MESSAGE.
President Taft Sends to Con
gress His Review of Gov
ernmental Affairs and His
Recommendations
Based Thereon.
HIGH COST OF LIVING DISCUSSED
Washington, D. C. President
Taft's first annual message to the
Congress is, as follows:
To the Senate anil the House of Rep
resentatives:
The relations of the United States
with all »oreign governments have
continued upon the normal basis of
amity and good understartdiug and
are very generally satisfactory.
Pursuant to the provisions of the
general treaty of arbitration conclud
ed between the United States and
Great Britain, Apri* 4, 1908, a special
agreement was entered into between
the two countries on January 27,
1909, for tho submission of questions
relating to the fisheries on the North
Atlantic coast to a tribunal to be
formed from members of the perma
nent court of arbitration at The
Hague.
In accordance with tho provisions
of the special agreement the printed
case of each government was, on Oc
tober 4 last, submitted to the other
and to the arbitral tribunal at The
Hague, and the counter case of the
United States Is now in course of
preparation.
This, adds, the President, is the
first case involving such great inter
national questions which has been
submitted to the permanent court of
arbitration at The- Hague.
The President states that the treaty
between the United States and Great
Britain for the marking and defining
of tho boundary line between this
country and Canada in the waters of
Pasaamaquoddy Bay makes it neces
sary to submit tho question to arbi
tration.
The regulations for the protection
of food fishes in international bound
ary waters of tho United States and
Canada compiled by tho commission
under, the convention of April 11,
1908, will bo duly submitted to Con'-j
gross with a view to tlve enactment
of such legislation as will be neceß-
Bary under the convention to put
them into operation.
Negotiations for an international
conference to reach an arrangement
providing for tho preservation and
protection of the fur Reals In the
North Pacific are in progress satis
factorily with the governments of
Great Britain, Jr.pan and Russia.
The President then devotes a para
graph to the socpiul peace conference
at The Hague and the question of an
international prize court. He Bpeaks
of. the conference held in London
from December 2, 1908, to February
26, 1909, as having resulted in an
eminently satisfactory codification of
tho international maritime law.
Reference is then made to me sub
ject of reforms In the Congo. The
President says the attitude of the
United State# is oao of benevolent
encouragement.
Announcement if. made that a satis
factory patent, convention wj,th Ger
many is now in force and that efforts
for the making of similar treaties
with other European governments arc
now in progress.
The report of our commissioners
who went on a friendly mission to
Liberia lias just been completed and
It, "-irlfv "••«mtn.'ition by the De
jjai Linen., oi biun. It is hoped, re
marks the Message, that there may
result some helpful measures, in
which case it tnav be my duty again
to invite your attention to this sub
ject.
After felicitating Turkey on her
quick transition of the government
from ono of retrograde tendencies
to a constitutional government, the
Message turns to a discussion of
Latin American affairs, observing
that one of the happiest events In
recent pan-American diplomacy was
the pacific, Independent settlement
by the governments of Bolivia and
Peru of a boundary difference be
tween them, which for some weeks
threatened to cause v.ar.
The President continues:
The pan-American policy of this
Government has long been fixed in its
principles and remains unchanged.
With the changed circumstances of
the United States and of the repub
lics to the south of us, most of which
have great natural resources, stable
government and progressive Ideals,
the apprehension which gave rise to
the Monroe doctrine may be said to
have nearly disappeared, and neither
the doctrine as it exists nor any other
doctrine of American policy should
be permitted to operate for the per
petuation of irresponsible govern
ment, the escape of just obligations
or the isldious allegation of dominat
ing ambitions on the part of the Uni
ted States,
Mr. Tart expresses his pleasure at
meeting President Diaz of Mexico, and
then remarks that all but one of the
cases which for so long vexed our re
lations with Venezuela have been set
tled and provision has been made for
arbitration of the remaining cases be
fore The Hague tribunaj.
The Panama government has
agreed to indemnify the relatives of
American officers and sailors who
of the News.
Cotton prices advanced t*> new high
records in au excited market.
