Western Carolina Democrat and French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1913-1915, 1913-09-25
sONE SUGGESTIONS FOR SPECIAL
SESSION.


viding more equitable freight rates for
North Carolina shippers. Whether
ether questions of vital Importance to
the State will be considered is profile
. NAUTICAL. The constitutional lim.ta-
ton for a call session of the General
Assembly is twenty days, and the pur-
posa outlined for the approaching
meeting of the States Lawmakers rep
resents no small amount of work.
However, the Legislature "is a body
unto ITSELF and the members thereof
ere,''their own free moral agents" II
they conclude to discuss matters other
than those mentioned in the Govern
or's proclamation, calling them to-
gether, there is no constituted author
its that can say them nay. The
special sessions of 1900 and 1908 were
each convened for a stated purpose
but the activities of the members were
by no means confined to the consider
alton of the purposes outlined in the
calls which brought them together. A
number of local measurerS were pass
led and some general legislation en-
acted at both the June session of 1900
an dthe one called by Governor Glenn
| to settle the passenger rate controver-
sy in 1908. The latter session sub
mitted the prohibition question to the
| people and this action was foreign to
the purpose for which the call was
made.
Acknowledging the right of the ap-
preaching extraordinary session of the
General Assembly to consider other
worthy causes, than those stated in the
call it is devoutly hoped. that the at
tention of our legislators may be at
ttacted to measures which contem-
plate State aid in road construction.
Good road enthusiasts are con
plishing wonders by the vigorous cam
paigns inaugurated some five years
ago by the North Carolina Good Road
Association and the North Carolina
Geological and economic survey. But
the State, itself, has given little en-
couragement of the The late
SESSION of the General Assembly au-
tIorized bond issues in ~ffty-seven
counties, for the building of better
roads, but declined to appropriate the
small amount needed in providing en-
sineering assistance from the gen
eral fund. An aggregate of some
thing like $4,000, 900 for road construc-
ton was authorized during the regu-
lar session last winter and there is ur-
gent need of funds5to maintain a corps
Of engineers capable of locating roads
70 the best advantage. 1t was a mis-
take to have neglected this in the" first
instance. Perhaps a second effort will
meet with more favorable cons'dera-
ton. Nearly a million dollars of road
bends have been issued by the commits
sioners of various counties since the
legislature adjourned seven months
ago and the demand for engineering
work can only partially be met, not
withstand ng it's constantly increasing
urgency.
If the advocates of good roads in
each county should concentrate their
efforts in a sincere and determined
purpose to induce the special term OF
the Legislature. to make provisions for
engineering assistance, in localities
that have issued bonds for good roads,
they would stand fine chance to sue
coed. The representative of every
county should be instructed with re-
ference to matters of this kind before
taking his departure for Raleigh. The
proposed amendments of the State
Constitution and freight rate discrim-
i1ation against North Carolina ship
TIers are questions of moment, which
must be determined. But the rank
and file" are, also, interested in having
themselves provided with a system of
passabIe highways that will enable
them to market the products of their
labors independent of .near-perpendic-
ular grades and ancient mud holes.
It is the opinion of many people that
the need for good roads is more ur-
gent than the supposed demand for
amendments to the State Constitution.
We shall not hazard an opinion upon
suggestion, but hope the approach
ing session will show itself more lib
cral in the consideration of appropri-
atoms for road improvement than dig
the regular session last winter.
There can be no greater sin than that
committed by parents who deprive
their offspring of the advantage of ed
uoation. When Mr.. Bryan spoke at
the c~hautauqua in Hendersonville, he
emphasized this fact most eloquently. +
The truant officers are supposed to
know the eason why children do not