VOL. XXI.
WELDON, N. C, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY J2, 1891.
NO. 45,
RALKIGII LETTER
ii'Gisr.vTiVK riioci:i:niN'(iS and
OTHF.K MATTERS 01-' GEN'EUAL
IXTEHE-ST.
One of the problems which confront
the Legislature is how to give the nee
cssary increased appropriations and still
keep down the levy lor Shite purposes
to such a figure as will allow the counties
luflieient margin for their needs without,
having to resort to tlui unpopular special
tax. Already several counties have ask
ed for special taxes to pay their indebted
ness. The Insane Asylum Directors a.sk
foran additional appropriation of$25,000;
the Deaf, Dumb and Blind Institution
wants 825,000 additional; the Insane
Asylum at Goldsboro 18,000; the Agri
cultural and Mechauical college $-5,0110
more; the Soldier's Home wants 83,000
and the Training School for White girls
will need 810,000- This aggregate in
crease of appropriations, amounting to
8100,000, would require an additional
levy for the State of at least five cents.
The levy for the past two years, including
that for pensions aud school purjses, has
been 40 J cents. Add the five cents
for extra appropriations and the levy
would be 431 eeuts.leaving for county pur
poses within the constitutional limit
a fraction over twenty-oue cents. Now
it is desired to increase the levy for school
purposes two and a half cents which
would reduce the levy for the counties to,
say, nineteen cents. This would he en
tirely insufficient for many counties, 1 1 ;i ! -ifax
among the number, I think; and a
special tax to make up the deficiency
would inevitably follow in two years.
But this is not till. The merchants are
demanding the tibolitiou of the license
tai which they have for u long time been
pajing, and a delegation has been before
the Finance committee with their eom-
plaiuts. This tax yields the State annu
ally and a like sum for the counties,
If the merchants' tax is abolished it would
add nearly on oetiluiore to the levy upon
property. Treauror Bain says that no
reliance can be put iu the probability of
an increase iu the value of taxable . prop
erty, as his experience is that a new
assessment does not brim; about this de
sirable result iu au appreciable degree
If the railroads could by any means be
made to pay taxes on their real value it
would be some help. For instance: the
j highest valuation put upon any of them
is 83, 000 per mile; some of them at a
much less sum. These same roads are
nearly all mortgaged or bonded for far
more ome of them for as much as
825,000 a mile, I am told. If these
railroads are worth that much as security
for bonds they certainly should be worth
equally as much for purposes of taxation.
Nopluuhasyet been matured which
will bring their valuation up to reasoiw
ble figures but one is being now consid
ered.
wne ol the Btrounest lights which has
becu iu progress during the session ii
that to reduce the percentage and waro
house cbaiges for selling tobacco. Mr
Long, of Warren, introduced the bill aud
has had it in chaise before the committee
on agriculture. Many farmers have been
here to help secure its passage, while
warehousemen from all over the State
have worked hard to defeat it. Tht
committee once reported the bill favora
bly but it was recommitted und is still in
committee. It will be again reported in
few days nud the fight will be renewed
in the House.
The bill appropriating $3,000 for the
Soldiers' Home has passed the Senate and
will in all probability pass the House
when it comes before that body It will
doubtless bo made a special order. Or
tainly it is a small amount and it should
be given. No tax payer ought aud none
Will begrudge the old heroes this Mnal
pittance.
The two daily papers here are Mill
"gluing over the public printing.Tlie mom
hereof the General Assembly have 'lone
w!iat they think was right in this matter
id I don't believe any change will b
Blade. Some Mir has been made by th
contest, but I believe the committee air
the Legislature were conscientious in their
action. What the result will be in the
future as regards the printing is not now
of much importance.
fhe bill making the conviction for fel
ony or absence from the State for twelve
months an additional cause for divorce
provoked a lively discussion in the House
one day last week. It was reported favor
ably by the Judiciary committee but the
bill was defeated. There are plenty
camcs for divorce already existing in
North Carolina. It is not often that
the Judiciary committee is sat down up
on. It is considered the committee of
the highest dignity and its reports are
nearly always accorded the greatest re
spect, but this Legislature is a pretty inde
pendent body and does its own thinking
sometimes.
