The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1924-08-08
PROSPECTSBAD
FOR ship Bill
Compromise Imminent Ir
Special Session Opening
Today; Other Live News
Tie lndepsnient's Bureau.
I0T Lawyers Building
BY II. T.. POWELL

selected by competent engi-
neers and experts and post
ponement OF the power to put
the State into the ship busi-
ness seems on the eve of its
meeting to be the compromise
the special session will agree
upon.
The constitution, which has been
raised up In argument against the
proposed bond issue Of $S,5OO,OOO
will not be urged against terminals
because. by n twist OF the phrasing.
this isn't lending the credit OF the
State To business any more than the
building Of storage warehouses,
Attorney General Manning has said
the Bowie railroad bill Is uncon-
stitutional and he Is willing to 90
before the court for decision. In.
directly he has said the same thing
would bc applicable to the states
venture into the operation of u
boat line.
With boats stricken from the
program, there Is a chance for tho
legislature TO pass the terminals
part of the recommendations made
In the report of the state ship and
Water Transportation Commission.
There has never beeen any serious
objection to the development OF
ports through the building Of termi.
nails but the stormy opposition has
been fomented 'on the presumption
that the state Il going TO buy lot
of ocean going liners, tugs. barges,
schooners and 'sich-like' for Its mari
time commerce.
While any forecast Of what the
spccial session will do l. subject
to heavy discount. the compromise
suggested appears the most likely
agreement just now. There ARE hit
ter endcrs who will never agree to
any part Of the program hut they
are not powerful In either affirma-
tive or negative accomplishments,
Just how far the legislature will
90 In the consideration OF other
business than the terminals pro-
posal Is of about hs much concern
outside Of strict administration cir
cles as what IL will do with the hop
ed for capstone To the Morrison
program. There are several things
I'm the Offing which 1t may decide
To do something about.
Bus Lines Frantic
In the emergency cull Of the GOV
crnor Is yet unother-thc sinking
fund amendment. Last year. while
Senate and House were torn asund-
or. this hill passed submitting the
amendment proposal to the people.
Bond men have questioned the
wisdom Of II and others have dc-
clarci IL absolutely necessary. The
legislature contains experts on state
credit as well as the state House
and there Is every prospect Oh con-
flicting opinious arising.
In the shape of new legislation.
the proposed bill to regulate the bus
lines will probably bring ou the Sec
ond stiffcst fight. The bus men
know the railroads are opposed to
il IL the regulatory power IS given
authority to permit parallel lines
with the railroad lines. This Is the
reason they prefer the control vest
cd I'm a body other than the Corpora
ton Commission.
The little fellows who operate
touring cur style busses haven't been
heard from but they are appealing
to their legislative friends to save
them from the octopus. There Is
some merit In their plea that the
big fellows ought not to he allowed
10 run away with the business. The
biz fellows are willing for the
little ones TO operate provided they.
too. pay their part Of the Increased
taxes and glvt the bonds to run
OH rainy days as we'll as sunshiney
ones.
Some sort 0f legislation Will he
aimed at the Ku Klux Klan and the
Klan is prepared to fight back. 1t
made n wonderful showing In the
Senate in 1923 but several Senators
have since declared they would vote
To unmask the hooded brethren.
When the regular session was SIT
ting the Robcson outrages were un'
known to the world and Judge
Henry Grady had not pulled off his
own mask. On the other hand
the Klan Is credited with having
had much to do with the nOmina-
tion of certain gentlemen now in
fluential in state affairs.
Fighting the klan
Mr.. Burgwyn. who has announc-
ed that he will introduce the anti
Klan bill. is n tenacious sort OF
fellow but he Is not an organizer.
II will be difficult to find a Neal,
Warren or Cox to take the lead
ephip in u fight on the klan ana
CONTINUED on page Six