The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1917-02-27
(Rv Maxwell Gorman)


RALEIGH, N. c., Feb 26-The leg
;s,ature will continue its session well
over into next week, as it will be i'm
nossible to complete it's work before
then. although the sixty days imita-
tation expires with the close of Satur
DAYS sittings, March third.
However there will be no "extra ses-
sionO unless the governor changes his
mind. and the lawmakers who remain
over will not only receive no pay from
the state. but be required to meet their
own expenses out of their private
means. There are, as usual, many who
will not do that, and scores of them
will board outgoing trains for home
Saturday night-as soon as pay stops,
for they are the poorest paid Of all the
States servants, and some Of them
serve at pecuniary loss. The latter
are necessarily men of means, or "well
fxed' financially, and all Of these will
stav until the gavel falls with the sine
die adjournment. A quorum Of others
less weIl-to-do, but willing to serve the
state free for few days, viii remain
and complete all important work.
Law Compelling Prison Reform
Senator w D. Turner, Of Iredell,
chairman Of the joint legislative com
mittee Investigating state farms and
camps where convicts are worked, has
presented bill designed to improve
both conditions and treatment Of con-
victs. 1t is being printed and distri-
buted among the legislators so that
everyone can familiarize himself with
it's provisions and will be acted on the
latter part Of this week.
Gov. Turner has been closely study
ing the subject and the enactment Of
this measure will provide the machinery
and open the way for the reforms so
clearly shown to be needed and correct
the abuses which .unquestionably exist.
Gov. Turner expresses himself as being
greatly shocked at some of the revela-
tlons made before the committee and
voices his Indignation that such things
should occur in the name of the law in
the great and proud state of North
Carolina.
Stringent Liquor Laws
These being strenuous days for the
wet prohibitionists the aforesaid
w. T. being that class of reformers
VINO have been exploiting their prohi
oltlon views for exhibition purposes
only, and getting their shipments OF
wet goods secretly for private consump
non, mainly. There are hundreds Of
them around here and thousands in the
state
Inc recent act of congress was more
'nan they had bargained for and nov
'neV are predicting that there will bs
large increase in the home manufat
'ufed article, as that does not require
any such thing as Interstate shipment
10 get from the manufacturer to con
sumcr.
but Brother Davis' has got hi
custer bill through the house and i
VII pass the senate and become Law
'nls Week-if Matt Allen, of Wayne
ooeSn stop it somewhere along tn
road But the legislature will no
create the Office Of prohibition enforce
\"I'h the snug salary attached) t.
correspond with the new office in Viz
slhla-on the ground that it is not nee
.SS''ry' However that may be, the fac
~ obvious that, unless the sheriffs an
'lelf deputies are more effectively vic
'.'h' IN enforcing the law, in some sec
tohs, than they have been, the opera
"ons of Illicit distillers will continue
ana the occupation of the blind tiger
anu runners' will not be wholly gone
"H'h additional effort Oh the part O
"'menody furnishes the plainly needle
fenforcements.
Legislative Notes
Queer things "happen ',-yes. the
\ just happen I'm legislatures. Fc
Y Instance, while the senate is demandin
M p'lSon reform, and the abolishment c
AZ >ne lash, except in very extreme case