The news & observer., 1905-01-06
DAY IN THE HOUSE.
Strict Divorce Law and Extend Con-
stitutionai Amendment to 1918.

There may be, as has been stated, a
flood of legislation in contemplation
by the many new members of this Leg
lslature. bur so far there is no indicu
ton Of such purpose.
On the other hand the splendid ar
ray cf ability, and conservative repu-
tatlon of members of both Senate and
House is a hopeful precursor of only
such legislation as may be absolutely
needed.
Certainly there has never been so
few bllls introduced in the first two
days SESSION of a North Carolina leg
islature Usually on the second day
there Is n perfect avalanche of bills.
resolutions and whereases presented.
y Derusal OF the detailed proceedings
Below reveals an extra raordinary mod
Grafton III this particular.
The star feature of course yesterday
was the reading of Governor Aycock' S
MESA ge in both chambers. sirnultan-
eous!y. Rarely has a public docu
ment received such close and respect
full attention.
I Although members knew they
would be able to read the message In
| full in todays News and Observer.
| they followed every word closely dur
ing the hour of its reading.
| But The reading clerks-they
seemed to grow aweary of it. for the
shifted from the Chief in each branch
to his assistant
| While bills were few and far be-
| tween. there was one of familiar i'm
| port hoary with political age, but i'm
portant nevertheless, towit:
| The amendment of the Constitution
! so that taxes for public schools could
| be limited to the white and colored
traces according TO their Droportionate
payments. For twenty one years. this
bill has been introduced and il is
| claimed by its author at this session.
to be absolutely required and gener-
/ ally demanded now.
Another big bill was introduced by
! Mr.. Cowles. Republican member from
Wilkes, and recognized Representative
in the Eighth District of the political
fortress of Congressman Spencer
| Blackburn. This bill is an ambitious
and spells politics in every line. 1t
simply calls for Constitutions!
| amendment to amend the amendment
adopted in 1900.
1t would repeal requirement of two
years residence in State to become |,
qualified voter and substitute on year
1t would substitute the prerequisite
poll tax payment to September prto.
10 election instead of May
1t would change the date at which
the reading and writing clause pre-
requisite for all voters goes into effect
from 1908 to 1913.
| And finally it calls for an election
on the amendment at the next gen
eral election.
But Representative Stewart, of Har.
nett, proposes to limit divorces to the
Biblical causes. tearing out root anG
branch from the statute books every
| modern divorce law and relegatins
that active branch of legal practice to
the old time slow coach and exceed
ingly difficult nrocess of getting d.
vorces in most cases by dieing first.
| The bill provides for divorce If eth
er party shall live in adultery: If the
wife shall commit adultery: If either
party at time Of marriage is impotent,
if at time of marriage wife should be
pregnant without nowledge of hus-
band also he not being father o1
child
A new committee was created tina,
ON the revision of the laws, and be-
fore the session is over and the new
code is completed Chairman Graham