The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1919-03-14

work of the General Assembly of 1919,
which concluded it's session this week,
is given by John A. Livingston in the
Raleigh News G. Observer. 1t follows:
Measured by magnitude of results ac-
complished, the most important session
of the General Assembly in a decade
has virtually passed into history. Legis-
lation furnishing machinery for revalu-
alton of all taxable property was it's
most noteworthy achievement; provi-
sion for a six months school term in
every community in North Carolina it's
most praiseworthy act.
Submission to the people of the in
come tax amendment to the State con-
stitution opens the way to a new era in
the economic history of the common
wealth while the Inauguration of a
Statewide system of highways is the
Outstanding feature of the session from
a material standpoint Strengthening
of the public health laws comes as a
direct result of lessons learned in a
of the public health laws comes as a
world war.
1t Kept the Faith
! The General Assembly didn't do all
that was expected of it nor did it go
further than to reflect, perhaps i'm
perfectly at times, the wishes and de-
sires of enlightener public opinion
Thanks to the efforts of wise and con-
servative leaders, it kept the faith and
rendered service that merits the ap-
proval of the people Of the State.
The legislators go home with the con-
sciousness Of having set in motion new
forces for the development of the Tar
Heel State, which if intelligently dir
ected will make for great progress and
development.
Not Ready to Pioneer.
While the General Assembly was too
firmly welded to ancient ideas to rar
spond to the demand for equal suffrage
it's passage in the Senate and the close
ness of the vote in the House showed
that even here distinct advance had
been made in progressive thought, as
compared with the session of two years
ago. Had the supporters of suffrage
started early in the session with consis-
tent purpose. it is entirely possible that
equal municipal suffrage would have
Been achfeved: Howevef; tl1e pfeseift
session. in failing to pass it's measure
missed it's greatest opportunity to show
it's progressiveness and this in the fu-
ture will be charged against it as an
unwarranted ultra conservatism.
Again the General Assembly was too
firmly committed to conservative
thought to call a constitutional conven-
ton. 1t was realized that the present
document is out of date and should be
superseded by a more workable one
but the legislators as a whole didn't
want to disturb things too much. The
Senate passed this bill but it died in
the House.
The House never gave the Senate an
opportunity to act on any of the pro-
posed safeguards for the better enforce
ment of prohibition: laws Practically
all of these measures were defeated and
here again the Legislature was derelict
to it's trust.
The Most Forward Step.
The revaluation program was worked
out under the direction Of Representa-
tive Rufus A. Doughton, chairman of
the House Finance committee, and
Senator James A. Gray, chairman of
the Senate Finance committee. They
had the help and cooperation of Cor
poration Commissioner A. J. Maxwell
and so completely and so thoroughly
was their work done that the bill was
passed exactly as reported by the COM
mittee and without discussion on the
floor of either house. Never before
perhaps has such an epochal bill been
enacted into law by unanimous consent
in this State unless in times of war or
of dire necessity. Speaker Brummitt
did his best days work when he named
Governor Doughton to head this COM
mittee and Senator Gray, able young
banker proved to be a running mate
worthy of his veteran colleague.
New Educational Program.
In the educational program aimed i
specifically to secure a six months
school term a wide divergence of opin- |
ion existed at the beginning of the ses-
sion as to the methods to follow. 1t
was no easy task that faced Represen- |
tative Victor S. Bryant and Senator F.
G. Harding, chairmen of the respective |
committees, but with Won |
derful tact they reconci1ed conflicting /
opinions and brought the warning ele- !
ments together. In forming this pro- !
gram the guiding hands of J. Y. JOY
ner, retiring State Superintendent, of
Public Instruction, and of DR.. E. c. |
Brooks, the present superintendent, rem |
dered great service. |