The committe which has charge of the
congressional districts is at work, and I
hear some talk to the effect that the Sec
ond district can be made Democratic. It
is proposed to put ('raven in the Third
district and Wayne in the Second. It
h is been suggested also that Vance can
safely be added to the Fourth. 'Wheth
er these counties will consent to the pro
posed changes will be willing to take iu
more llepublican counties is something
that has not yet been developed. The
Second district would be glad to exchange
llepublican for Democratic counties, but
in making changes the committee should
be very careful not to make the mistake
of erecting an additional llepublican dis
trict. J lie vote at the last election is
not a reliable gui le, neither can much be
h ip"d for from the exodus movement..
Edged tools should be handled gingerly
I have no doubt, though, the committee
will consider the question in all its possi
ble bearings, and if the Second district
can be made safely Democratic without
endangering the political complexion of
the others wc will be grateful.
Mr. M. J. Squire, of Northampton,
was in the city last week trying to effect
some arrangement by which the rebuild
ing of the road from Ilicksford to Gaston
could be secured. President Elliott of
the Petersburg road told me an arrange
ment had been arrived at which was sat
isfactory to all coiicerned. It was to the
effect that if the Petersburg road did not
begin the rebuilding of this branch road
withiu twelve mouths and complete it
within two years the compauy will give
up all claim ami right to it and it could
then be taken by any other parties. This
agreement was, I believe, incorporated iu
the charter which is now pending in the
Legislature. It is thought that if the
franchise is abandoned by the Petersburg
road the Atlantic and Danville can be in
duced to build aud operate it. The peo
ple do not ask its construction to Gaston
but to the Summit, which would avoid
the necessity of constructing heavy works
across the low grounds at Gaston.
Capl. Hill lust week introduced a bill
in the House, to charter the Scotland
Neck bunk. Among the incorporators
named iu the bill are A. McDowell, F. P.
Shields, Noah Biggs and others. It is
said that Mr. McDowell will be president
anl Mr Shields cashier. Tho bank will
have all the powers usually granted to
banking iusiitutious. This bauk will be a
grcit convenience to the whole county
and will of course be a great help to the
town. The t.ffirers aud directors nre
men whose names will at once give the
bank the very beststaudiug in business
circles
A bill has pascd the House for the
relief of sheriffs. It allows them to col
lect arrearages of taxes from 188(5.
There was a number of bills for relief of
this kind, one of iliem going as far hack
as lhnl. I ho committee thought it
bad policy both on account of the sheriffs
and the tax payers that such apparent
negligence should be encouraged. It is
true thai in many instances tho neglect
toeolli et was nwiug to kind-heartedness
on the part of the officials but the view
pr. viile i tint noneraliy it would be more
convenient for people to pay their taxes
as they oeuiinc duo every year than to
haw i twin 'o piy for a Dumber of yeais
at one lime The lleUie sustained the
committee tin re wa some- little opposi
tion. I am glad to say that Sheriff Alls
brook is not among the number who ask
ed for relief.
The Senate has adopted an amendment
to the constitution requiring solicitors to
be elected by the State at large as the
judges are, and not by districts. If tho
bill should become a law the second dis
trict would have a Democratic solicitor.
If the House adopts this amendment it
will then have to be submitted to the
qualified voters of the State at the next
general election before it can go into ef
fect. Should it filially be adopted by a
vote of the people it will not effect the
terms of tho present solicitors.
The railroad commission bill was taken
up in the Senate Saturday on special or
der. Senator Grigsby offered a substitute
for the bill reported by the committee.
He said he had been instructed to vote
agaiust a commission but if a bill could
be passed with moderate powers he would
vote for it. The substitute was lost. It
gave the commissioners less power than is
given them by the committee's bill. The
principal difference is that the origiual
bill gives the commissioners power to make
freight Rnd passenger tariffs while Mr.
Grigsby's bill gave them only the power
to regulate them.
