The French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1896-1912, 1909-03-18
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

are publishing various and sun
dry appropriations of the behavior
of the General Assembly just ad-
journed, in which they all seem
fully to agree. The News and
Observer devotes two columns to
a resume of its actions, and
among other observations says:
There was no suggestion of
graft or dishonesty or DONNA
lions. They devoted their time
chiefly to the consideration of To-
cal matters and were mainly con-
cefned to look well after the de-
sires of the home folks. There
was so much of this local legis-
lation that it required so large a
portion of the time of many mem
bers that little time was left
them to devote themselves to
larger public questions. Much
of this local legislation ought
never to cross the threshold of
the General Assembly, and this
state should follow the example
of those states that have turned
over much of it to the county
authorities"
This position is quite correct,
but leads up to a question of the
location of the dividing line be-
tweenIauthority of municipali-
ties and counties and the General
Assembly should be drawn. We
hope to see a development in the
manner of separating and hand
ling these questions such as will
give the county authorities a lati-
t1de in which to do the best
work, and our Legislature an
opportunity to properly investi-
gate and handle the heavier
problems with which il must of
necessity deal.
Among the general acts passed,
tits a pleasure to note the large
number of provisions for special
tax schools in addition to the
regular and usual terms, and the
authority given county commits
sioners in the way of good road
extension. These, we think, are
among the mostimportant neces-
sites Of the state, and come
nearer representing the base for
future good government and
prosperity than any other class
of legislation touched upon. The
schools of the State will have the
assistance and cooperation of
States department of education,
and the Highway Commission
will. be of great help in the way
of advice and instruction in road
building.
The tendency to the increase
Of the jurisdiction Of recorders
courts and justices of the peace
is open, to question, though the
friends of such legislation point
out that there are great posi-
bilities in the way of added road
hands and saving in the expense
of failing offenders to await the
next term of court.
Pensions came in for a fair
discussion, and all the increase in
keeping with the income that
could be was allowed. Evidently
the prohibition law is satisfactory
as no proposition to changeit re-
ceived any noticeable attention.
State institutions were we'll look
ed after, the schools and colleges
and hospitals and asylums re-
ceiving first consideration.
It is to be hoped that the
placing of the tax matters in the
hands of the Corporation Com
mission will result in an evening
up of values throughout the
state, and a substantial reduction
of the number of 'pauper''
counties.
Under the drainage bill alarge
amount Of swamp lands in east
ern Carolina are expected to be
reclaimed, which will greatly in
crease, it is hoped the trucking
industry which has proven SO
profitable to that section.
In a session where so many de-
tails have to be looked after, it
would be strange if there were
not errors of commission as well
as omission, but taken all in all,
the session just closed will prob
ably go on record as the most
satisfactory to the most people of
any in years,