I.-X0
V
Fair and Warmer To
day and Friday
IQ Pages
World, State and Local
News Daily
FOUNDED A. D. 1867.—VOL. CX.—No. 118.
WILMINGTON, N. C., THURSDAY MORNING, JANUARY 11,1923.
OLDEST DAILY IN THE STATE.
FRENCH TROOPS GO INTO THE RUHR THIS MORNING
A.------—---•-- ---■ -- - « — ■■ -. -
Entry Into Essen Scheduled
To Take Place at2 o’Clock;
Airplanes and Tanks Ready
With Belgium at Her Side and Supported by Italy,
France Begins Her Long Talked-of “Sep
arate Action” In Collection of Debt
WITHDRAWAL OF U. S. FORCES
SHOCKS THE PRIDE OF FRANCE
Poincare Will go Before Parliament This Morning and In
stead of Placing His Plans For Action Before the Chamber
He Will Inform That Body What He Has Done; People Sup
port Their Government
COBLENZ, Jan. 11.—(By the Associated Press).—The
French troops will occupy Essen at 2 o’clock this (Thursday)
morning.
MULHEIM, Jan. 10.—(11:30 p. m.).—French patrols already
are filtering through the bridgehead in the area of occupation.
Closing in on Essen and Bochum, they have reached Mulheim.
The Belgians are advancing through Ruhrort, waiting for
the French.
PARIS, Jan. 10.—France will go into the Ruhr tomorrow
morning, tanks, troops, airplanes and engineers are ready.
Essen will bow to the Trench in the early morning hours, and
Premier Poincare when he appears in parliament tomorrow will
tell not what he plans to do, but what he has done.
France, with Belgium at her side,
and unsupported by Italy, will begin
her long talked-of "separate action.”
The decision of President Harding to
withdraw immediately the American
troops from the Rhineland came as a
blow to the pride of France ,and to
tiie French sense of right, although
there is no word of official critioism—
only regret.
The French people, however, arc
standing behind their government at
what is frequently described as the
most critical moment since tfce end
of the war. Germany was'notifled to
day in Identical notes from France and
Belgium that, effective tomorrow, con
trol of the Ruhr coal distribution would
be under a commission,, which will go
in with a small army as a guard. Ital
ian hesitation has been giving more
concern, but Italian engineers will go
with the French and Belgians which
fact M. Poincare’s note to Germany
took pains to mention.
General. Simon, commanding the
Dusseldorf area, is ready to move at
a half hour's notice, marching rations
have been issued and German automo
biles requisitioned. General DeGoutte,
i:i supreme command of the French,
has already returned to Dusseldorf and
will direct the advance. The time is
still secret, but has been definitely set
tled upon.
The vigor of the newly launched
French policy is shown at home as
well as abroad. Leading communists,
headed by Deputy Marcel Cachin, who
went to Essen in an attempt to organ
ize a general strike in the Ruhr, has
been charged by the government with
a plot against the safety of the state,
and six of them already are in Jail,
four are being sought and parliament
has been asked to cancel M. Cachin s
parliamentary immunity, so that, he, as
the leader, may be prosecuted.
M. Poincare anticipates not the
slightest difficulty in getting parlia
ment’s approval tomorrow. It has re
peatedly indorsed his plan for seizing
"productive guarantees” although then
there tyas no chance for immediate
action. The deputies and senators^in
their group talks today voiced the
sentiment that it is every Frenchmans
duty to support the government ana
only the customary opposition from
the extreme left is expected.
The calm firmness of the French
note to Germany is indicative of the
feeling of the government and ppople
s.H revealed by the newspapers and In
dividual expressions. Tha French feel
they are going into the Ruhr to make
the Germans do what they agreed to
do, and although great disappoint
ments such as England’s refusal to Join
with them, and America’s Order for
the withdrawal of troops, reaching
them the night before they P>ay their
last card, may amaze or grieve,
ger them, they nevertheless are going
into the Ruhr tomorrow.