Archibald Dickson diea, in New
York City, of hydrophobia caused by
the bito of a dog he had befriended.
Commander ifeary. at "'agle lsl-|
and, declined to comment on the sub
ject of Dr. Cook's asceat of Mount
McKlnley. !• •!*?»s
* A process of treating the fibre of
silk cotton tree or the tropics so
"that it can ba spun haa keen discov
ered in Germany.
were recently brutally treated there.
Tbe President glvea a (lowing ac
count of our relations with Cuba, and
says the collection of the customs of
the Dominican Republic through the
general receiver of customs appointed
by the President of the United States
In accordance with the convention of
February 8, 1907, has proceeded in
an uneventful and satisfactory man
ner. .
A settlement of the troublesome
Emery case in Nicaragua was reached
by the signature of a protocol on Sep
tember 18, 1909.
The claim of Alsop & Co. against
Chile has been submitted to the ar
bitration of his Britannic Majesty
Edward VII."
The Message does not dwell nt
great length on the complications
caused by the methods of the Zelaya
Government of .Nicaragua. On this
subject it spys:
At the date when this Message is
printed this Government has termi
nated diplomatic relations with the
Zelaya Government for reasons made
public in a communication to the
former Nlcaraguan Charge d'Af
faires and is intending to take such
future steps as may be found most
consistent with its dignity, its duty
to American interests and its moral
obligations to Central Amerloa and to
civilUation. It may later be neces
sary for me to bring this subject to
the attention of the Congress in a
special message.
In the far east, writes the Presi
dent, this Government preserves un
changed its policy of supporting the
principle of equality of opportunity
and scrupulous respect for the integ
rity of the Chinese Empire, to which
policy are pledged the interested
powers of both east and west. When
it appeared that Chinese likin rev
enues were to be hypothecated to
foreign bankers In connection with a
great railway project it was obvious
that the governments whoso nation
als held this loan would have a cer
tain direct Interest in the question
of the carrying out by China of the
reforms in question. After months
of negotiation the.equal participation
of Americans seems at last assured.
China is making admirable efforts I
toward the eradication of the opium
evil, and Mr. Taft recommends that
the manufacture, sale and use of
opium and Its derivatives in the
United States should be so far as
possible more vigorously controlled
by legislation.
Our traditional relations with the
Japanese Empire continue cordial, as
tisual. The matter of a revision of
the existing treaty between the
United States and Japan which is
terminable In 1912 Is already receiv
ing the study of both countries.
The Department of State is con
sidering also the revision In whole or
In part of the existing treaty with
Slam.
Continuing, the President writes:
I earnestly recommend to the fa
vorable action of the Congress the
estimates submitted by the Depart
ment of State and most especially
the legislation suggested In the Sec
retary of Slate's letter of this date
whereby it will be possible to develop
and make permanent the reorganiza
tion of the department upon modern
lines in a manner to make it a thor
oughly efficient Instrument In the
furtherance of our foreign trade and
of American Interests abroad.
The Message theu turns to the
consideration of the subject of rev
enues and expenditures, as follows:
Perhaps the most Important ques
tion presented to this administration
Is that of economy In expenditures
and sufficiency of revenue.
The report of the Secretary of the
Treasury shows that the ordinary ex
penditures for the current fiscal year
ending June 30, 1910, will exceed
the estimated receipts by $34,075,-
020. If to this deficit be added the
sum to be disbursed for the Panama
Canal, amounting to $38,000,000,
nnd $1,000,000 to be paid on the pub
lic debt, the deficit of ordinary
receipts and expenditures will be In
creased to a total deficit of $73,075.-
620. This deficit the Secretary pro
poses to meet by the proceeds of
bonds issued to pay the cost of con
structing tho Panama Canal. I ap
prove this proposal.
