The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1908-02-04
north CAROLINA LEGISLATURE INEXTRASESSI0N
At Call of Governor Glenn Lawmakers Meet to Rdtify the
Agreement on Railroad Rates.

/ Mr.. Harshaw secured unanimous
consent to introduce and also the inn
mediate passage of bill to extend
the corporate limits of Lenoir.
The bill to allow wife to testify
in certain cases, which passed second
reading yesterday, came up for final
action. Mr.. Williams sent forward an
amendment that the act do not app y
to any cases now pending. There was
a lively discussion during which Mr..
Lockhart declared that there was no
demand for such legislation; that 1t
came from Guliford county and was
being urged by lobbists. backed by
DIR. Mock. for a suit in which he Is
interested. Finally there was a roll
cal vote on the viii Jams amendment
by which it was adopted So to 36.
However, there was a tie, Al to II.
on the passage of the bill as Amended
and the bill was lost.
THE SPECIAL ORDER RATE BILLS.
The house took up the further dis
cussion of the pending rate bills, Mr..
Doushton, of Allegheny, being the
first speaker. He declared himself to
be a states rights man in the broad
est and flu lest sense of the wor1,
especially in the right of the state
to the jurisdiction of railroad rates
within its borders. He believed in
this as he did in other car iinal prin-
cipals of democracy. lie reviewed in
detail the developments since the pas.
sage OF the 2A cent rate act at the
1907 session andtfe present status
of the litigation in the federal courts.
He emphasized the fact that the gov
ernor. the counsel for the states side
of the unfortunate litigation were urg-
ing the adopting OF the compromise.
Also the unmistakable intimation that
counsel for the state have made that
there was grave DOUBT of the state
winning out He declared himself UNI
literally opposed to the Manning bill
representing the stand patters." He
favored the Yount bill. but II the ma
jority of the members wished tha
Weaver bill he was willing 10 take
that. Both led by different routes to
the same end the putting in opera
ton Of the proposed compromise. The
Weaver bill method might not stand
In the courts in that II might be
shown to be discriminatory In condi'
tioning the 2k cent rate on the sale
Of the ami ~ cent mileage books
He thought the Yount bill, leaving
the railroads to put on tie mileage
books in keeping faith the safest way
to end the fight. Some citizen couft
raise the issue OF discrimination under
the Weaver bill.
Mr.. Douglass was interrupted by
Speaker Justice and Mr.. Manning with
Inquiries and cross questions as to
oonstitutionality of the various bills
pending. In rep'y to questions Mr..
Douglass said he would favor the bill
which has passed the senate with
the clause as TO the corporation com
mission passing on the rates after oen
year left out. He would vote for the
Weaver bill II the Yount bill Is lost
though he would submit to the house
that we have no authority to inter.
tere with the interstate rates. the
chief objection to the Weaver bill be
ling that the rate II 2 cents is fixed on
a contingency which involved inter
state rates.
Douh9ton declared that II would be
distinct misfortune for the state
for the legislature to go away from
Raleigh without fixing substantially
the compromise advocated by the gov
lernor. He declared that his people
we're unanimous for the adoption oI
1.-The compromise.
Mr.. Harshaw, republican, character
lied the az cent rate as the mos
destructive ever passed by a legis
iature.
! Following Harshaw's speech. whief
the attitude and legislation by demo
Gratis generally was rated, there wal
q long discussion OF motions 10 limi
debate and get TO a vote on the raft
bills. FfnalIv = vote prevailed to nd
lourn 10 3 O'Clock and proceed 20 vnt'
on the pending rate bills al $50. Thii
was received With great enthusiasm
he determination being to adjourn tn
morrow. II Ia conceded that n con
FeTenc committee wi have 70 fnal.'
adjust the differences between tn
house ard the senate and present tn
Fnal bill 10 be ratified.
TIE SENATE.
The senata convened this rnurnIn
nj 4 O'Clock with prayer BIZ Rev. ]
g. Massee, pastor Of Tabernacle Bar
Itist church. The passage Of bills Of
final reading was taken up at once.
Amend charter Of Greensboro.
. Improve roads Of Smithvilie town
ship, Brunswich county.
. Improve roads in Cherokee.
incorporate walstunburg, Green
> county.
2 Provide a hotel building al Greco
! more. GranVIl Q county.
! Amend charter Of Beachlani, Al
3 son county.
{ Provide graded schools at Beaufor
Improve Lincoln county roads.
\ Tunnrnarats, Igafiaya gagh nofnty