This is the Age of
Woman, Says Daniels
ROCK HILL, S. C„ Jan. 10.—'"This Is
the age of woman” and their value In
civic affairs .is only now beginning to
be appreciated, Josephus Daniels, or
Raleigh, former secretary of theJthrov
today told the students at W:‘!^ua^
college in an address at the
Founders' day celebration. Mr Daniels
was scheduled to speak thls momin^
but was delayed by muddyroads and
the exercises were postponed until this
a Win?h°rnop college. Sout^ Carolina's
Mate college for women, was 36 years
old today. David Bancroft Johnson,
president and . founder of the college,
was presents .. a " f 400 young
Urging: the more tl&n ■*■•**>
women, who had wKoleheart
address, to enter rmnlels said
> dly and unreservedly, Mr. D n J8.^^
hat this did not mean thaty will
i Mtlre to public office, though you wui
nnd timesPwith the policie. you W°uM
see adopted, when you must Akhttor
itn office to achieve results. . Norman
,r woman, he said, who makes office
«r woman, no earn, ~ f to ybe a
. olding a profession Is apt
*.,od public servant,”,
ARMY AND PEOPLE
OF FRANCE REGRET
RECALL OF TROOPS
Feeling of Deep Regret and De
pression is Expressed Over
Withdrawal of Americans 1 ’
PARIS. Jan. 10.—The army and peo
ple of France felt deep regret and de
pression tonight over the order for the
American forces to leave the Rhine.
The fear was openly expressed that
President Harding’s decision would be
construed by Germany and other na
tions as a rebuke to France upon the
eve of her independent action in the
Ruhr. . ,
Although Premier Poincare had not
up to a late hour tonight received of
ficial confirmation of the decision, he
accepted the news’ dispatches on the
subject as authentic. M. Poincare was
in the senate when the first dispatches
from Washington reached Paris. The
messages were hurried to him and he
immediately conveyed the information
to a group of senators who discussed
the matter among themselves. The
senators expressed considerable sur
prise at the news, professing refusal at
first to believe that the United States
would take such a step at this time in
view of Its possible effect on the opin
ion in Germany and other countries.
The fact that the resolution adopted
bv the American senate on Saturday
made it clear that the withdrawal was
not to be taken as in criticism of any
power will hardly be sufficient, it is
believed hehe to convince the Ger
mands and others that America- is not
taking this means to register strongly
its disapproval of the French indepen
dent action. It is pointed out that
Germany will be only too eager to
seize upon President Harding s decis
ion as justification of her contention
that the French action is illegal and
in direct violation of the treaty of
Versailles. ,
There was also some speculation
here tonight as to the possible reac
tion . the decision might have on to
morrow’s meeting of the British cab
inet which is expected to consider the
position of the British troops on the
The French are further depressed by
the fact that the order is for the im
mediate departure of the American
troops, as they would have wished it
might be delayed for a few weeks so
Sere would be no apparent connect on
Between it and the French occupation
. Tliihr There is no intention,
how^ero^th^part of the French
government to ask Washington to de
fay the withdrawal. The French war
department is expected to confer im
^lately with the American comman
deT^MaJ. Gen. Henry T. Allen, on plans
for* taking over the sector of the
Rhineland i ow occupied by the Amer
icans. _
Would Have Troops
Moved to Caswell
By H. B. c. BRYANT
WASHINGTON, Jan. 10.—Senator
RlinmoM has submitted to Secretary
w«eks? request from the Wilmington
chamber of commerce, that some of the
returning troops be sent to Fort Cas
W Representative Abernethy was noti
fied today t>y the postofflce department
fhft It b^d designated .Clarence G. Sut
ion bf ^Grange, to carry the star
ennte from LaGrange to Seven Springs,
XctlveTanuary « last ,to June 30, 1924.
CRUSHED UNDER FREIGHT CAR.
RALEIGH, N. C., Jan, 10.—Walter
W. Durham, of Raleigh, Norfolk-South
ern switchman, was crushed under the
wheels of a freight oar while engaged
in switching operations at Lilllngton
this afternoon and, died before he Could
be brought to Raleigh for treatment.
THIRTEEN MEN ARE
IDENTIFIED WITH
KIDNAPING GASES
This Number is Identified by
Voices and Otherwise by
Sixteen Witnesses
MOREHOUSE PROB
TO REACH BOTTOM
Seventeen Year Old Girl Tells
of Being Driven From More
house by the Klan
BASTROP, La., Jan. 10.—State's at
torneys today began sounding the
depths in,the open court inquiry to fix
responsibility tor the kidnaping and
slaping of Watt Daniel and Thomas
Richards, hooded band victims, and to
establish the basis for charges that a
“super-government” had set itself up
in Morehouse parish with a resultant
reign of terror. At the end of the day
the names of 13 men had been brought
into the record through the testimony
of six witnesses as having been recog-1
nized by the sound of their voices and)
by other means, as having particicipat- j
ed in kidnaping expeditions, raids and j
marching parties attributed to the Kui
Klux Klan.