During the discussion of the two Sena
tor Butler, of Sampson, who is chairman
of the committee and has charge of the
bill in the Senate made somo statements
to which Senator Lucas took exception
and the latter said if the Senator from
Sampson meant to reflect on him his
statement was false. Mr. Butler dis
claimed any such intention and peace was
restored. The salaries of the commis
sioners which had ben fixed at 2,500
each by the committee were reduced to
$2,000. An amendment was incorpo
rated in the bill making members of this
General Assembly ineligible as members
of the commission. It is whispered
around that this amendment has hud the
effect of depressing scveial members who
had a weather eve to the positions
Whether this be so this deponent saith
not. It is certain, however, that there
is some good timber in the Legislature for
the position There is not, though, any
reason to fear that, good men cannot be
gotten outside of the Legislature. I be
lieve a very large majority of the mem
hers of both houses are lad of the ameud
uient. The clause makiug ineligible any
attorney who has been in the employment
of a railroad company for twelve months
preceding bis election has been changed
so that only attorneys who are actually
in the railroad service are excluded The
Senate will probably be engaged upon
this bill for several days aud some other
amendments may be made. The bill was
made the special order in the House for
4 o'clock Monday and will be the chief
subject of interest for some days. Wheth
cr any material changes will be made in it
before it becomes a law cannot now be
foretold. A strong majority favors the
bill as it came from the committee, but
there a few, and they are determined
who want to modify it in some particu
lars. Whether these modifications will
be accepted or whether a fight will be
made upou them greatly depends the
success of the measure. The bill iu what
ever shape it passes cannot have a direct
effect upon a laige elasi of the people of
the State as they do not come into direct
business relations wiili the ro.il- and
whether a comuiiisioo should be estab
lished with only advisory or with abso
lute powers is a question which is trou
bling some of the lawmakers. Members
who live in sections of the State which
have too few railroad facilities or none
at all are fearful that a stringent law will
deter outside capital from going into rail
road enterprises in the State. They want
no law which they think may have such
an effect. Unless these differences of opin
ions can bo compromised there is some
danger that the bill may after ail be dj
feiitcd.
The charter of the town o' Weld m wa
reported favorably from the c uumitiee
ou corporations with an amen nosit in
th effect thai it should not. tie const m d
to repeal the I.t'V J'urbi Ming the sale of
m rch'indise, etc , withiu half a mile o:
the fair grounds during fair week. At
the request of Mr. Hall the bill was re
committed and ho went before the com
mittee in opposition to the amendment,
rut after he had stated the facts nnd
urged the uselessness of the amendment
the committee decided to let it remain,
with the understanding that the opera
tions of the law referred to should be re
duced to four hundred yards. The bill
passed tho House as amended by tho
committee and will pass tho Senate in a
few days. Committees, as has been re
marked before in this correspondence,
sometimes take tho bit in their teeth
and it is useless to contest a point
with them, ordinarily; for though
their reports are sometimes sat down
upon in matters of geueral importance it
is rarely if ever the case in questions of
local character iu which the members
generally take no interest.
A bill has been introduced in the
House forbidding the sale or manufac
ture of liquor within two miles of Whita
kers Chapel, in Halifax county. It may
be reported favorably as a separate meas
ure or it may be included in the omnibus
bill which is usually passed at each ses
sion. The charter of the Scotland Neck
bank has been amended so that its corpo-
porate existence is limited to thirty years
instead of niuety-uine and so that any
branches it may establish will be re
quired to pay the usual State taxes.
With these amendments it has been re
ported favorably.
A SUSPICIOUS MAN.
WHY HE WOULD NOT HIRE OUT
TEAM TO A STRANGER.
HIS
A young man iu a Southern town ap
plied to the keeper 'of a livery stable for a
horse nnd buggy.
"Who is going along with you?" asked
the latter.
"I am going to take my wife's mother
out for a ride. She is not well, and I
want her to have some fresh air. I wish
you would put a spade and hatchet in the
bottom of the buggy."
"What do you want them for?"
'I want to dig up some young cedar
trees to plant in the cemetery."
"I don't think I can let you have a bu
"Why not?"
'Because I don't want to be hauled up
as a witness every time court meets. I
have got my business to attcud to."
"I don't understand you."
"Maybe you don't, but I understand
you. lou have been married some
years, and when a married man in this
town wants to take his mother-in-law out
fur a ride for her health, and wants a
spade and hatchet, and talks about plant
inir things in the cemetery, that's all I
want to know."
' Hut, my dear sir "
"It may be all right, but I don't pro
pose to take any risks. When your trial
comes off you will Bwear there is a preju
dice against you in this towu and you can't
get a lair trial, and get a chance of venue
to some county away off and I'll have to
go as a witness every time the ease
continued or be lined 840. If you want
to get rid of your wife's mother you go
to a drug store aud get some 'rough on
rats and it will be a case ol suicide or
aeiiueul, but 1 am not going to l"1 wtx
up in it by supplying you with spades
and hatchets und a horse aud bugiiv to
carry off the corpse to hide. No, siree!