The policy of paying for the con
struction of the Panama Canal not
out of current revenue, but by bond
issue, was adopted In the Spooner
act of 1902, and thsre seems to be
no good reason for departing from
the principle by which a part at
least of the burden of the cost of
the canal shall fall upon our poster
ity, who are to enjoy It, and there
is all the more reason for this view
because the actual cost to date of
the canal, which is now half done
and which will be completed January
1, 1915, shows that the cost of engi
neering and construction will be
$2f97,766,000 instead of $139,706,-
200, as originally estimated. In ad
dition to engineering and construc
tion, the other expenses, including
sanitation and government and the
amount paid for the properties, the
franchise and the privilege of build
ing the canal, Increase the cost by
$75,435,000 to a total of $376,-
201,000.
In order to avoid a deficit for the
ensuing fiscal year I directed the
heads of departments In the prepar
ation of their estimates to make them
as low as possible consistent with
Imperative Governmental necessity.
The result lias been, as I am advised
by the Secretary of the Treasury,
that the estimates of the expenses of
the- Government for the fiscal year
ending June 30, 1911—that Is, for
the next fiscal year—are less by $66,-
663,000 than the total of appropria
tions for the current fiscal year and
less by $94,000,000 than the esti
mates for that year.
Mr. Taft discusses in great detail
his efforts to reduce the cost of per
manent administration.
An investigation ordered by my
Jottings About Sports.
Yale's football receipts were SBO,-1
000 for the season.
Colonel Robert M. Thompson advo
cates the substitution of lacrosse for
football In the public schools.
Yale not only played the best foot
ball of the year but the most open
and interesting game from first to
last.
Cornell apparently has solved the
problem of developing cross-country
teams as effectually as Columbia and
have failed to do It.
predecessor, he states, resulted In the
recommendation that the Civil Ser
vice be reclassified according to the
kind of work, so that the work re
quiring most application and knowl
edge and ability shall receive most
compensation. I believe such a
change would be fairer to the whole
fortife and would permanently improve
the personnel of the service.
The President adds:
"I am strongly convinced that no
other practical solution of the diffi
culties presented by the superannua
tion of civil servants can be found
than that of a system of civil pen
sions."
I regret to refer to the fact of the
discovery of extensive frauds in the
collection of the Customs revenue at
New York City, in which a number of
the subordinate employes in the
weighing and other departments
were directly concerned and in which
the beneficlr-les were the American
Sugar Refining Company and others.
The frauds consisted In the payment
of duty on underweights of sugar.
The Government has recovered from
the American Sugar Refining Com
pany nil that it is shown to have
been defrauded of. It would seem
to me that an Investigation of the
frauds by Congress at present, pend
ing the probing by the Treasury De
partment and the Depart-nent of Jus
tice, as proposed, might be giving
Immunity and otherwise prove an
embarrassment in securing conviction
of the guilty parties.
By reaspn of what Is known In the
recent Tariff bill as the "maximum
and minimum" clause, the President
says, "fear has been expressed that
this power conferred and duty im
posed on the executive are likely to
lead to a tariff war. I beg to exjjgfss
the hope and belief that no re
sult need be anticipated."
Continuing this subject, he re
marks:
The new tariff law enables me to
appoint a new tariff board to assist
me In connection with the Depart
ment of State In the administration of
the minimum and maximum clause
of the act and also to assist officers
of the Government in the administra
tion of the entire law.
I have therefore appointed a tariff
board consisting of three members
and have directed them to perform
all the duties above described. This
work will perhaps take two or three
years. *
Nothing. however, halta business
and interferes with the course of
prosperity so much as the threatened
revision of the tariff, and until the
facts are at hand, after careful #:id
deliberate invest!;? tlon, upon which
such revision ,ca.> properly be under
taken, It seems to me unwise to at
tempt It.
In the interest of Immediate econ
omy and because of the prospect of a
rfpflcit I have required a reduction In
the estimates of the War Department
for the coming; fiscal year which
brings the total estimates down to an
amount forty-five millions less than
the corresponding estimates for last
year.
The coast defenses of the United
States proper are generally all that
could be desired.
There Is, however, one place where
additional defense Is badly needed,
and that Is at the mouth of Chesa
peake Bay, where It Is proposed to
make an artificial Island for a fort
which shall prevent an enemy's fleet
from entering this most Important
strategical base of operations on the
whole Atlantic and Gulf coasts. I
hope that appropriate legislation will
be adopted to secure the construction
of this defense.