It was a day of several climaxes.
First, with the declaration of Addle
May Hamilton, 17-year-old girl, that
she was driven from Morehouse by a
delegation of "klan” members; again
with the appearance on the witness
stand of Mrs. Thomas Richards, widow
of one of the slain men, and the next
with the testimony of Henry Neells,
youthful automobile salesman and
garage proprietor, star witness of the
day. whose testimony brought before
the 'nqulry the names of six men—Jeff
Burnett, now being held on a charge
of murder; J. K. Sklpwlth, recognized
klan leader in Morehouse parish; Jim
Tisdale, of Monroe; A. B. Campbell, of
Jones; Dr. B. M. Mcltoin, former mayor
of the village of Mer Rouge, and a
"man named Rogers" as members of a
hlack-hooded "kidnaping party which
operated on. the. highway, near-Bastrop
August 18 last, when Richards was
taken into the woods for questioning.
Neells also brought forward the name
of Fred Carpenter, sheriff of More
house parish.
"Carpenter was within 100 feet of
the garage in Bastrop from which
Richards was kidnaped at the time he
was taken prisoner August IS," Neelis
said.
On another occasion during the ex
amination Neelis declared Carpenter,
overhearing a conversation in which
he was engaged with another man
with reference to klan activities, called
him aside and “advised him” to "quit
talking about our affairs."
Mrs. Richards' testimony was devot
ed almost entirely to the kidnaping of
Richards on August 18, when she said
Richards told her of being taken into
the woods by a hlack-hooded band and
questioned as to an attempt that had
been made some time previous to as
sassinate Dr. McKoln. i
“My husband told me he had been
exonorated," Mrs. Richards said, "and
laughed about being kidnaped.”
Neells was on his way to Mer Rouge
when he said he was stopped by a
party of black-hooded men a short dis
tance from Bastrop and allowed to
proceed but was stopped again a short
distance further by two unmasked men
whom he named ns Burnett and
“Rogers.”
“When I was stopped by the two
men, it was decided that I be returned
to the point where the masked pien
were," Neelis testified.
“When Burnett and Rogers helfj me
up I talked with them long enough to
know what they were after. It was
Richards. Burnett did not say but in
timated that Richards was the man
wanted. I told him then If he wanted
Richards he need not resort to any of
these measures.
, "Burnett and Rogers then took black
masks from their pockets and put them
on. Fred Higginbotham. a.Bastrop res
taurant man, next came up. He was
unmasked. He consulted with Burnett
and Rogers and then I was told 1 cduld
g-0.M
Neells described how he was picked
up by another automobile and reached
Bastrop ahead of the hooded band.
“The first thing I did was to get
Richards and told him the Ku Klux
were after him and for us to go over
to the sheriffs office where we might
have protection/ 'Neelis continued.
“Richards had his little girl with him
and fie suggested that we wait until
his -wife came back.'
"About that time the automobiles
came up to the garage, I went to
them and tola them to leave Richards
alone. They went into the garage ana
led Richards out and to an automobile.
I was mad and warned them again to
let Richards alone. About that time
Rogers pointed a shot gun at me and
told me to step aside. They left with
Richards.”
"What were the conditions in Bas
trop at that time? Wasn’t the klan
very active?” Neells was asked.
"Yes. The klan was active and the
court house was being guarded by cit
lsens. They said the people In Mer
Rouge were coming over to attack the
people of Bastrop. They did not ask
me.to take part in the, guarding of the
court house.” ,
killed in plane clash.
SAN ANTONIO. Texas. Jan. j.8.—Lieu
tenant Fanda B. Johnsoh, 3i was in
stantly killed near Kelly field late to
day when the' plane in which he was
leading a squadron pf ships collided
with a spad piloted by Sergeant D. G.
