The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1921-12-23
MAY ABOLISH OR HIRE
OUT CONVICT FORCE NOW
Pasquotank Highway Commission Has Leeisla-
tive Authority To Do Either-Other Leg
islation at Special Session

An act to provide for trial by
Jury when called for in the Re-
corder's Court-of Pasquotank;
an act providing for the pay
ment Of moneys not amounting
to more than $500 for the es-
tates of interstates to the Clerk
Of the Superior Court an act
authorizing the Pasquotank
Highway Commission to hire
out convicts or abolish the con-
yict system in its discretion; and
an act defining itinerant mer-
chandising and imposing tax
on itinerants, pawnbrokers and
dealers in second hand clothing
Such was the crop of new leg
is1ation for Pasquotank County
from the Special Session of the,
General Assembly which ad-
journed Tuesday morning, Dec.
TO-
Distinction comes to the special ses-
sion because of the things it did not do,
rather than by reason. of its concrete
enactments. Statewide legislation pro-
posed mounted to imposing proportions,
but, in the majority of cases, it was
moved down by a persistent determin
alton not to upset the existing statutes
to any greater extent than was neces-
sary.
Statewide measures ratified before
adjournment included the following:
A revised Municipal Finance Act; a
resolution authorizing the bonding of a
100000 deficit in State School Fund;
an act to validate taxes levied by coun-
ties for the support of six months
school term, and to fix rate for 1921;
an act modifying taxes on banks, and
to give Corporation Commission more
control over State banks; an act to re-
peal cotton warehouse tax; an& act re-
quiring all local and State bond issues
ito be registered in the Office of the
State Auditor; an act providing machin
cry for the collection of automobile. Ii
cense taxes, ~
Among the things the General As
semb1y refused to d. are included the
following:
To pass the Long Ejectment Bill; to
repeal Statewide primary law; to abol-
ish or modify capital punishment; to
repeal the penalty for non-payment of
taxes; to enlarge appropriations to va
rious State educational and custodial
institutions; to require Revenue Com
missioner to give publicity to any pro-
posed reductions of property assess
ments.
Mr.. Cooke Not So Wild
Representative G.. A. Cooke of Pas
quotank County got thru the Special
Session without doing anything to dis
i turb the peace and tranquility of folks
fback home. Mr.. Cooke went to Raj
eigh with a bill to impose a tax of ST.
600 on itinerant merchants. He put
! his bill thru the Lower House and had
it on it's first reading in the Senate
when the Board of Aldermen sent him
substitute, bill which was not what
Mr. Cooke wanted at all. But Mr..
Cooke withdrew his own bill and Sc
cured the passage of the substitute
without any fuss, insisting that he was
Sldu 70 uldhe any CouCeSSIou VI COIu-
promise in the interest Of harmony and
to carry out the will of the people
back home. The substitute bill pro-
vides:
Section 1. That subsection twenty-six of
section hundred twenty-five of chapter
three hundred forty-one of Private Laws of
one thousand nine hundred and fifteen, be and
the same is hereby repealed, and the following
be substituted in the place thereof: "on EACH
person. firm, corporation who conducts a So
called 'Pawnbrokers' or 'Loan-ofice. who carries
on the business of loaning money wearing
apparel household and kitchen furniture, or
other personal property by pledge hypothecation,
or otherwise, shall pay in advance an annual
tax of Two Hundrad and Fifty Dollars. -
Sec. 2. That subsection ffty-four of sec
three hundred forty-one. Private Laws Of one
thousand nine hundred and fifteen, be and the
same~-is hereby repealed, and the following sub
stituted in lieu thereof:
shall carry from place to place any goods,
wares, and merchandise and sell, barter offer
be deemed to be peddler, and shall pay a
license tax follows: Each peddler on foot
$4,000 per annum: each peddler with horse.
hicle propelled by. any other power. license
tax of 10000 per annum: each peddler of
drugs. medicines, enostrums. ETC.. whether on
conveyance, shall pay a license tax of $4,000
per annum. All of said licenses shall be paid
lin advance.
(b) Each itinerant merchant or dealer.
whether proprietor as agent who sells or
offers to sell bankrupt or fire sales of any kind
of goods wares or merchandise shall pay a il
cense tax of One Hundred Dollars week, in
advance.
selling or offering for sale agent princi-
pal, any kind of goods, wares merchandise
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