The return of the battleship fleet
from It's voyage around the world In
more efficient condition than when
it started was a noteworthy event of
interest alike to our citizens and the
naval authorities of the world.
Owing to the necessity for economy
In expenditures, I have directed the
curtailment of recommendations for
naval appropriations so that they are
thirty-eight millions less than the
corresponding estimates of last year,
and the requeßt for new naval con
struction is llmted to two first-class
battleships and one repair vessel.
The generosity of Congress having
provided In the present naval ob
servatory the most magnificent and
expensive astronomical establishment
in the world, the President urges a
provision by law for the appointment
of an eminent astronomer as the offi
cial head of the observatory.
The deplorable delays In the ad
ministration of civil and criminal law
have received the attention of com
mittees of the American Bar associa
tion and of many State bar associa
tions, as well as the considered
thought of judges and jurists. In
my judgment, & change in judicial
procedure, with a view to reducing
its expense to private litigants In civil
cases and facilitating the dispatch of
business and t}nal decision In both
civil and criminal cases, constitutes
the greatest need in our American
constitutions.
I therefore recommend legislation
providing tor the appointment by the
President of a commission with au
thortty to examine the law and equity
procedure of the Federal courts of
first instance, the law of appeals from
those courts to the courts of appeals
and to the Supreme Court and the
costs Imposed in such procedure upon
the private litigants and upon the
public treasury and make recom
mendation with a view to simplifying
and expediting the procedure as far
aa possible and making It as inex
pensive as may be to the litigant of
little means.
The President also recommends
that, in compliance with the Repub
lican Party's platform promise on the
subject of legislating against the
practice of issuing injunctions with
out previous notice, an appropriate
law to that end be adopted.
The jurisdiction of the general
Government over interstate commerce
Among the Workers.
A new bricklayers' union has been
organized In Aberdeen, 8. D.
The official labor paper in Vancou
ver, B. C., Is said to be proving a suc
cess In every way.
A new union, composed of chauf
feurs and helpers, was organized re
cently in San Francisco, Ca.
The Salt Lake Typographical Union
has started a campaign to obtain the
session of the International Union for
1911. San Francisco is also out for
the convention
, • -vr i
has led to the passage of the so-called
"Sherman Anti-Trust law" and the
"Interstate Commerce law" and It*
amendments. The developments In
the operation of those laws, as shown
by Indictments, trials. Judicial deci
sions and other sources of informa
tion, call for a discussion and some
suggestions as to amendments. These
I prefer to embody in a special
sage instead of including them in the
present communication.
After earnestly recommending the
passage of a sufficient appropriation
to enable a thorough remodeling of
the Jail in the District of Columbia,
postal matters are reviewed.
The deficit every year in the Post
office Department is largely caused,
avers the President, by the low rate
of postage of one cent a pOnnd
charged on second class mail matter,
A great saving might be made,
amounting to much more than half
of the loss, by Imposing upon maga
zines and periodicals a higher rate of
postage.
The second subject worthy of men
tion in the Postofflce Department 1*
the real necessity and entire practica
bility of establishing postal savings
banks. The successful party at the
last election declared In favor of
postal savings banks, and, although
the proposition finds opponents in
many parts of the country, I am con
vinced that the people desire such
banks and am sure that when the
banks are furnished they will be pro
ductive of the utmost good.
Following the course of my distin
guished predecessor, I earnestly rec
ommend to Congress the considera
tion and passage of a ship subsidy bill
looking to the establishment of lines
between out Atlantic seaboard and
the eastern coast of Bouth America
as well as lines from the west coast
of the United States to South Amer
ica, China, Japan and the Philip
pines.
The successful party In the last
election in Its national platform de
clared In favor of the admission as
separate States of New Mexico and
Arizona, and I recommend that legis
lation appropriate to this end be
adopted.
