Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1925-02-26

oioihg TO blowing Kock, North J
| Carolina.
II BY Senator Brown-An act to
authorize the Board of Commiss- !
toner's of Watauga county to re- !
assess the lands of said county for
the purposes of taxation.
the President of the Senate and the
Speaker of the House of Represen-
tatives. The number of automobiles
purchased by the departments and
institutions for state purposes, with
cost of upkeep, is to be included in
the statement which the State Au-
ditor is to prepare for the informa-
tion of the General Assembly.
The Senate declined to compel
John Smith" to exhibit light on
any Of his horse drawn vehicles when
driving at night or at any other time.
In less time than is required to re-
late the story the House bill by Neal
OF Mcdowell, requiring wagons NOV
ing along the state highways at night
to carry lights, found itself on the
! table, after consideration of the mea-
sure began in the senate. The House
passed it by good majority and pro-
ponents of the bill expected the SEN
ate to concur in it's provisions. 1t was
intended as a protection to those EN-
ploying ancient modes of travel, but
"John's" friends in the Senate balk-
ed.
History is repeating itself as it has
during ever recurring session of the
General Assembly since the Democrat
party resumed control of the legisla-
tive branch of the State government
in 1899. Representative Klutz of Ca
tawba, was the first member of the
minority to feel the heavy hand of
the maj ority at this session. The fight
started when two local bills introduce
ed by Senator Shuford, reached the
House calendar, one to increase the
salaries of county officers and the
other to provide special election law
for Catawba county. Senator Shuford
halls from Catawba county, is a Dem
ocrat, and the House passed the bills
over the strongest kind of protest
from the member from Catawba who
had pledged himself in the campaign
to permit no salary increase by the
legislature if in his power to prevent.
But ''politics is politics in the es-
timation of Tam Bowie, and Repre-
sentative Klutz probably feels the
same way about it now.
Representative Moore of Martin
recently introduced bill in the
House entitled IAN act to create an
advisory commission to investigate
and report upon the question of the
freight rate discrimination and the
question of the development of wa
terways." The bill, sponsored by Gov
ernor Mclean, would create special
commission composed of twelve busi-
ness men and shippers, authorized
and directed to work in cooperation
with the corporation commission to-
wards the adjustment of exorbitant
freight rates. The members of the
commission would receive the same
per diem paid members of the Gen
eral Assembly and have the right to
expend the sum of $4,000 for pur-
poses of investigation. This General
Assembly does not appear to think
well of legislative commissions, but
the Governors prestige may pull the
Moore bill through. Mr.. Mclean pro-
missed to aid in the development of
the states waterways during the pri-
mary campaign last summer and he
wants to make good that pledge.
The State wide game bill is having
rough shedding. 1t has been kicked an
cuffed around from the moment Req
resentative Wade of New Hanover
and Senator Blue of Scotland, drop.
ped it into the legislative hopper. The
proponents and opponents of the
poor thing" do not appear to be any
nearer in agreement than they were
three weeks ago and the proposed
measure has been placed in the Gus
tody of special committee with 6
view to ironing out the differences
1t is expected to bob up again wher
the average layman in the Assembl!
least expects it.
That the number of judicial dis