The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-02-03
TO TAX THE DOGS
FOR THE SCHOOLS
One Dollar on livery Dog to
Go to the School Fund.
FREIGHT RATE QUESTION
Mr.. Watts Proposes Some Changes in Election
Law---County Board to Appoint Judges
Of Election --lnvestigate Peniten-
tiary Charges.

tiary Charges.
The dog tax bill was introduced in the
House yesterday. 1t was done by Mr.
Vann, of Hertford The tax provided is
$100 upon every dog, and it is stipulated
that all dogs shall be listed as other
property and that the tax shall go to the
general school fund of the respective
counties. Any person failing to list a dog
for taxation shall be guilty OF a misde-
meanor.
One of the first things to occupy the
attention of the House yesterday was Il
Joint resolution offered by Mr. Blount,
for the appointment of committee of the
General Assembly to investigate into
the charges of cruelty made against the
penitentiary officials by ]. l.. C. Bird, of
Marion, in the matter of the marching
of convicts from the Spruce Pine camp
to Marion.
The resolution was adopted by the
House without a dissenting voice, having
been progressed to it's several readings
by consent. and was sent to the Senate
without engrossment.
This investigation is being made by re-
quest of Superintendent Mann, of the
penitentiary.
Another resolution by Mr.. Blount
caused some little discussion.
1t was that a committee of the House
and Senate be appointed to confer with
the Executive Committee of the AssoCiat-
ed Board of Trade, which will meet here
today to discuss the matter OF discrimi
nation in freight rates in North Caroline.
The committee was to report to the Gen
eral Assembly the result OF it's investi-
cations, and the information it may gain
from the Executive Committee referred
to. Mr.. Blount asked the Immediate
adoption of this resolution.
Mr.. Murphey thought the resolution
should go to the committee or railroads,
saying that the Legislature had nothing
to do with such matters, having delegat-
ed them to the Corporation Commits
sion, and that he did not see how any
thing could be accomplished by such 4
committee.
Mr.. Blount feared that if they should
await the committees action, it would be
too late, as the meeting would be tod w.
General Davidson reminded the gentle
men that it was not proposed to take
any action, but merely to investigate a
condition of affairs.
Mr.. Morton suggested as substitute
that the matter be referred to the
Railroad Committe, with instructions to
hear the delegation from the Associated
Boards
Mr. Blount said he did not wish to hit
ANYBODY. except the people who were try
ing to grind more money out of the peo-
MI 10 4
to hear them squea' When the people
were being treated unfairly he did lot
believe in standing on formalities.
Mr.. Cowan. OF Jackson, thought the
matter ought to go before the Railroad
Committee. He could not see the use of
committee whose powers would cease
with the hearing of a matter.
Mr.. Guion considered that the purposes
Of Mr.. Blount's resolution could be en-
tirely carried out by having the Railroad
Committee hear the delegates. He then
sent up an amendment that the Commit
the delegation. as it had been already
arranged that they should do.
Governor Doughton said that he under
stood that similar resolution to Mr..
Blounts had been introduced in the Sen
Railroads. There was no doubt of the
cause for complaint, gentleman had
told him that he could ship barrel of
apples from Baltimore to Raleigh for
one-thrd of what it would cost to ship
it from the Western part Of our own
State
Inc resolution, as amended by Mr..
Guion, then was adopted and sent to the
Senate without engrossment
A bill by Mr.. Watts to amend the
election law provides that there shall he
a new registration of voters in every
town for elections to be held on Tuesday
after the first Monday of May, 1908, and
the county board of election shall mott
fy the governing bodies of every town
between the first and tenth of April. of
the appointment of registrars, and shall
appoint such registrars before April
10th and shall biennially thereafter ap-
point registrars and give notice to the
governing bodies before April 10th, ana
no new registration shall be had after
this year, unless specially ordered by the
election boards
II any new registration shall be order
ed after 1903, the election board shall
advertise the same
Another proposed change is that the
books shall be kept open at the polling
place for inspection on the Saturday be-
fore the election, instead of on the Sec
ond Saturday. ANY objection is to be de-
cided ON the Monday preceding election
day
Inc Judges of election are to be ap-
pointed by the County Board of Elections,
instead OF the governing body Of the
town or city.
THE DAY IN DETAIL
The House met at noon yesterday,