Warner. Both ships were completely
wrecked but Warner was uninjured
despite the fact that he dropped nearly
2,008 feet
• .v. . -v;:
AMERICANS ON
THE RHINE ARE
ORDEREDHOME
Transport St. Mihiel Sails Fri
day, to Bring Home Last of
the Occupational Forces
OFFICIALS DECLINE
TO MAKE COMMENT
However, Decision to Evacuate
Occupied Zone is Taken as a
Rebuke to France For Her
Entry Into Germany For
Forcible Collection of Ger
man Reparations
WASHINGTON, Jan. 10.—
American troops were ordered
home from the Rhine today
with every indication that the
administration’s purpose was to
emphasize its disapproval of
the French reparations pro
gram. They are expected to be
back in the United States by
February 5 . ^
Official explanation of the
withdrawal order, issued imme
diately after a morning confer
ence between President Hard
mg and Secretaries Hughes and
Weeks, was confined to the
statement that the President
deemed it expedient at this
time. There! were intimations
which appeared authoritative,
however, that France had been
informed that perseverance in
his plans for forcible measures
in Germany would result in
American withdrawal from the
Bhine, but no inkling was given
as to when or how diplomatic
estranges of such nature had
been transmitted.
Ambassadors of the allied countries
here, including the French, and Ameri
can ambassadors in' Europe were
promptly informed by the state de
partment of tfye order. A cable mes
sage from the war department to
Major General Allen, commanding
the American army of occupation,
gave him preliminary instructions to
prepare for withdrawal while orders
also were issued for the transport St.
Mihiel to sail from New York Fri
day. She will pick up about forty
officers and more than 1,000 men,
comprising the American force on the
Rhine either at Hamburg or Bremen
as General Allen elects. Actual move
ment of the troops from Coblenz, it
was said would begin just in time
for them to embark directly from
trains. The only American military
units left behind will be detachments
to complete'disposition of stores and
property not brought home and those
in charge of graves registration ac
tivities. Some of General Allen's
staff officers will come by passenger
ships, as the St. Mihiel can not ac
commodate all.
Detailed orders to General Allen
went forward last night by* mall. To
day's cable message was In the na
ture of a preliminary advice upon
which he can take immediate, action.
At the otitset it said:
"The President has decided to re
turn to the United States immediately
all troops of your command, except
graves registration service. The St.
Mihiel, making one trip only, will be
dispatched from New Yor]f about Jan
uary 12 to Bremen or Hamburg.,Cable
which you want.
"You will utilize tne maximum
capacity of this vessel for carrying
personnel and all freight. except of
ficers’ mounts. Excess supplies will
be disposed of in accordance with Jaw
and regulations. Excess personnel
will be transported ' on , commercial
liners to New York, arrangements to
be made by you.”
After informing General Allen that
detailed Instructions had been mailed
to him, the message said the St.
Mihlel would first proceed to Savan
nah, Ga., then to Charleston, S. C., and
finally to. New York, at each port units
will disembark.
The cablegram also instructed or
ganizations to return with "individual
equipment, colors, authorized house
hold effects and records only” and
stated that "no motor vehicls, paints,
oils, greeses, subsistence stores, or
public animals will be returned and
only such authorized officers’ mounts
as are now owned, by officers desir
ing to ship.”
The Coblenz area, which has been
under American command ever .since
the German army withdrew from the
bridgehead zone on the Rhine under
armlstloe terms, presumably will pass
back to the custody of Marshal Pooh
as allied supreme commander in charge
of the enforcement of armistice condi
tions. The American zone is held still
under the armistice as the United
States is not a party to the treaty of
Versailles which gave more perma
nent status to other forces of occupa
tion.
While a resolution, proposed by Sen
ator Reed, Deagpcrat, Missouri, urging
withdrawal from the Rhine, was adopt
ed overwhelmingly by the senate last
Saturday when it became evident that
the French jwere determined to carry
out their program of forcible collec
tions in Germany, there was no prelim
inary Indication that the President
was preparing for such a step. The
withdrawal order came as a complete
surprise to those who had knowledge
of the reasons that prompted the state
(Continued on Page TwoJ.i
DEBT-FUSING PLAN
OF ml BRITAIN
Umft THE TABLE
Comity V. ers Place Their
PrCS:rK' on Before an Ex
e<^; - -Session of Treasury
DETAILS WITHHELD;
EXPECT AGREEMENT
U. S. Negotiators May Exceed
Terms of Congress and Then
Ask For Ratification
WASHINGTON, Jan. 10.—Great Brit
ain’fl financial mission laid its cards
on the table today before the American
debt commission at an executive ses
sion at the treasury. 1 Details were j
withheld, but there were renewed ex
pressions of hope that out of the ne
gotiations would come at least a ten
tative agreement for the funding of
the British degt of more than four bil
lions of d vllars, perhaps within a week.
