Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1925-02-12
OUR WEEKLY RESUME
OF LEGISLATIVE EVENTS
(By M. L. Shipman.)

was scored during the week and his
position as the real leader of the
state considerably strengthened there
by; Josiah W. Bailey, sometime can
didate for governor issued a state
ment decrying what he termed ex-
travagances in the operation of the
states affairs; Former Governor
Cameron Morrison appeared before
the finance committees to defend his
accrual system of financing the state !;
expenses of legislative committees
was made public; the bus bill got
by the Senate and went to he House
with the prediction that it's passage
is assured; the supreme court told
the legislators that they had no power
to create special judges to relieve
court congestion and the House Com
mittee on courts and Judicial District
announced the purpose of re-district-
ing the State with a bill creating
seven additional judicial districts;
these were the high spots of the leg
islative week which was more prolif-
ic of results than any thus far in
1925.
Tam Bowie, ardent hard surface
roads proponent, showed himself to
be good politician as he is a friend
of good roads. Tam saw tha tthe cur
rent was set against him in the matter
of the 35,G0O,OOO bond issue for
roads, Governor Mclean came out in
his second message and said twenty
millions for roads
millions for the next two years, with
income from gas and licenses and
county and federal aid bringing it to
approximately thirty two millions
would carry the program along and
at the same time NOT endanger the
states credit. He pointed to the de-
ficit of nine and half millions by
June 80, next and asked for COM
mon sense in legislation, in order
that the whole future of road build
ing might not be endangered. The
logic of the governors stand was
too much for the Bowie-Heath group
and when Frank Page backed up Mr..
McLean's argument, the larger bond
issue advocates saw that they would
have to overcome not only those who
believe Mclean has the right idea,
but also those-and their number is
legion-who have implicit confidence
in Frank Page as the builder of the
roads, said confidence having been
gained by the splendid methods he
has used during the five years of
building the states roads. Mr.. Bowie
saw the opposition growing and he
capitulated rather than go down to
what would have been almost certain
defeat. Mr.. Mclean won his victory
and Bowie failed to lose any of the
prestige which he has gained as one
of the strong figures of the General
Assembly.
Former Governor Morrison presen-
ted his side of the deficit issue, made
a speech that will long be remember
ed for it's eloquence and it's unusual
ly kindly treatment of his political
opponents, was given respectful at
tention by a large crowd and left
the matter with the finance commit
tees, who it is believed, will go ahead
and carry out their original intentions
of recognizing a deficit to exist and
arrange for amortizing it. The chief
argument against Mr.. Morrison was
that his administration is over. Mr..
Mclean now is governor, wants to
figure on the cash basis, has pre-
sented in cogent terms his executive
budget system for balancing the state
financial books, and is entitled to his
turn at the bat without any sideline
coaching by Mr.. Morrison. The for.
mer governor was received by q
plainly hostile crowd that gave him
credit for an excellent speech which
though he seems to think so, has Not
misjudged his administration anC
which is willing to concede his right
to criticize in a constructive manner
but not to dictate to the Mclean ad
ministration. The next result of thu
Morrison speech will probably be nj
and if he keeps at the issue some
part of his own following undoubted
ly will drift away. The sentiment her,
seems to be that he should close hi
mouth and stop interpreting the diff
ferences of opinion on State policie
as personal attacks upon himself.
Josiah William Bailey issued
statement charging various kinds O
extravagances against the state gov
ernment. Undoubtedly many of tn
Raleigh lawyers contentious wer