Why dou't you ask ine to put a coffin in
the buggy besides." No sir, I am not
that kind of a livery Mable man. I'm
not in that line of business. I sympa
thu.i with you, but for the mere hire of
a hoiso and buggy I cau't afford to take
any such risk " Tex is Sittings.
Why will you eouuh when Sbiloh
i'ure will jrive immediate relief. Prue
10c 50e. and SI.
tlolieu.
For Bale by W. M.
Shiloh'rt Cure will immediately relieve
i 'roup, W hooping CoultIi and Bronchitis.
For vale by W. M. Cohen.
" llackinetaek," n lasting and fragrant
per ''rue. 1'ii w 25 aud 5;lets. l or sale
by W. M. Cohen.
SLEEPING WITH A BABY.
A MAN WHO HAS LIVED THROUGH
TELLS HIS STOaV.
IT
The free-from care and caso taking old
bachelor who, in his momentary lapse of
wisdom contemplates matrimony, should
at the same time reflect on the remote
but contingent possibility of his having
to some time sleep with a baby, should
he marry. Yeais of experience of marty
dom of this kind make me feel it to be
my duty to set forth the misery arising
from a contingency of this kind.
The baby, if he happens to be a lusty
little fellow eight or ten months, will de
cline to stay covered, and will also decline
to allow you to keep yourself covered.
He indicates his wishes in this direction
by keeping his little pink heels going all
night, a good part of the time on your
back.
He will also insist on lying "crosswise,"
"cat-a-cornered,"' "bias," or in any other
position but that which will give you a
few inches of room in the bed and a few
minutes' sleep. His infantile needs will
begin to manifest themselves about one
o'clock in the morning, at which witchiDg
hour you will go blundering around in
the dark for a drink of water.
He will howl steadily and cheerfully
from two to three o'clock, and will kick
you furiously between the shoulder blades
with every howl. It will not be any use
for you to pat him tenderly and sing out,
"There, there." He is light there and
knows it, and intends that you shall know
it.
It is of no use to say coaxingly, "What
docs papa's baby want ?" Papa's baby
doesn't want anything but to howl, and
he is gratifying that amiable desire to the
utmost. It is of no use to add to your
Judgment Day list of enormities by
swearing. And if your wife has been
calmly passive through it all, she will de
velop an amazing degree of spirit if you
dare to lay the weight of your finger in
auger on that "poor, dear, innocent, dar
ling sweetness." He will squirm all
night as though he were first cousin to
an angle-worm. He will journey around
all over the bed and ou of the coverings.
You are no sooner asleep than one of
his moist little heels is planted firmly in
your nose or in your mouth, aud, later
on, with childhood's scorn of decency and
decorum, he will sit astride your neck
and grow green and purple with rage
when jjeutly made to sit elsewhere.
Should he fall out of bed aud yell loud
enough to be heard over your ward your
wife will say she firmly believes that you
pushed him out and that you are not fit
to be a father, anyhow. An animated
dialogue of a purely personal and private
nature will follow this remark.
But when the roysteriug little chap
finally "snuggles up" to you aud goes
to sleep with one of his velvety little
cheeks close to your own, and one of his
warm, soft arms around your neck, you
find your heart growing very soft and
tender toward him, and you would single
handed wage war against n host or lay
down your life for the love of him.
iv roc it Mm A(Ui:s,
Or you ore nil wnni out, really good fur noth
ing, tt i general debility. Try
BKOH'A'.S IHOS H1TTEK8.
It will curs you, cleanse your liver, aud give
a good appetite.
Woman suffrage appears to be accepted
as a fixed fact i" Wyoming It is sym
bolized ou the official heal of the State
which contains the retire ot a woman
from whose up-lifted am hangs a broken
chain, while the motto of the Stale
"Jvpial Rights "
The l'"iit Step.
remaps you are run down, can t cat
can't sleep, can't tbiiik, ran t do anv
thing to your s.uisfaciion, and you Won
der what nils ymt. lou should heed ih
amid:., yon ari. taWtie the first s'eii in
to Nervous Prostration. Yon need a
Neru! Tonic and in Electric I'ittirs
you will fi'id the exact, remedy for
restoring your m n us system to its n r
iita!, iicaiiliy i .odi.i .ii SurprWmr ie
Miiis follow i be !- !' this groat NVrv
Tonic and h ratne Your appetite
returns, good di.:estio'i is restored, and
tue I.ier aii'l Ki'ln ,s resume healthy
.K-l i"ii I i Pi ice 5')e. al A .