With respect to the Territory of
Alaska, I recommend legislation
which shall provide for the appoint
ment by the President of a Governor
and also of anexecutlvecouncil, which
shall have legislative powers sufficient
to enable It to gi"~ to the Territory
local laws adapts J to Its present
growth.
In several departments there Is pre
sented the necessity for legislation
looking to the further conservation of
our resources, and the sub
ject Is one of such Importance as to
require a more detailed and extended
discussion than can be entered upon
In this communication.
Mr. Taft. alßo makes the following
suggestions and recommendations:
The transfer of control over the
lighthouses to a suitable civilian
bureau.
The passage of a law to enable the
Secretary of Commerce and Labor to
unite the Bureaus of Manufactures
and Statistics.
Additional legislation to help sup
press the "white slave trade."
That all the bureaus and offices In
the general Government which have
to do with the public health or sub
jects akin thereto be united In a bu
reau to be called the "bureau of pub
lic health."
That a law be passed requiring that
candidates In elections of members of
the House of Representatives file In
a proper office of the United States
Government a statement of the con
tributions received aad of the ex
penditures incurred in the campaign.
That Congress appropriate a suf
ficient Bum to pay the balance—about
thirty-eight per cent. —of the
amounts due depositors in the Freed
man's Savings and Trust Company.
The year 1913 will make the
fiftieth anniversary of the issuance of
the emancipation proclamation grant
ing freedom to the negroes. It seems
fitting that thlß event should be prop
erly celebrated. It is suggested that
a proper form of celebration would
be an exposition to show the progress
the negroes have made.
President Taft concludes as fol
lows:
I have thus, in a Message com
pressed as much as the subjects will
permit, referred to many of the legis
lative needs of the country, with the
exceptions already noted. Speaking
generally, the country is in a high
state of prosperity. There Is every
reason to believe that y/e ara on the
eve of a substantial business expan
sion, and we have just garnered a
harvest unexampled In tho market
value of our agricultural products.
The high prices which such produote
bring mean great prosperity for the
farming community; but, on the
other hand, they mean a very con
siderably Increased burden upon
those classes in the community whose
yearly compensation does not expand
with the improvement in business
and the general prosperity. Various
reasons are given for the high prices.
Tho proportionate increase in the
output of gold, which to-day Is the
chief medium of exchange and is in
some respects a measure of value, fur
nishes a substantial explanation of at
least part of the Increase in prices.
The increase in population and the
more expensive mode of living of tha
people, which have not been accom
panied by a proportionate increase in
acreage production, may furnish a
further reason. It la well to note that
the increase In the cost of living is
not confined to thlß country, but pre-
Valfs the world over, and that thosn
who would charge increases in prices
to the existing protective tariff must
meet the fact that the rise iu prices
has taken place almost wholly in
those products of the factory and
farm In respect to which there has
been either no Increase in the tariff
or In many instances a very consider
able reduction.
WILLIAM H. TAFT.
BANKER GUILTY OF BIGAMY.
1 —~
A. D. Oliver, of Climax, Ga., Sen
tenced to the Penitentiary.
Bainbridge, Ga.—A. D. Oliver, for
mer president of the Bank of Climax,
at Climax, Ga., was found guilty of
bigamy and sentenced by Judge
Clark, of the Superior Court, to serve
four years In the penltentliry.
i Oliver maintains that he twin
s brother, and that wife No. 1, ws;o
' testified against him, is the wife of
' his brother. Oliver's second wife was
a Georgia girl.
'
SIXTY-FIRST
CONGRESS
FIRST DAY IARGEY A SOCIAL
AFFAIR-
PRES. TAFT WAITED UPON
Deaths of Representatives Lass iter
of Virginia and DeArmond, of Mis
souri, Reported and House Ad
journs Through Respect to the
Dead.
Washington, Special. The two
houses of Congress convened Mon
day for the first regular sssion of the
Sixty-first Congress, but the day s
proceedings were in great part of a
social nature and practicaly no bus
iness was transacted.
