The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-01-26
Ward Bill Killed, Buried
and ResurreCted.
LACY ACT REPEALED
House Reconsiders Its Action Of Yes
terday Retunding to the State
Treasurer $374,84, Amount
Embezzled BY Martin Four
Years Ago.

Yesterdays session of the legislature
developed a distinct sensation in the
House, one unthought Of and an alb
solute surprise to everyone. even those
who caused it. This was the action
of the House repeating its act of Tues
day which refunded to State Treasurer
B. R. Lacy not cutie four hundred
dollars.
While the Senate was more pacific.
still it developed considerable oratorr
when the Ward bill. giving womers
! the right to contract, was called up iii
! IL o'clock, being made a special order
/ for that hour. The galleries were
crowded with ladies. and they fire.
! quently applauded some of the speak
| ers as they uttered eloquent words n
honor of women. and demanded THAI
! they be treated with fairness and Jus
tice. The law which this bill would
amend, was called a relic of harbar
| ism, and Chief Justice Clark was
| quoted as favorably recommending the
| passage of the bill in one of his de-
cisions. Other opinions in Supreme
Court decisions almost suggested this
act, one of the speakers declared.
| One of the advocates of the bill saio
that 1t would be called THE Emanci-
patton Proclamation for the Women Of
| North Carolina"
| The bill was defeated when voted
upon. there being % votes cast for and
20 against it. but as several Senator's
were absent who desired TO vote upon
| the bill, upon motion 1t was voted TO
reconsider it, and ii will come UP
again as a special order tomorrow,
Friday, at noon.
SENATE-NINETEE DAY.
The Senate convened at II O'Clock,
Lieutenant Governor Winston presid-
ing and prayer was offered by Rev.
| Dr. M M Marshall of Christ Churcn.
Mr.. Beasley asked TO be relieved
| from the Committee on Insurance. and
| Mr.. Scales was appointed TO succeed
him.
| A message from the Governor was
received. accompanied by reports from
the State officers The chair said that
/ in connection with the document sent
in from the Governor he wished to i'm
clude the reports from two State Of
ficials in connection with State insti-
tutionS, and the message with the 9TH
ier documents was referred 10 the Com
lmttee on Salaries and Fees.
Petitions.
Senators Alexander. Bragaw. Odeil
| Stringfeld and Scales offered resolu-
tions and petitions against the divorce
laws which at present obtain in the
! North Carolina courts, and the peti-
tions prayed that all divorce laws en-
acted since 1883 be repealed. The pc
titions were strong in their denuncia-
ton of the laxity allowed by the law
in marriage relations. and which al
| most made the marriage altar mart.
for the buying and selling of husbands
and wives. They were referred TO the
Committee on Judiciary.
aIrr- oil cnx[f So. ~
titlon from the Friends church. Of
Guilford county, asking that the Watts
law be amended and commencing the
essential value of an anti-iug law. Tie
petition was referred to the Commit
tee on Propositions and Grievances.
Mr.. Arendell offered a petition 10
amend certain law preventing the
sale of liquor within five miles cf
certain churches. Proposition alic
| Grievances
Senator's Webb. Scales. Bragaw.
Bryan Long of Iredell, Mclean. Coke,
| Thorne. Alexander and others present
ed petitions in behalf of their consti-
tpent merchants to have the act COM
monty termed the merchants tax law,
repealed. These petitions in general
are as follows:
1--WE respectfully petition the Gen
cral Assembly of North Carolina to re-
peal section 67 of the Revenue Acts,
commonly known as the merchants
tax for the following reasons:
THAT it is unjust, unequal and not
in proportion to taxes levied on other
Legitimate lines of business.
'"That it's operations have been at
tended with disastrous effects upon the
mercantile interests of the State.
THAT it has not wholesome. moral
effect; and,
That the merchants are among the
largest property holders. and are.
therefore. taxed on both real and per-
sonal property and the said sales tax
operates as a double taxation on mer-
camille interests"
Referred to Committee on Finance.
Introduction OF Bills.
BY Jones: To appoint justices of the
peace for Cleveland township. John-i
ston county Justices of the Peace.
BY Toms: In regard TO changing
the time of holding the Superior court
In the 18th Judicial District judicial
Districts.
I BY Coke. To amend charter of GER
tain railroad. Public Roads.
i By Toms: To amend section "a.
i chapter 947, Public Laws of 1908. To
tax on peddlars. Judiciary.
BY Boddie (by requesD To make
! fishing with nets, etc, in a certain mill
pond in Franklin county unlawful.
Fisheries.
BY Toms: To amend graded school
law Of Hcndersonyille. Education.
i BY Sinclair: To authorize commits
/ GiOnerS to establish q separte commits