M. Cob .!.'.- ''v.istore.
SENATOR VANCE.
A3 HE WAS NOT PERMITTED TO TALK
POLITICS HE TOLD SEVERAL JOKES.
Loud calls for Senator Vance induced
him to make a few remarks. He said:
When I received your summons to at
tend ou this interesting occasion your sec
retary told me how delighted you would
all be to see me, and added no politics
were wanted. I accepted tho hard con
ditions. After I had got here and went
to a room my friend, Dr. Boykin, came
up and said, 'Remember, no politics to
night.' I had not enjoyed more than
one drink at this table when your honor
ed president said: 'You know no poli
tics arc wanted here. You can speak on
any other subject, though '
I will tell you a story. Down in the
mountains of North Carolina an old gen
tleman went to visit his brother-in-law's
family. After a night's sleep and before
reakfast he saw one of his nephews mak
ing some mysterious gestures, lie tol-
owed him to the shuck pit, from which
the nephew drew a bottle of corn whisky
stopped with a corn cob. Said he: "Now
Uncle Jim, you know we're all temper
ance and prohibition here, but " I keep
a little for my own private use, and think
ing you might be in the habit of takin' a
drink before breakfast, I would be glad
to have you jioe me. But keep awful
quiet, for they're all temperance here.'
Uncle Jim refreshed himself and on his
way back to the house he perceived his
other nephew making the same mysteri
ous gestures. He followed him to the
corn crib, from which his guide pulled
another bottle of whisky, and said: "Now
Uncle Jim, you know we are all temper
ance and prohibition here, but I keep . a
little hid for my especial use, and I'd be
glad if you'd take a little with me. But
for the Lord's sake lon't tell the old
folks, for they're powerful set against
drinking." He had the same experience
with the old man, who bad rheumatism,
and the old woman, who had . neuralgia
and pains in the stomach. When he
got to breakfast he was pretty full. Now
that is the case with me in spite of re
peated warnings. I must say a little
something about politics. I can t keep
it.
" Before I got religion I practiced law
a while. I was elected prosecuting at
torney of my county and once had a col
ored man before me who was accused of
playing the fiddle unlawfully. I talked
to him until I had the poor culprit near
ly scared to death. Said he: 'Deed boss, I
nebber played no fiddle; I jes' drawed de
bow across to see ef sbo was in cbune.'
That's the way with me, too; I must
draw my bow across just to see if the
fiddle is all right.
"The only reference I will make to
polities, however, will be to say that we
have passed through a great crisis. In
stead of appoint ins our own election offi
cers in North Carolina we were about to
have them apr" inted by our friend J udge
Bond." Baltimore Sun.
BROWN'S IRON BITTERS
Cures Dyspepsia, In
digestion & Debility.
Senator Vest is the first Senator in
Missouri, since the days of Thomas Ben
ton, tube honored with a third term.
For Dy?pcpsia mid Liver Complaint
you have a printed guarantee on every
bottle of ShilohV Yitalizer It never
tails to euro. For sale by W. M. Cohen,
druggist.
The Rev. Ceo. II. Thayer, of Bour
bon, Ind., says: '!oih myself and wife
owe our lives to Shi'oh's Consumption
Cure. For sale at W M. Cohen's drug
store.
Are you miserable
icons' ipatimi, DizziiiesN.
Y. llow Skin?. Sluloi-'-
by Indigestion,
Ii .Mi of Appi tite,
Yiiati,i'r is a
: . W. M. V
positive cure. F- r -n
hen. ,
A a.al lijeei . v
cf Sh-. Ion's i aii'.ii h 1 e
cents For sail' nt
ISll'e.li's Catarrh i'
elite fur I ' e I'll. ' il.
Mo h. V I sale at W.
'ru -lore.
e;ieh bottle
Price ,0
bell.
r
-a positive
!! 1 'i nker
M. Cohen's
J