The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1921-03-04
ALDERMEN CAN'T
TRUST MIR. COOKE
Will Keep a Finger on This Wild
Representative Until The
Legislature Adjourns

|
Not knowing what manner of sneak
legislation Representative Cooke of
Pasquotank would attempt to juggle
| thru the General Assembly at the last
minute, the Board of Aldermen of Eliz-
abeth City met in special session Mon
day morning and appointed a commit
tee to go, to Raleigh and keep an eye
on Cooke until the Legislature ad-
journed. The particular piece of legis-
lation which caused this action upon the
part of the Aldermen was sneak bill
introduced in the House last week,
which bill effectually planted bomb un-
der the present Board of Graded School
Trustees and substituted new Board.
The appointment of the new Board was
taken out of the hands of the Alder
men. The new Board was named in
Cookies bill.
Cookies excuse for trying to jam
thru such bill was that the present
Board of Graded School Trustees is
too large All that is true; everybody
admits it; but Elizabeth City folk don't
want Mr. Cooke to delegate to himself
the authority of picking a Board of
Trustees to suit himself or any other
man.
This is the third time Cooke has
tried to turn things upside down in
Elizabeth City without taking the peo-
pie of the city into his confidence. J
previously tried to upset the city limits
without consulting his constituents and
has another bill pending tearing the
Pasquotank Highway Commission all, to
pieces and putting men like Eugene
Scott and John T. Williams on that i'm
portant Commission. NJ
It is not believed that any Of Cookies
high handed legislation will get thru.
Both the Board of Aldermen and the
Chamber of Commerce are bucking him
and demonstrating to the Assemblymen
at Raleigh that Cooke is not represent
ing the will of the people of this city
and county. The Chamber of Com
merce met Monday night and unani-
mously disapproved of Cookies school
bill. The Chamber drew up a substi-
tute bill which would reduce the num-
Der of members of the Board of Gra-
ded School Trustees to seven, the re
duction to. be made as the terms of the |
present members expired; the appoint
ment of new members to remain in the
hands of the Board of Aldermen as at
present. The substitute bill offered b
the Chamber of Commerce would not
disturb the present Board which is I
committed to the 100000 bond issue
ON which an election is about to be
called.
The substitute bill was carried to Ra-
leigh by w. A. Worth from the Board
Of Aldermen and Geo. f. Seyfert from
the Chamber of Commerce. News comes
back that Cooke will not accept the
substitute. This probably means that
Cookies bill will be killed in the Senate
where Elizabeth City folk can get a
rearing.
Here then is a copy of Cookies Gra-
led School Bill. This bill is discussed
omevhat in the editorial columns OF
THE INDEPENDENT this week. Read
he bill:
NJ ACT RELATING TO THE GRADED
~ SCHOOL OF ELIZABETH CITY, PAsoUo-
TANK COUNTY. 1t
The General Assembly of North Caronna 90
nact: 80 1.+ | !.
Section 1. That Chapter eehty-eight: ,n9 Private
avs of North Carolina, section one Thousand
inc hundred and seventeen, be and the, same
hereby repealed, and that the following De
lserted in lieu thereof:
That the Board of Trustees of the said Gradr
School shall consist of seven memoers' VINO
lal be qualified voters of Elizabeth Clty ana
Ne following shall constitute the said Board
; Trustees to-wit: Mrs. George w. Ward, for
le period of one year. commencing with the
of j.. b.
,riod of two years, commencing with the hrst
" of April, 1921; G. o. Robinson for the
,riod of three years, commencing with the nrst
" of April, 1921; T. J. Markham, for "a
,riod of four years. commencing with the U
st day of April, 1921; E. F. Aydlett for the il
" of April 1921; W. T. Love for period .
six years from April first, 1921. and w. II. S
innings for a period of years, commenc- =
g with the first day of April, 1921. That I
e Board of Aldermen shall elect each mem %
rsi successor at the expiration of the time d
out above, on the first Monday in March ID
each year for the period of seven years and N
at said Trustees term of Office shall be for ~
e period of years from the first day y
April following his election, provided that U
member of the said Board of Aldermen shall
eligible as a member of the Board of School
ustees. All vacancies by death, resignation, or n
herwise, shall be filed for the unexpred term
divided that the Board of Trustees of said Fl
AIDED School shall not be office in con-
nplation of Article seven of the Constitution 81
North Carolina. +,
Sec 2. That all laws and clauses of laws -
consistent with this hereby repealed t
Sec g. That this act shall be in force from cl
d after the first day Of March. one thousand
1,,1r,1 ro1 o,1f rfO,