Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1929-02-14
WORK OF THE
LEGISLATURE
Republicans Secure Three Amend
ments to Australian Ballot Bill,
Constitutional Convention Causes
Fight

from the standpoint Of those who
seek a real secret ballot law. The
measure will be voted on today.
Features of the session yesterday
were the adoption of three amend
ments offered by Senator Brough-
ION of Wake, the same amendments
that had been advocated by Cover
nor Gardner, and the defeat of all
other major amendments considered.
The Broughton amendments, sup
ported by Senator johnson, co-auth-
or of the BILL and others who are
backing the administration. provide
for:
The county chairman of each DO
htical party may provide a list of
ten names from each political party
for each precinct, from which the
marker of markers of each political
party in the general election is or
are to be selected
There shall be no markers in pri-
maries; the election officials, being
of the party holding the primary, are
to render assistance in preparation
of ballot or voting requested by the
voter.
The provision in the commit. ee
bill by which county election boards
could hold primaries under the old
rather than the new law is cut out,
making the Austarian ballot apply to
all elections and primaries in the
state, be they municipal, county,
state or national.
The amendments had the solid
backing of the 13 Republican men,
bers the senate.
In the House
The Winston bill for submitting
to vote of the people the quesio
of calling the first constitutional con-
vention since 1875 passed second
reading in the house, but was held
over for final action on objection of
Null of Cleveland. to third reading
yesterday. The bill passed by
vote of 94 to Is, but it requires two
thirds vote of the members of the
house and a fight looms for today
2 that makes it not at all cert ain that
the bill will get by on its final read
ing.
The house passed the Smith bill
to re-submit to the voters a consti-
tutional amendment for judicial re-
lie by creating solicitoral districts
searate and distinct from judicial
districts. This would permit increas-
ing the number of judges without a
corresponding increase in solicitors.
The house also moved to cut the
penalty on redemption of lands sold
for taxes from 20 to II per cent for
the first year and from 10 to per
cent for the second year by passing
the finance committee version of the
Ewing and Lumpkin measures.
House-New Bills
By Gwyn of Rockingham: To ap-
point a commission to determine if
there is duplication and wasted eff
forts in the various state depart
ments. Representative Winston of
Bertie had previously introduced a
similar measure.
Provision for relief of dependents
of police officers killed in line of
duty is contained in a bill by White
of Robson. His bill would require
the state county or municipality en-
ploying the officer to give 1000 to
his dependents within 60 days after
his death.
Price of Mecklenburg: To change
the time of tax listing to January l
and collection of taxes to begin July
1, instead OF October, under the
present law.
Gill of Scotland: To exempt rail
roads operating buses from the law
requiring bus operators to carry in
surance to cover any personal dam
age judgments secured against them.
President elect Hoover will be in
vited to address the general assem-
bly, of North Carolina on his return
from Florida to Washington. The
Democratic majority in the senate
Friday joined with the republican
members to pass unanimously the
resolution asking the president-elect
to address the legislature in joint
session.
Hancock of Granville: Protect and
propagate fish in privately owned
waters.
BY Alexander of Union: Amend
the consolidated statutes relating to
indemnity for cattle slain for dis
ease.
By Flanagan: To exend the
jurisdiction of cities to include lay
ing out of street.
BY Null of Cleveland: The ma
chinery bill providing listing and
valuing of property
By Halstead of Camden: Provide
for tax on non-essentials and lux
uries for the support of schools.
By johnson of Currituck: Amend
tn highway act.
By Cox of Randolph: Prohibit the
obstruction of the view of motor We