Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1925-03-19


Legislature, All other bonus bills
presented promptly found their way
to the unfavorable calendar, or to
the table. The table was literally loa
ded with instruments of this charac-
ter when the smoke of Legislative
activities was finally cleared away.
Employees Of the general assembly
itself were provided for in a general
adjustment bill during the early days
of the session, when the door was
shut against those regularly employ
ed in the various satte departments
although required to perform extra
service.
State owned automobiles are in
for a season of rest. Likewise public
owned machines in the counties. An
act of the recent session of the Gen
eral Assembly prohibits the use Of
any public owned automobiles by a
State or county official and employees
for private purposes of any charac-
ter; forbids public officials and en-
ployees to use public owned and op-
Grated garages for repairs to pri-
vate cars and makes it unlawful to
use gasoline, oil, tires and accesso-
ries bought with state or counyt funds
for private automobiles; except with
the consent of the Governor or the
Council of state, no state department
institution or agency, and no coun-
ty shall be allowed to pay more than
$500 for purchasing an automobile
with public funds. The provisions of
the act make violation of the mis-
demeanor punishable by fine of
not less than $1,000, or by imprison-
ment in the discretion of the court.
The act further provides that it shall
be the duty of every executive head
of every department Of the state
government, and by any county or
by any institutioner agency of the
State, to have painted on every mo-
tor vehicle owned by the state, or
by any county, or by any institution
or agency of the state, statement
with letters Of not less than three
inches in height setting forth such
ownership. The act is enforceable
from and after its ratification.
Senator Seawell did not get the
desired increase in the equalization
fund for public education, but Sc
cured a continuance of the present
basis for the distribution Of this fund
Under the scheme proposed many
counties would have lost heavily. A
commission is to be named by the
governor to fix the basis for the
distribution of the appropriation
made available by the new appro-
priation bill which carries provl-
sion allowing $25O,000 for equiliza-
ton purposes.
While the Senate declined to ap-
prove the House bill increasing the
number of judicial districts from
twenty to twenty four that body did
adopt a measure authorizing the
Governor to name special judges TO
hold special terms of court where
congestion of dockets warrant such
action. The travelling allowance OF
Judges was supplemented to the ex-
tent of $3.50 annually. The House
did not like the Senate bill, prefer
ring it's own, but swallowed the pill
on the idea that half loaf is better
than none. Governor Mclean had
made plea for some plan that would
relieve court congestion and the
members felt impelled to do some
thing.
The final official act of Governor
Mclean during the session was the
announcements of nominations for
the State Highway Commission and
members of the State Prison Board.
The personnel of the Highway Com
mission remains in tact; slight chan
ges in Prison Board and that OF Ag-
riculture were deemed advisable by
the Governor, for either personal or
political reasons and stroke Of his
pen placed new faces in state admin
istration circles. The Senate prompt
ly confirmed his recommendations,
viz. Highway Commission, Frank
Page, Chairman; w. A. Hart, Tarboro
first district; W. c. Wilkinson, Char
lotte, sixth district; A. M. Kistler,
Morganton, ninth district. Members
Board of Agriculture, Clarence Poe,
fourth district; Fred P. Latham, 1st
district; E. Grover Robertson, tenth
district; Finch Wheatmore, eighth
district. The new prison board is
composed of James A. Leake, Wades
boro; R. M. Chatham, Elkin; E. A.
White, Lumberton. Henry X. Bur-
gwyn, jackson; Ben B. Everett, Pal
myra; J. Preston Wilson, Warsaw