Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1925-02-19
(By M. L. SHIPMAN)

march along legislative paths of the
$20,00O,OOO bond issue for roads bill
together with companion measure
to increase the gasoline tax from
three to four cents gallon, decision
of the house committee not to rec
ommend the establishment of state
constabulary, and various other mat
ters of more or less Importance oc-
cupied the time of the General AS
sembly during the past week.
The road bond issue passed in the
senate on all readings. A companion
measure introduced by Sans of For
syth who also introduced the bond
bill, provides for revision of the reg
ulations having to do with the control
of the highway fund for an increase
in the gasoline tax from three to
four cents to finance the new road
bond issue. Passage of similar mea-
sure in the house is expected without
any difficulty, thus carrying out with
out any difficulty Governor McLeans
plans in this particular without any
change.
Evolution" was discussed at length
before committee last week and fin
ally a vote revealed that the educa-
tion committee was deadlocked 16
to 16. Representative Tobe Connor
stepped into the breach with a neg
ative vote, he being chairman Of the
committee. The bill was thus sent
back to the house with an unfavor-
able report. It's proponents who aver
that evolution should be taboo in the
schools of North Carolina entered a
minority report and the measure will
have a special hearing on this report
Tuesday night at eight o'clock, when
the subject will be up on the floor
of the House.
Redistricting the state was pro-
vided for in measure finally passed
by the House creating four additional
judicial districts with judges and So
licitors. The bill when first introduc-
ed provided for seven new districts
but was killed by the house on its
second reading. Representative Pete
Murphy of Rowan succeeded in get
ting a motion to reconsider the vote
by which the original bill failed on
second reading adopted. When the
bill again came up in the house it
was amended to provide four instead
of seven additional districts and was
passed by a safe majority. Chief a
mong the arguments presented ag-
ainst it was that of economy, it being
averred that the extra districts will
increase the cost of the state govern
ment by more than $4,000 year
It's proponents argued that the con.
ditions of the dockets in various coun
ties made an increase necessity.
The proposal to establish a state
constabulary was made by Represer
tative Wade who introduced bill in
line with recommendations of the
social committee which investigated
this subject. An unfavorable report
on the bill was returned but it will
be up again on a minority report
However the House does not appear
to think we'll of the proposition ano
will more than likely sustain the
majority report.
A sales tax. independent of the
revenue bill was sent up in the House
by representative Jackson of Madison
on Saturday who would tax cigars
cigarettes candies, cosmetics, and otf
er minor purchases. The bill provid
ing what are commonly termed nui
sance taxes went to the finance com
mittee. 1t is we'll named in the opin
ion of a formidable group of leg
islators and others.
The senate passed bill which re
duced the personal property tax ex
emption from $500 to $50, over the
protest of many senator's. 1t is pre-
dicted that this bill will have hare
road in the house which will prob
ably show greater consideration fol
the NINETY and nine"
Financial legislation is expected tt
occupy the center of the stage dur
ing the coming week. The revenue
bill, it was indicated, will provide
for a fifty per cent increase in thu
income tax rates, but the other chal
ges in the bill from the report o:
the state board of assessments hav'
not been made public. The bulge
report for the next biennial periot
containing the appropriations for de
partments and institutions, is ais
expected to be presented by the ap
preparation committee of the Hous