Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1929-02-21
HIGHWAY BILL
PASSES SENATE
Measure Adds Cent a Gallon on Gas
and Will Become Effective April
First; Months School Term Gets
Favorable Committee Report

Raleigh, Feb. 19-With only one
dissenting vote, the senate today
passed the house highway bill, pro
viding an increase in the gasoline tax
from four to five cents a gallon.
A fund of $3,000,000 will be set
aside under the provisions of the bill
to be apportioned among the coun-
ties of the state for road purposes,
in an effort to reduce the ad valorem
road taxes An estimated revenue
of $2,500,000 will accrue from the
extra tax, and $500,000 will be
drawn from the regular fund to
make up the three million dollars.
In the house the committee on
education today voted IL to II to
report favorably the Mclean bill,
providing for a minimum of eight
months school term in North Caro-
lima. The bill, sponsored by Repre-
sentative A. D. MacLean of Beau
fort, would extend the present state
system of equalization, based on
six months school term, to cover the
longer term. State department of
education officials have estimated
that it would require an equalization
fund from the state of $10,000,000
instead of the present $3,25O,0O0.
Big Bills Yet Pending
With the Australian ballot bill,
the workman's compensation bill,
and the eight months school meas
ure yet to be voted upon, it is not
likely that the general assembly will
not adjourn before March 18th. The
house has kept well up with it's cal
endar, but the work Of the assembly
as whole has been impeded serious
ly by the senate which has been too
busy with argument and oratory to
pass on many bills sent over from
the house or to pass a great many
: of its own. New bills continue to
pour in, a list of the most import
, ant introduced since last Wednesday,
being as follows:
House-New Bills
By Alexander: Eradite rabies and
: require compulsory vaccination of
dogs. ... s..
By johnson of Curri:uck: Joint
resolution asking president, secre-
! tary of war and congress to restore
the lock in the Chesapeake and AL
bemare canal.
, By Williams of Warren: Amend
the constitution in regard to taxing
homes and farms under mortgage.
By Cox, Hamlin and Wetmur: Re
peal sections SO, 60, 81, 62, 63, 65,
: sc and 1868 of the consolidated
| statutes relative to the absentee vot-
ers law.
By Winston. Joint resolution to
adjourn the general assembly March
4 at noon.
By Hargett and Harris: Create
state patrol of highways.
, By McGhee Of Stokes: For better
enforcement of prohibition.
To extend laborcrs' lien on tim
| Der for wages to cover cut logs.
| By Younce: Create an officers
, emergency reserve and pension fund.
By Smith of Wake: Require ad-
vance notice of five days with re-
r spect to issuing marriage license.
By Norwood: Relative to license
, tax on oil tank gasoline filling sta
| tions, restaurants or other business
in connection Herewith.
BY Gill; Amend certain sections
: of the statutes relating to the cleo
ton of commissioner of labor and
prif ing, insurance commissioner
and commissioner of agriculture.
BY Williams of Warren: Regard
, ing stop payment orders, checks or
drafts against bank accounts.
BY Williams: Making robbery with
fire arms or other dangerous weap-
. ons, implements or means whereby
, the life of person is endangered or
{ threatened, a penalty.
: New Bills-Senafe
By Person of Franklin: To investi-
, gate the anti Smith campaign fund.
By Person: To provide for a state
5 purchasing agent.
| BY johnson of Robson: Regulate
the right of judge to criticise
jury.
By McMullen of Beaufort. Pro-
hibit issuance of bonds by counties,
cities and towns without vote of the
+ people.
E Makepeace of Lee: To regulate
inters; ate motor vehicle carriers.
By Makepeace: To tax motor We
hicle carriers engaged interstate
, commerce.
By Johnson of Pender and Gay of
Northampton: To provide for uni
p form county officers.
q BY Womble of Forsyth: To reduce
, the fees for sheriffs.
! BY Mackethan of Cumberland: To
prohibit soldiers from carrying con-
q cealed weapons
: By Tapp of Lenoir: To appropri-
$ ate 100000 to the corporation
6 commission for rate case work.