The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-03-22

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 ears and deliver freight
promptly.
f. The News and Observer believes that
the law setting aside tho 100000 Liter
ary Fund 20 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
rejoices that in its wisdom the begsla-
ture dedicated that sum to this purpose.
The chief difficulty in securing 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
because of the unsantary condition Of the
school houses. The districts that stand
i'm the greatest need of better school
houses cannot build them without CLOS
ing the schools for several years This
law permits tho State Board of Educa-
tion to loan enough money to such dis
trict, which, added to what it can raise,
will build suitable school house. Then
the amount that is borrowed is deducted
frcm its school apportionment in ten an
nual installments. If this law is carried
out the fund can never be impaired and
will do more to help the weaker school
districts than any law ever before en-
acted.
5. The News and Observer has not IA
yored any long term bond issue, or any
issue beyond the exact amount of the de-
ficit There would be no deficit to meet
today if the quasi-public corporations
had been taxed at their true value during
the past ten years. There wouN be a
surplus if that and ali like property
had been reached and properly assessed
The Auditors report shows that the
counties have not all collected the taxes
imposed and that the difference in the
valuations in the several counties needs
to be reviewed. If bond issue, larger
than necessary to pay the deficit had
been issued. the authorities would net IN
the future be as Jealous to make proper
/ assessment end as determined to collect
all the taxes assessed, as II The money
is needed to pay the appropriations. II
the sworn officers of the law do their
frtv the new revenue law will raise
enough money to meet all the appro-
priations and provide a comfortable sur
plus to make permanent additions TO
state institutions by the General Assem-
bly, Of 1905 and 1907. and after 1908 will
raise enough more than the necessary
expenses to provide a sinking fund to pay
off all. or at least part. of the bonds
N 1019 The bonds
are to be issued at the lowest obtainable
rate of interest and to run for ten years.
This is we'll. The objects for which the
money was spent cannot be said to have
been for permanent Improvements, eX-
cent little over one-fourth of the
amount. and this generation ought not to
bequeath the debt to posterity. 1t ought
to be paid by this generation, and VIII
be paid if the new revenue law and ma
chinery act are properly enforced.
& The News and Observer strongly
favored the adoption of law forbidding
the employment of children in factories
where they work indoors. Such a bill
has been before every Legislature for
ten or twelve years, and every time 1t has
been defeated Two years ago most OF
the cotton mill men, protesting against
any labor legislation whatever, signed
an agreement that they would not work
children. under twelve years old in their
mills. Most of them kept the agree
mcnt; some did not Several bills were
introduced early in the session looking
| THE WORK OF THE LEGISLATURE
TWO
to preventing child labor. A committee
of mill men visited Raleigh and at first
protested against the enactment of any
legislation whatever on the subject
Later, after conference with conservative
men, the committee of mill men and the
legislative committee agreed upon o blll
forbidding the employment Of children
rnder twelve years of age and regulating
the hours of labor. That bill is now
law.
The people of North Carolina differing,
of course upon some of these measures.
will. we are persuaded. approve by Il
tremendous majority the forward steps
above enumerated. There arc those who
| will saw that Il was not wise to take new
departures in legislation. They should
remember that no State that is going for
ward like North Carolina can stand stiu
in it's legislation. Too much Stagnation
is worse than too much Progress. The
progressive legislation enacted is for the
betterment of the State in every way
and when its operations are seen by all.
the forward enactments will justify them
selves by their fruits.
The marked characteristic of the Leg
islature of 1903 was its educational
spirit 1t has done more for public edu
cation than any previous General Assem-
bly,. multitude Of local bills for graded
schools were passed and the appropria
tions were increased for every educational
institution in the state; the office Of State
Superintendent of Public INSTRUCTION has
been elevated by giving higher duties, in
creased salary and more clerical assist
ance; two hundred thousand dollars have
been appropriated to insure a four months
school in every school district in the
State a Permanent Loan Fund of 5000.
. m IL