The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1905-03-09
RALEIGH LETTER.


lature, If SO much can be said of it, aud it
has made some unpopular mistakes both
OF commission and omission. Already it
has received some hard knocks at tie
hands OF its critics and the prospects in
dicate that there are an unusually large
number OF rods in pickle for future use.
SCARCITY OF GREAT ZEN
The legislature OF 1865 has been con-
spicuous to those who have watched its
proceedings for the scarcity OF great
mem among its members Their alb
sence mas been painfully felt at times.
Eliminate 20 per cent of the Senate and
a much smaller proportion OF the House
and very little brains Legislative talent
or experience would be left But that was
not the most serious condition although
greatly to be deplored Many OF the new
men were so prone to experimental leg
islation: that the wonder is that their
more experienced and level headed col
leagues were able to prevent the enact
ment of so many Of the TOOL bills" land
wOrse) that were introduced.
BAD BILLS DEFEATED. e.
Some OF them, OF coure went through
and are now on the statute books for
two years at least-where so many other
laws that Ought never to have been
passed, exist. Some of the bills that de-
servedly met death Cat times olly at the
eleventh hour, after having run the
gauntlet ofcommittee action and passage
in one branch OF the legislature) would
have seriously affected property interests
and capital invested in industrial enter
prises in North Carolina.
INADEQUATE PROVISIONS FOR CHAIR
TABLE INSTITUTIONS.
One OF the most serious blunders com
mitted was the absolute refusal of the
committee on appropriations to make
adequate provision for the pressing needs
OF the charitable institutions Of the State
the at present uncared for insane espe-
cially. Less than half Tor a little more
than forty per cent? Of tie amount asked
to build an addition to the Central Hos
pital at Raleigh. was allowed. while not
dollar was given the Morganton hos
pital for increased facilities The $40
900 voted for a new building al the Raj
eigl asylum will not suffice to erect and
equip such a structure as is needed SO
the chances are that the amount avail
able will be used and the next le@isla ture
will be called On for enough to complete
it.
There will be no refOrmatOry for way
ward youthes the Scales bill which passed
the Senate having failed in the House. al
though the bill would not have taken q
dollar out OF the state treasury. all Of it
coming from the already accumulated
earnings OF the pententiary
The bill to provide Il new building for
storing valuable state documents or pro-
viding offices orseveral state officers now
inadequately provided for and for the
state library. which was defeated in the
| senate ten days ago was again taken up
ton motion 20 reconsider) last Friday
| and killed for the second time The effort
to enlarge the capitol building never once
got glimpse OF daylight.
WHERE CARES OF STATE SIT LIGHTLY.
The bill reducing railroad passenger.
| fares, which passed the House at an even
more rapid clip-a-t than such bills
| usually go through that body. ran into a
slde-track and was ditched in the Senate.
The corporation commission is emf o veI,-
| ed to do all that the deceased bill sought
to accomplish and it will probably be
. ' rortant e the fact when its services
are required IN that dl1ecTI3It.
1t would be truly Imaginable We're not
the possible consequences so serious ard
far-reaching, to observe how lightly the
! cares OF state sit upon the shoulders Of
some OF those back-country statesmen
whose financial resources and experiences
| and knowledge are just that limited to
cause them to tamper with great inter
ests, through a little bill' that would
cost invested capital hundreds Of thous-
ands OF dollars and possibly put incor-
pOrated companies into the hands of re.
celvers, with as much concern as thew
would emit piff-paff-poff Of smoke from
their Odoriferous pipes
beg the readers pardon for this an
proach to vulgarity, because it is so near
akin to the truth, but some OF the men
sent to Raleigh to serve as legislators
are much better qualified to sell calico
and sugar in a crossroads |'deDartment
store and nature has more fully endowed
them to cultivate corn and cotton and
tobacco crop successfully than to wade
into the meshes of law manufacturer.
IMPORTANT BILLS DURING CLOSING
DAYS.
During the last few days of the session
some Of the most important bills were
disposed Of among the number being the
following:
The McNinch divorce bill (printed in
full in these letters last week. passed the
Senate Saturday after being amended by
senator Eller to read IF the husband
shall commit fornicatiOn and adultery =
1hls bill had narrow escape from death
at the hands of the Senate judiciary com
mlttee last Friday, tie of seven to seven
on motion to adopt a substitute. Of
tered by Senator Mason of CASTOR, being
broken by the chairman in favor of the
McNinch bill. The bill is now the law.
me immigration bureau bill. passed by
the Senate some time ago, was defeated
III the House Saturday. Another mis-
take.
As sort of return OF compliments the
Senate the same day tabled (by & vote Of
two to one) the House bill changing the
number of challenges now allowed the
state and the defense.
The bill adjusting the South Dakota
bond claim and taking up the old bonds
held by the Schafers of New York. bv an
issue OF new bonds (repl esentinc 25 npr
cent. OF the old bonds and INTEREST," to
the amount OF S325.OOn was another
OF the important measures thai venr
through finally on SATURDAY. Gov. Glenn
is to be commended for Ills assiduonsa
intelligent effort to secure this settlement
on such advantageous terms to the State
OF North Carolina
The bill to pay solicitors of the judicial
districts lump salary (S2,5O0) instead
OF lees as at present. is another good law
during the closing days.
The usual presentations of gold watch
es and silver services to the door keannrs
and presiding officers were pulled off on |
schedule time.
OTHER MATTERS.
At the preliminary debate held 20 select |
representatives from Trinity College in |
the debate with Emory College to be |
held in Craven Memorial Hall. April u. |
Mr. t. .. Coke OF Charlotte. \. C.. and |
MI L: +. Lee OF Newton Grove. \. C.. |
were chosen. The debates heretofore held |
with Emory have been of a very high
order ana the one this year is looked for |
ward to with great pleasure.
The HeSnpriaD and CoIup, h:oo ;..