Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1929-01-24
VOTING REFORM
Bull INTRODUCED
First Measure Sponsored by Admin
istration Presented in Senate;
Many Bills of Statewide Interes.
Before Lawmakers

ton of Wake, and the eastern Demo
Gratis, represented by Senator T. L.
johnson of Robson, was introduced
in the senate Friday jointly by Sena-
tors Broughton and johnson.
The bill was referred to the COM
mittee on election laws, of which
Senator Carlisle Higgins of Allie
ghany, is chairman. The bill will
,-have the support of Governor Gard
ner and will be known as an admin
istration measure.
The bill incorporates all the essen
tial features of the secret ballot law
generally designated as the Austria
lian ballot. The bill is not modelled
in particular after the law of any
other state, the co-authors undertak-
ing to incorporate the best features
of such laws in effect in most of
the states of the union. The bill
provides for the printing of all bal
lots at public expense and strictly
limits and regulates handling and
distribution of ballots. Ample man.
datory provisions are made insuring
absolute secrecy in voting. The bill
provides for we'll restricted voting
arrangement including voting booths
and forbids interference with voters
and is designed to secure to every
voter the right to vote in private
without molestation. The measure
provides stiff penalties for failure to
comply with its provisions. Persons
convicted of making limitations of
the official ballot are held guilty of
misdemeanor and are to be SEN
500 nor more than $1,000 and pris-
on sentence of not less than one year
at the discretion of the court
Election officials who violate the
provisions of the law are to be pun
ished by fine of not less than $50
nor more than 5000, and Jail SEN
tences of more than 10 to 80 days.
Markers who misinform blind or
illiterate voters are liable to fine of
not less than $40 nor more than
500 and Jail sentence of 80 days.
Any person who aids or abets
fraud in connection with any absen-
tee vote cast or to be cast, shall be
guilty of a felony upon conviction,
be sentenced to the penitentiary for
not less than one or more than five
years, the law provides.
Important Bills
Bills of statewide importance
have been placed in the legislative
hopper since last Wednesday as fol-
lows:
Wednesday
SENATE
By Person of Franklin: To abolish
the salary and wage commission, put
ting its powers and authority in the
hands of the council of state.
By Womble of Forsyth: The bud
get revenue bill.
By Clark of Mecklenburg: T ap-
propriate a total of $4,000 for the
39th annual reunion of Confederate
veterans, to be held in North Caro-
lima.
By Person of Franklin: To permit
North Carolina druggists to fill pre-
.scriptions> containing alcohol for
medicinal purposes as allowed by the
Volstead act.
No bills were passed in the senate
Wednesday.
By Null of Cleveland: The reve-
nue. act.
By Halstead of Camden. To pro-
vide for equalized maintenance of
public schools in North Carolina.
Halstead of Camden: To enlarge
state hihway system by taking in
county roads and increasing tax of
motor fuels.
By Mcneil of Ashe: To authorize
state highway commission to, COM
plete all state highways on the road
map of 1921.
Thursday
HOUSE
By Borne of Guilford: To amend
subsection 4, Sec. 1889 relating to
divorces.
By Carr of Duplin: To protect
their husbands.
BY WINSTON OF Berthe: 10 autno-
rize naming joint legislative COM
mittee to consider cutting expenses
of government by eliminating and
consolidating boards, departments
and commissions.
SENATE
By Lawrence of Hertford: To
provide ways and means to enable
the state to assist in the support of
schools by levying a three per cent
tax on electric current and gas sold
by public service corporations, NUM-
cipal light and power plants except
ed, and to tax long distance tele-
phone calls and kilograms.
By Person of Franklin: To repeal
the state primary law.
By Blount of Pitt: To provide for