The semi-weekly messenger., 1908-02-04

RuXtOn iE,endinent-Scnate VIII
Agrcc by Practically Unanimous
Voc Ia Houses ActiOn-Probabic
That Legislature Will Adjourn To-
day-Other Matters That Were Con-
sidcrcd Yesterday.
Raleigh, ~. c., Jan. 31.-Ihe mousse
tonight passed a railroad rate Dill Ior
2 IL ce nts fat passenger rate IN inc
hill being omitted an agreement OF
the railrOz. DIS with the governor TO sell
mileage books interstate and lntra-
state of 2,OOG and 1000 miles at TWO
cents a mile, the / 900 mile books good
for the individual purchasing, and the
2 900 mile books to be good Tor the
head of a family or of firm, and not
more han four members; also that
the hundred mile intra-state books at
2 IA cents good for heads of families
and dependant members and ire IL
cent interstate fat rae. The railroads
are expected TO fuiG4I their promises
to the ~oe~nOr. The bill also om1ts
any TeIer renee to leaving the rate +
cOnfscatGry oT excessive to be ad-
]; StcQ in 1909 by the corporation COM
mission as requested by the railroads,
differing in this from the bill already
passed by the senate. 1t Is expected
bill tomorrow.
Raleigh, N c., January 31.-In
the senate a bill came up to allow
wife to testify against her husband
in SANDER suit.
Senator Kluttz opposed it because
it applied to pending suits. Mr.. Nc
Lean offered an amendment striking
to pending suits Chairman Daniels
of the judiciary committee, which
had reported the bill without preju-
dice, supported it. The shotgun pol
icy entered largely in the discussion.
Mr.. Mclean said that as a man he
approved this policy, but did not as
a legislator. Mr.. Daniels said that
in matters like this case 1t was hard
to differentiate between the man and
the legislator. Mr.. RedWine offered
a substitute providing that no hus
band shall be competent or cOmpelli-
BILE to testify in matters pending to
affect the character of his wife, this
not to apply to pending causes of ac-
tion. Mr.. Polk said that under the
present law husband can testify to
things which will damn his wife for
ever in order to get dollars in his
own pocket, while his wife is forced
to sit silent and submit to the testi-
mony. He advocated the shotgun
policy declaring that in such cases
he would not respect a husband who
would allow his gun to remain silent.
Mr.. Mason took a like view. Mr..
Hicks opposed making the rule of
evidence to help out a man now be-
ing sued by another for breaking up
his home. Mr.. Reid declared the
bill dangerous. Mr.. Kluttz's amend
ment striking out section two was de-
feated Mclean withdrew his amend
ment and Redwine his substitute and
the bill passed it's second reading 21
to II. Kluttz opposed the third read
ing. Daniels motion to suspend the
rules failed. Harrington offered a
resolution that legislature adjourn
sine die at noon February 3rd, and
this went to the calendar.
The house discussion of the rail-
way rate bill was lengthy, ex-Lieut.
Governor Doughton making the lead
ing speech, saying the great ques-
tion of states rights had become i'll
yolved in this notable controversy
between the railroads and the state
and the result hinged upon the con-
stitutionality of the 14th amendment
He believed the railrOds menat what
they said when they declared they
wanted to get out of politics in this
state, and unless this rate matter is
settled there will be no more devel-
opments here. He did not believe
the states will ever be allowed, di-
rectly or Indirectly, to interfere with
Interstate commerce.
Harshaw, repu ublican, declared rail-
way legislation had brought meal
eulable harm to North Carolina, and |
that Governor Glenn thought so, or
else he would not have called the
legislature in extra session. Har-
shaw denounced the proposition to
take $17,500 from TIE railways for
expenses of the rate suits. He at
tributed the whole trouble and de-
struction during the past few months /
to agitation by a few men like Spea- |
ker Justice, Josephus Daniels, w w. |
Kitchin and others, who got the dem
ocratic state convention at the elev-
enth hour to stick railroad plank in |
the platform. He alluded to Cover |
nor Glenn as the preacher governor" /
and said there was coming on a great /
Gght toT the canatorship between
Glenn and Overman. He declared
this whole railroad legislation was
gotten up to put few politicians in
big offices.
At the afternoon session of the
house the debate which was limited
to ten minutes, was continued from
3 until O'Clock. The Manning
stand-pat bill, first voted on, was de-
feated by a vote OF 90 to 16. The
Younton senate bill failed to pass it's
second reading by vote of 40 to SO.
TIE house took recess until