Brief as was the Senate's IJ-min
ute sssion, it was enlivened by an
unsuccessful effort on the part of
Senator Haitey to defeat the passage
of the usual resolution that the daily
sessions begin at noon, suggesting
that the Senate should convene in
stead at 'J o'clock. Mr. Hailey said
he would like to see the Sennte hold
night sessions in order that Senators
might devote the day to individual
business. No objection was offered
when a similar resolution was intro
duced in the House.
A joint conimittee was named by
both houses to wait upon the Presi
dent and to inform him that Congress
was in session and ready for any bus
iness he might wish to lay before it.
The President's response constitu
ted his,annual message, the redaing
of which will consume practically all
of Tuesday's session of the two
houses.
The House session continued forty
minutes, during which W. • W. Me-
C'redie, the new reprsentatiye from
the scond Washington district, who
succeeds the late Francis W. Cush
man, was sworn in. The greater part
of the session was taken up by the
roll call.
Although only 341 members re
sponded to their names, almost a
full membership appeared on the
House floor and there were few
among them that did not have one or
more bills to offer. These included
one by Representative Garner of
Pennsylvania for an investigation by
Congress of the entire customs ser
vice particularly in regard to sugar
frauds recently brought to light; one
by Represntative Hitchcock of Ne
braska, for the establishment of pos
tal savings banks; by Represen—
tative Mann of Illinois for Federal
regulation of' the "white slave
trade," and another by Mr. Mann
for the free admission of wood pulp,
and one by Representative Hamil
ton of Michigan to grant Statehood
to New Mexico and Arizona.
The leaders of the majority and
the minority were there and con
versed amiably, all of the bitterness
engendered by the tariff fight of. last
summer apparently having been for
gotten for the time being at least.
Resolutions of respect for the
memory of Senator Johnson of North
Dakota and Representatives DeAr
mond and Lnssiter who died during
the recess, were adopted, and as a
further mark of respect the two
houses adjourned until noon Tues
day, the Senate at 12:13 and the
House at 12:40 p. m.
'" A round of applause greeted the
Speaker when he entered the cham
ber with his customary red carnation
For a moment he stood in his place
nervously fingering the gavel. While
the applause was subsiding the gavel
descended with a resounding left
handed whack.
The blind chaplain of the House,
the Rev. Henry N. Calhoun, then of
fcrde the prayer, in which he im
plored the divine blessing upon the
members of Congress, especially the
Speaker and fot the President and
his adversers. He prayed for the pro
tection of the President and his Cab
inet "from all personal violence and
from the machinations of designing
men." The chaplain in alluding to
the tragic death of the late Repre
sentative DeArmond of Missouri, who
was burned to death in his home,
{ »rayed for consolation for his col
eagues, friends and especially the
stricken wife and children.
For the next ten minutes or more
the chamber was again filled with
chatter, while the roll was btnng call
ed. The Speaker announced that as
341 members hnd responded to their
names, a quorum was present and the
House was ready for business.
Represntatives Jones of Virginia
informed the House of,the death-of
his colleague, Francis R. Lassiter and
offered a suitable rsolution, which
was agreed to. A similar resolution,
offered by Representative Clark of
Missouri announced the death of
David A. DeArmond. It was also
agreed to.
W. W. McCredle, the new Repre
sentative from Washington, elected
to succeed the late Francis W. Cus'n
mau, presented his credentials and
was sworn in.
The House, as a further mark of
respect to the two members who had
died during the recess of Congress,
at 12:40 p. m. adjourned until Tues
day.
N. C. BAPTISTS MEET.
W. 0. Dowd of Charlotte President
Organization Completed. v
Wadesboro, Special. Tuesday
night the asembled Baptist hosts of
North Carolina honored themselves
by the election of W. Cary Dowd of
Charlotte as president of the State
convention. N. B. Brought on of
Raleigh was for the twenty-seventh
time elected secretary. Prof. F. E..
Brewer of Wake Forest was elected
assitant. Walter Durham was re
elected treasurer. The organization
was completed at 11:15 by the elec
tion of R. H. Marsh, T. M. Arring
ton, J. H. Tucker, as vice presidents;.
T. H. Briggs, auditor, and Livingston
Johnson corresponding secretary.
