Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1905-02-02
TAR HEEL LEGISLATURE
Work That is Being Done BY the
;. North Carolina Lawmakers.


), North Carolina Lawmakers.
"Wednesday a Busy Day.
In the Senate Wednesday petitions
for repeal Of all divorce laws came in
from various religious bodies, the Qua
kerS commencing the anti-jug law.
Bills were introduced to change the
time OF holding court in the fourteenth
district, to amend the act establishing
the graded schools in Henderson. To
allow railroads to give passes to news
papers, to pay for advertisements; to
amend the law preventing fire waste;
to give illegitimate children the right
to inherit equally from their mother.
There was long discussion on the spe-
cial order, Senator Wards bill al
lowing married women to make con-
tracts as though they were unmarried.
The bill failed to pass 20 to %. A
bill regulating salaries of judges was
made special order for tomorrow.
Bill. to relieve board of agriculture
to contributing to the current ex-
penses of the Agricultural and Me-
chanical college, was made special
orde-> for next Thursday. The bill al
lowing women the right to contract,
which failed to pass, was reconsidered
and made special order for Friday.
In the House reports were received
from various State departments show
ing the number Of salaries of clerks
and employees. Bills were intro
duced by McNinch to amend the di--
vorce law and many memorials were
presented against the divorce laws
and also asking for a law against
frGndY11onf1v nht Amino
The features of the day in the House
was argument on the bill to repeal the
| one passed Yesterday, giving State
Treasurer Lacy relief by reimbursing
| him 1914, which he paid the State, that
| amount having been stolen from his Of
| fee by Clerk William H. Martin. The
| bill was introduced after members had
| failed to be allowed their names go on
a roll call vote; and some feeling re-
suited. The Democrats, in some cases,
joined with the Republicans. The Will
liams bill passed it's second reading on
roll call vote, 73 to 36, many mem
bers explaining their votes, and it then
passed third reading. The vote created
surprise and great excitement on both
| sides Of the House. The bill was sent
to the Senate. The House passed a
bill relieving county commissioners
from penalties for failure to audit ac-
counts as required by law. Bills were
introduced to provide for partition OF
mineral interests, when they have been
separated from the land; to provide a
lein for purchase money Of timber by
stumpage; for a State refOrmatory; to
repeal the charter of the Carolina and
Tennessee Railway; to appoint
magistrates in Jones and regulate pri-
elections in Craven; to create the coun-
to Of Lee. :
MERCHANTS PURCHASE TAX
49, - ABOLISHED.
The Senate and House committees
On finance unanimously decided te
strike out from the revenue act what
is known as the merchants purchase
tax, in accordance with special rec
ommendation of the State Auditor
Five hundred merchants petitioned fo1
such course. &
Norman H. Johnson. attorney fo1
the Merchants Association, says tha
5000 names were signed to the peti
tions, and that kilograms poured il
all day to members of the Assembly
The measure, he says, will bring grea
contentment to the merchants through
out North Carolina.
Anti-Jug Law Repealed.
In the Senate bills were introduce'
to require the use of broad wire AM
not barbed along the side of roads; t
prohibit the sale of liquor in fiv
miles. of Gold Hill. Bills passe
,abolishing the three days of grace an
making negotiable laws uniform; 70
, the relief of county commissioners n
+ garding the verification of claim:
. House bill repeating the law refundin
to Treasurer Lacy 1874 stolen b
Clerk Martin, was first referred
the claim committee, then placed o
! the calendar. There was argumeI
, on the bill regulating fishing in tn
t great sounds and connecting water
y and it was made the special order fe
! Thursday. The Senate then took u
: the special order, namely, the bill il
creasing the salaries of judges to So
500 and repeating the act allowing 81
v perior Court judges $3.50 for expense
y for travelling. Mr.. Williams aske
r what had become of the bill allowin
n $1,000 to the Governor for expense
, saying if this we're not allowed, h
i would oppose the bill. Mr.. Scales sal
the present bill was unanimol