The French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1896-1912, 1907-03-21
RALEIGH LETTER.
Hustler Bureau
Supreme Court Building
Raleigh, Mar. IS 'O7.


(9t0f COrrespOndemce.)
The legislature of 1907 is now a
thing of the past" having adjourned
sine die on last Monday afternoon at
five o'clock. There is no question in
the mind OF the writer about the general
approval of the measures that have
been ENACTED into law. There may be q
few objectionable local propositions
passed in the rush of things during the
last exciting days, but in the main, the
solons have done we'll. Apparently,
more good has been accomplished here
at the recent session than by any former
General Assembly with which / have
been connected. A good deal has been
said In he newspapers about radical
SIN" ON the part of several democratic
members, but it turns out that nothing
rash, or dangerous was passed and
there is no cause for alarm, or reason
for keeping up the agitation as some of
the 90 called conservative" newspap-
ers are doing, and which they will
doubtless desist from continuing upon
sober second thought" Among the
things OF public Importance accomplish
ed Is the material reduction in freight
AND passenger rates, q provision en-
larg1ng the powers of the Corporation
Commission, increasing the pensions of
Confederate soldiers, taking care of the
insane, idiots and needy epileptics of
the State, providing greater educational
facilities, standing pat" on the tenn
Perance question, starting the work for
o reformatOry, appropriating money to
AID In attracting desirable Immigrants
TO this State and many other things too
numerous to mention. i am at q loss to
know what to say regarding the anti
trust law, which finally passed after &
heated discussion continuing through
several days of the last week of the
session. Many prominent legislators
think 1t will not prove effective, while
others contend that it has some good
provisions in it; still others say it is
stringent enough and is all right. NV
knowledge of it Is very limited, as I
nave not had an opportunity to examine
the provisions of the bill, in the amend
ed form which finally passed both
houses. I will say this however, that
nine-tenths of the Representatives and
majority of the democratic Senators
did not get what they wanted in the
passage OF the bill, an amended by the
senate, through the aid of republican
members, who voted with the opponents
o the Reid bill to q man, a majority of
the democratic senators voting to insert
an amendment for the prote ction of the
tooacco farmers, proposed by the House
OF Representatives.
The passenger rate on railr Dads,
sixty miles in length and over, is
two and one-quarter cents and second
class cars are abolished. This will be
effective on and after July l. Under the
new freight rate-law there will be a re-
auction OF from ten TO twenty-five per
cent. In the powers given the Corpora
ton Commission we may expect better
service, better equipment, fewer wrecks
and less delays in shipment. Penalties
are provided TO compel prompt service
and authority is given to conductors on
all trains to arrest and put off drunken
men. Charters were granted which
promise railroads in some u~ndeveIoped
sections OF the State, such rs Ashe and
Allegheny counties and for the construc-
ton OF q railroad from Knoxville to
Waynesv1le and from that point by Wsv
OF AsheVille n HenderSonville to Ruth
ertordton. A bill was passed authorizing
certain townships in Buncombe and
henderson counties to vote subscrip-
lions for the construction of q railroad
from Asheville to Rutherfordton. Five
hundred thousand dollars was appro-
pr1ated for the beneht of the dangerous
insane idiots and epileptics. This is an
additional appropriation to the amount
needed for the maintenance of the in
st1tutions now conducted by the State,
3t MorGanton, Raleigh and Goldsboro.
AN appropriation was made to begin the
WORK OF q refOrmatory and twenty
Thousand dollars for a hospital for the
treatment OF coDsumptives. The appro-
pr1atlen for Confederate pensions and
more adequate provisions at the Sold
dlers' Home was increased one hundred
q twenty-five Thousand dollars, which
shows the appreciation of North Caro-
lima legislators of the valiant service
rendered by her soldiers in the Lost
Cause. And this by the unanimous
vote OF both houses.
The special appropriation which has
heretofore been given to the weak
counties to aid In maintaining four
months schools was continued and a
mild compulsory law passed which the
counties may take advantage of if nee
esstty seems to demand. There has
been no change made in the public
school system Of the State, but the law
mas been 80 amended as to guarantee
6AO~VSA AOSECS III OQ6 luGUF6 IMAM I'D
the past. The State Institutions were
also remembered in handsome contribu-
tions and may continue their note
worthy progress as heretofore. The
appropriation to the University was in
creased from fOrty-five to seventy
thousand dollars, and twenty-five thous-
and dollars q year vas given for build
ing purposes. The A. & M. College, in
addition to the support il received from
the National Government gets thirty
two thousand dollars annually with fifty
thousand dollars for needed additional
buildings, eight thousand dollars for
textile equipment and five thousand
dollars for repairs to buildings. The
State Normal Industrial College at
Greensboro receives seventy thousand
dollars annually for support and twenty
i've thousand dollars for the proposed
building rs q memorial for the great
work accomplished by its former presl.
dent, DR.. Chas. d. Mclver. The Appa-
lachin and Cullowhee Normals while