The Wilson times. [volume] (Wilson, N.C.) 1896-19??, 1921-12-09
FAVORABLE REPORT
ON BILL TO MEET
SCHOOLS DEFICIT
LEGISLATORS HURRY
December 16 is the Tentative
Date for Adjournment, How
ever Other Matters are Be.
ing Brought up Which May
Keep the Legislators Busy
For Awhile.
(By Max Abernethy. j

Raleigh, Dec. S.-After twice post
poning consideration the joint COM
mittee on education has sent the
Brooks bill providing for payment of
the $4,000 deficit in the States
public school fund back to the House
and Senate with favorable report.
This action paves the way for pass.
ing without great difficulty one Of
the two pieces of legislation for which
Governor G1orrisonl called the legisla-
tors to Raleigh in special session.
While 3here was never any great
amour Of opposition to paying the
deficit made when greater number
OF school teachers qualified for high
er salaries under the school law than
was anticipated, the method of find
ing the money to pay of the debt
caused considerable debate.
Representative Tom Bowie Of Ashe
county was considered the leader of
those who sought to delay action in
the committee, his motion twice
postponing final consideration and
preventing a report on the bill. His
opposition to the bill was in the
method Of paying the deficit rather
than in making up the deficit. Wheth-
er it was the better policy to borrow
the money or issue short term notes
or in some other way Representative
Bowie didn't know. For that reason
he sought to block any motion to re-
port the bill favorably.
The bill as reported by the commit
tee authorizes the treasurer and the
council of State to pay off the deficit
and the money will come from the
general fund.
Further indications that the spe-
cial session will not be able to center
it's attention on the two matters
which the governor specifically re-
commended-that of correcting an
error in the municipal finance act and
in taking care of the public school
deficit is seen in the move started by
some of the Eastern representatives
to exempt their counties from the op-
Grafton of the Statewide stock law
passed by the regular session last
January February.
Representative Bell of Hyde and
Swain of Tyrrell have introduced
bills asking that their counties be
excluded from the territory which
will be known as stock law" on and
after January /, 1922. These repre-
sentatives are asking for respite Of
IL months.
This action" said Representative
Martin, of Washington, who led the
fight for the law, lis only an effort
to start anew the campaign in the
Eastern North Carolina counties
am going to oppose every bill intro
duced at this session seeking to
thwart the act passed at the regular
session."
Both representatives who have in
troduced their bills asking for ex-
emption carry bulky petitions from
their constituents in support Of the
proposed legislation. They are not
satisfied with the opportunity offered
by the law whcih will dispense with
''free range territory in this state.
The State municipal finance act
which is new bill although in vir-
tually the same form as the one
which the 1921 session failed to pass
properly, has started well On its way
through both houses. 1t is rot expect
ed that there will be any determined
fight made by anybody to defeat the
measure. This bill requires six days
for passage and will doubtless be
passed the three readings in the al
lotted time.
Both houses are trying to fix Dec
ember 16 as the day Of adjournment
but so far this has not been done
A resolution has been started in tht
(Continued on page g.,