, all
of which substantially won and have been
placed upon the statute books:
l. The News and Observer pressed effec-
tive.temperance legislation. 1t never ad-
Vocated in its entirety any particular
bill, contenting itself rather with doing
everything in it's power to secure the
most effectual and f~ar-reaching measures
which the wisdom Of the Legislature
could embody into law. When the acts
are published, general and local, it will
be seen that the General Assembly, while
not doing all that many good men desir-
ed, has taken a very long step toward
promoting conference.-the longest step
ever taken in the history Of legislation in
North Carolina.
2. TIL News and Observer antagoniZed
the attempt of the railroads to repeal
section fifty Of the Machinery Act, which
provides a scientific and just rule for as
certaining the true value of railroads for
taxation-a method along lines approved
by the State and Federal Supreme courts.
In the new machinery act, section fifty
of the act of 1901 stands without the
change of so much as the dotting of an
Il or the crossing of a st." Under that
mandate, the Corporation Commission has
no discretion except to assess the rail
roads at their true value, as determined
by the price which the people who know
most place upon the property. The prin-
ciple upon which that section is based
is the statement Of Justice Brewer that
whatever property is worth for the pur-
pose of income and sale it is also worth
tor taxation"
8. The News and Observer earnestly
supported the Fuller bill, which gave the
Corporation Commission the power to
compel the erection of union depots
wherever practicable and necessary. The
opposition to this simple bill was par
ticularly strong, and it required more
than a month of hard work on the part
of its advocates to secure it's passage
without injurious amendments. That law
now makes it impossible for any rail
road to snap it's fingers in the faces Of
an outraged community and deny them a
union passenger depot.
4. The News and Observer gave
its earnest support to the desire of bust
ness men, manufacturers and shippers
to require the putting into effect of the
old principle of what is sauce for the
goose is sauce for the gander." Senator
Pharr's bill authorizing the Corporation
Commission to make rules that would
require the railroads to furnish cars and
transport freight without delay is a
righteous measure and is one of the best
measures enacted by the General Assem-
bly,. Under present regulations, rail-
roads charge merchants and others de-
murrage if they do not unload their
freight at once. Under the Pharr bill
the railroads can be made to pay if they
do not furnish cars and deliver freight
promptly.
4. The News and Observer believes that
the law setting aside the 5000, 900 Liter
airy Fund to be loaned to the weak dis
tricts for public schools is one of the
best measures introduced in the General
Assembly. 1t supported it heartily and
r%ejoices that in it's wisdom the Legisla-
ture dedicated that sum to this purpose.
The chief difficulty in securing a larger
attendance in many school districts is
that the school houses are uncomfortable.
Some of them are positively so old and
dilapidated that parents will not send
their children to school in bad weather