The semi-weekly messenger., 1908-01-31
Especial to The Mesenger.)

Raleigh, NJ c., January rs
The night session OF the house con-
tinued until eleven O'Clock. A great
many local bills passed final reading,
but most of the session was occupied
by debate on, and fillbusterlng on
the bill authorizing the governor TO
expend 1000 for prosecuting freight
rate cases before the interstate COM
merce commission. The bill was
championed by Manning, Midyette,
Douglas, Peele and Young, Parks,
Kitchin and Morton, among the DEM
ocrats; Grant, Cowles and Bryant,
republicans, opposing, either by de-
bate or filibustering.
1t was 1920 before a vote was
reached, the bill passing final reading
by a vote of 81 to II.
Othe. bills passed were: lncorpor-
ating the Palm Club at Wilmington;
amending the primary election law Of
New Hanover county; providing for
digesting North Carolina supreme
court decisions; amending the law es-
tablishing Winston's recorders court;
allowing Wilmington to lease real es-
tate owned outside of the city limits;
amending Marshville graded school
law; for relief of the tax collector
of Huntersville, Mecklenburg county.
Night Session of Senate.
At the night session of the senate,
house bills were passed providing for
the payment of burial expenses Of
pensioners by counties; restoring
certain powers to notaries public;
and exempting independently owned
and operated railways from prov1s-
ions of the law just enacted forbid
ding mergers OF trunk lines.
There was half dozen speakers,
all being given close Gttention by SEN
ators and the gener.-l public. Greer
led the e,eUa.e. He saw no reason
for ci1;...IIis5 the rate fixed last year
and he called on the Legislature to
staHc pat. He wanted cent mileage
looks Graham told him the courts
had decided these could not be pre-
scribed by law. Mason offered an
amendment that the act shall be eff
fective April 1st next. He said most
of the senators had fixed their minds
how they would vote. He regretted
that the fear that the state would lose
before the United States supreme
court had Influenced senate discus
sions Mitchell said crisis confron-
ted the Legislature and he believed
business interests demanded that the
compromise made by the governor
and railways be ratified and trusted
in the legislature to do this. Hicks
said he applauded the governor for
making the compromise and that the
people want it. He said Judge Long
when he made his decision in Raleigh
did not know whether the national
guard if called out would come to
his aid or to that of Judge Pritchard.
Reed of Rockingham made the long
est and ablest speech of the evening,
and said he regretted to take issue
with Governor Glenn. He wanted to
know what light or figures they had
seen to make them change the fig
ures they made last year. He said
c. B. Aycock and j. E. Shepherd had
assured him that "a cent rate was
not confiscatory. He declared that
the Legislature last year established
states rights. He protested against
giving corporation commission power
as to rates, as this simply meant doe
ination by federal courts under in
junction proceedings. He said the
railways which had been at warfare
against North Carolina their creator,
were now bringing flag Of truce. He
bitterly opposed the acceptance of
SIT 800, rendered the governor by
the Southern railway for expenses.
The discussion will be resumed to-
morrow.