The Wilmington morning star., 1947-04-04

Knight.
Explain Stands
Three opponents of the Houses
two-thirds, or gag, rule explained
their stands after publication of
letters written in 1910 and tending
to show that then governor-nomi-
nee J. M. Broughton had made a
IDEAL" with representatives of the
so-called wet counties to oppose a
liquor referendum.
The speakers were Reps. Null
Of Cleveland, who wrote the let
tiers; Rep. John W. Umstead of
Orange, who received them; and
Rep Rex Gass Of Forsyth, who
earlier in the session threatened
to "tell all" unless this bill to
dry up Bethania township in For
syth county ere not passed.
Null told the House today that
'those who have tried to bes1nirch
the record of Governor Broughton
will be hanged on their own gal
lows" He said he had no apollo
gies to offer for his support of
the Broughton administration.
Umstead said that for seven
years he had retained evidence
that certain agreements had been
made with regard to the gag rule,
and he produced that evidence
only when his veracity had been
challenged.|
And Gass regretted that his
words had brought sorrow to some
members of the House, but that
he was still against the gag rule.
Broughton retorted yesterday to
the reading of the letters that they
seemed to be the start Of a
smear" campaign but that he in
no wise blamed Null.
Two Confirmed
In another busy day, the AS
sembly confirmed the renomina =
tons of j. A. Pritchett of Windsor
and Mrs. R. S. Ferguson OF Tay-
louisville to the State Board of
Education, and the nominations OF
% persons to fill vacancies on the
Board of trustees of the Greater
University of North Carolina.
Reps. Kerr Craige Ramsay of
Rowan, chairman of the House FL
nance committee; and Rep. A. B.
Stoney of Burke, chairman Of the
House Education committee, an :
nounced today that they would be
candidates for speaker in 1949,
when that office returns to the
West under the rotation system.
Rep. George A. Shuford of Bun
combe already has announced.
The Senate passed five local
beer and wine bills, and another
to call a referendum in Moore
county on continuing operation Of
ABC stores in Southern Pines and
Pinehurst.
The local beer and wine bills
would place Cleveland and Rock
ingham counties under the 1945
act allowing local regulation OF
wine, and prohibit the sale of wine
and beer near certain churches in
Cabarrus, Granville and BERTHE
counties.
Senator w. w. Neal of Mcdowell
sent up bills providing for the ap-
pointment of a gubernatorial COM
i mission to study alcoholic bever-
age control in North Carolina and
to broaden the wine regulatory
powers Of the State ABC board.
A bill 20 increase the salaries
of State Supreme Court justices
from $500 to $3.50 was sent up
by Senator Rivers johnson OF
Duplin; and Senator Julian Ais :
brook of Halifax sent up n to
increase the pay of Superior Court
Judges from $500 to $3.50.
Driving Law
Second readings were given on
a conference report on an amend
ment to the safe and sane driving
law: while the House passed and
sent to the Senate a bill to allow
cities of more than 10000 popu-
1ation to establish recorders
courts without a vote of the peo-
pie.
After long debate, the Senate
nassed a bill to allow veterans OF
either Of the. world vars tc
practice barbering without taking
an examination if they practiced
at least three years before leaving
the trade, if they have resided in
this state for six months, and it
thew pass a health examination.
The House passed and sent to
the Senate measures to increase
the salaries of state officials. One
measure would boost the pay OF
all members of the Council OF
state from &c. 900 to $500 a year,
and another would up the Attorney