The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1921-03-11
GENERAL ASSEMBLY ENDS
NOTABLE 1921 SESSION
Elizabeth City Breathes Sigh Of Relief With Her
Representative Back To His Own
Stock of Merchandise.

!
+ What will go down in history
as a notable session of the North
Carolina General Assembly con-
cluded its labors of sixty and
three days at 2 o'clock Wednes-4
day night. It, has been an excit-
ling session for Elizabeth City
with c. A. Cooke representing
Pasquotank County in the House,
and Elizabeth City is right glad
that the session is over. But so
persistently and SO vigorously did
the people back home keep down
behind Cooke that his record as
it stands will not be as objec-
tionable as it might have been.
let's dispose of Cooke in para
graph. As far as; can be learned he
put thru only two notable local meas
ures enc effecting the Board of SGraded
/ School Trustees; the other effecting the
Pasquotank Highway Commission He
| first undertook to upset the present
school board and create one to his own
liking. This bill was finally modified
and the matter of decreasing the num-
! Der of members of the school board is
/ submitted to vote of the people in
| the regular city election to be held
Tuesday, May 3, 1921. The bill pro-
vides for a board of seven trustees, one
from each ward, two from the city at
| large and the Mayor shall be ex oficio
| chairman of the board. Mr. Cooke then
increased the number of members of
the Pasquotank Highway Commission
from five to seven and has appointed
four of the number, the terms of two
of the present members CIV. J. Wood
ley and J.sJ, Morris) having expired.
Cookies appointments are F. f. Cohoon,
J. j. Morris, A. e. Jones and o. L.
Bundy. These with A. B Houtz, j. w.
Foreman and o. f. Gilbert constitute
the Highway Commission as il, stands
under the Cooke aArtzz III eIst of cofzs
sequence did Mr.. Cooke put over ex-
cept few increases in salaries of coun-
ty officers.
Notable Legislation.
The outstanding act of the recent
General Assembly was the Doughton-
ConnorBowie road bill providing for
the construction of $500 miles of state
highways and carrying with it a bond
issue of $50,O0O,O00. Added to this ma
jor road bill there were more than 100
local road and street improvement bills
aggregating another $25, 100000.
And after hninC Oanorouc with roo5e
the Legislature turned it's attention to
schools and other public institutions and
appropriated $6,745,OO for a two year
program. The most progressive ele-
ment in the state had asked for $2O.-
100000 for a six year program.
But the boldest act of this Legisla.
ture was the passage of a State Wide
Stock Law without any amendments ex-
empting certain counties or sections.
Other notable legislation was an act
abolishing the practice of kissing the
bible in taking oaths; an act requiring
parties to a marriage contract to show
certificates of health before license to
marry may be issued. And there was
legislation strengthening primary and
secondary educational work and provid-
ing fund of $5,OO0,OOO for the assis-
tance of needy communities in the erec-
ton of school houses.
Things Not Done.
Some things the General Assembly
did not do. It refused to repeal the
state wide primary law; refused to make
tick eradication compulsory; refused to
increase the interest rate; refused to
call a constitutional convention; refused
to increase the pay of members of the
General Assembly; declined to provide
a censorship for moving pictures and
tabled a measure which proposed to
co ordinate state and federal prohibi-
ton laws.
No Property Tax.
For the first time since North Caro-
lima assembled legislature in 1889, no
tax was levied on property for State
uses. The Revenue act provides for
taxes on incomes of individuals, ard
Inheritance, privilege, etc.,
'or it's revenue. And in ,furtherance of
he tax reforms, a separate Revenue
Commission, with a revenue commits
sioner was formed to have general su-
oervision of the State and local tax
work in the State.
Two months ago when the General
Assembly came into session, paramount
n the minds of many members was the
of their people at the
workings of the Revaluation act. Insis-
ent demands were made through
lozen or more bills, for horizontal
'eduction in values Two months steady
work brought forth bill that provides
or local adjustment of this >vexa-
ion and a horizontal reduction by coun-