The convention year closed Novem
ber 30. There are 61 asociations in
the convention, 55 of which made re
ports for 1909, which are larger than
those of any previous year. For
those asociations that have not made
their reports the reports of 1908 will
be used at the convention. Ther&
has been an advance at every point.
There are now 1,899 Baptist church
es in North Carolina with 1,681 Sun
day schools. The total membership
in these churches is 217,907, the total
Sunday school membership, 153,468.
Besides these figures there are a num
ber of churches that have not re
ported memberships. These woufd
add nearly 3,000 each to the total
church and Sunday school member
ship. During the past year the 9
have been 12,762 baptisms. Finan
cially there has been an advance at
every point. There are sven object®
to which our people contribute.
State missions, home missions, for
eign missions, orphanage, ministerial
education, aged ministers and Sun
day school missions. To these objects
lias been contibuted during the year
$136*885.33. This is a net gain over
last year of $13,300. There has been
a marked gain in the contributions
to State and foreign -missions.
Engineer Killed in His Own Engine^
Winston-Salem, Special. —*• With
one side of his head crushed, En
gineer William J. Kinyoun, of the
Southern Railway, is believed to be
dyinp in a hospital here. While eu
route from North Wilkesboro with a
mixed passenger and freight train
Tuesday morning, Engineer Kinyoun
got down on the step of his engine
and was looking under it to investi
gate a slight trouble, when his head
came in contact with a beam of an
open bridge across (Irassy creek, S(V
miles from this place.
Tax-Payers Raise Howl in Raleigh.
Raleigh,. Special.—Announcement
in a local paper that the City Tax
Collector J. S. Jones, would be oblig
ed to proceed nt once with the seiz
ure of household goods owned by all
they had as much as $25 worth, ow
ing to an exaction by" the board of
aldermen hag 3tirred resentment oiv
the part of the members of the board
of aldermen, along with explanations
and counter explanations by parties,
interested. The situation resolves it
self into no one in authority want
ing to assume the responsibility for
what city officials generally pro
nounce a necessity for "distress pro
ceedings" in the collection of these
back taxes.
Col. John S. Cunningham Bankrupt.
Raleigh, Special.—Victor 11. Bor
den, referee in bankruptch, Monday,,
signed an order adjudicating Col. S.
Cunningham of Person county for
bankruptcy, the assets being set out
as amounting to $6,000, the liabilities
$21,000. 'Colonel Cunningham has
for a number of years been widely
known in public life and as a notable
grower of tobacco. The first meeting
of creditors is ordered to be held De
e«mber 20 at Roxboro.
Ask Pardon For Baxter Shemwell.
Raleigh, Special.—Governor Kitch
in heard Messsr. Charles M. M.
Steadman and R. C. Strudwick of"
Greensboro on an application for the
pardon of Baxter Shemwell, a con
vict serving » sentence for assault
ing a railway conductor with a pistol
and forcing him to stop the passen
ger train so he could get off. Th»
argument offered was the alleged ill
health of Shemwell.
Prominent Younf Man of Bitrka
Jailed on Serious Charge
Marion, Special.—Gordon Bailey, &
young white man, son of County
Tresaurer William Bailey, of Burke,,
charged with attempting an nssatdt
giri, was spirited away from Mor-
gin ton fTdrpFaced in tfo "McDowell
county jail for safe keeping. The al
leged assault occurred Sunday, No
vember 2, while the girl was on her
way home from Sunday schooL
Sheriff Berry of Burke was given a
long chase and a hard fight before
he succeeded in arresting Roiley-
His bond was lixed at SI,4C ).
Negro Woman Victim of Pellegra.
Spencer, Special.—The first death
from pdlegra to occur in Rowan
county occurred Monday in East
Spencer, Sallie Thomas, a well-kuowr»
colored woman, being the victim. She- «
had been ill for two months with a. '•
typical case and a number of physic- |
ians had visited her, some with a '
view to curing the disease and other*
for the purpose of making'a study-
No relief could be given and the pa
tient grew gradually worse.