While the official spokesman for the
negotiators reiterated that there had
been no concrete proposals as a basis
of settlement, it was. apparent that the
American commission had before it in
formation upon which to base the con
clusion that the London government
could not consent to terms within the
limitations laid down by congress as
to tha time of payment and the rate
of interest to be charged.
Before the commissions assembleu
for the second formal session,* Senator i
I Smoot, Republican, Utah, a member of
I tfie American delegation, informed the
| senate finance committee at an execu
j live session that congress would be
I asked to broaden the powers of the
Amercan commission in dealing not
only with the British debt but with
those of the other allied countries.
Senator Smoot did not suggest just
what additional authority would be
asked and it was said later that the
commission itself had not yet determ
ined that question. There was a sug
gestion in some quarters however, that
congress might be lequested to amend
the existing law so as to authorize the]
commission to make the best possible;
terms with eaCfTdebtor nation subject]
to final pproval of the several agree-,
ments by congress. \
Meantime, the American and British
commissions will undertake to reach
an agreement irrespective of the limi
tations in. the existing statute. Should
they be successful and President Hard
ing approves the plan of settlement the
next step would be to request ratifica
tion by the house and senate. It would
then be expected that a move would
be made to amend the law so that the
commission might follow the same
course in dealing with the other debtor
countries.
At today's session of the debt com
missions the British delegation pre
sented a mass of data and statistics to
support the opening statement of Stan
ley Baldwin, British chancellor of the
exchequer, as to conditions which
Great Britain faces in arranging to
meet its war time obligation. There
was included copies of the British
| budget for this and: other years, de
j tails as to assets and liabilities and
many other matters essential to an
assessment of the whole situation.
The official spokesman said this in
formation was discussed informally for
nearly two hours and that it Would re
ceive further consideration at a third
session tomorrow. After the British
! delegation retired the Americans re
J mained in session for an hour, but
membms said there was no annouce
ment to be made.
DAY IN WASHINGTON
i President Harding ordered the im
1 mediate withdrawal of all American
troops from the Rhine,
Senator McCumber, Republican, of
North Dakota, declared in the senate
that farmers need coo-perative organ
ization, not more credits.
Recall of Roland W. Boyden, unof
ficial American representative on the
reparations committee, was demanded
by Senator Reed, Democrat, Missouri.
Submission to states of a child labor
constitutional amendment was urged
at a senate hearing by a delegation of
women representing a dozen or more
organizations.
Secretary Mellon notified the senate
he was opposed to increasing the per
sonnel of the American debt commis
sion to permit the naming of three
Democrats as members.
F. Edison White, president of Ar
mour and company, begin a series of
conferences on the proposed Armour
Morris packer consolidation and other
phases of the packing industry.
Germany Recalls Her
Ambassador to Paris
BERLIN, Jan. lft,—(By the Asso
ciated Press).—Germany today re
called her ambassador at Paris.
The Ambassador Dr. Wilhelm
Mayor, was Instructed to leave the
' embassy In charge of Its counsellor.
The German minister to Belgium
also was recalled, with similar In
structions.
PARIS, Jan. 10,—Dr. Mayer, the
German ambassador, is still In
Paris bnt had retired when the
news Teaehed Paris that instruc
tions had been sent to him by the. .
Berlin government to hand over
the embassy to the counsellor and
• leave the city. If hay snob instruc
tions actually reached the ambus- -
sador, they probably came too late .
for him to make traveling arrange
ments tonight, , , „ v
MORRISON’S SHIPPING BILL
TO BE INTRODUCED TODAY IN
BOTH HOUSES OF ASSEMBLY
—r
RECALL OF BOYDEN
FROM REPARATIONS
MEETING IS URGED
This Should be Followed by
Withdrawal of Troops From
Germany, Reed Says
UNOFFICIAL MEDDLER
THE WAY HE TERMS IT
WASHINGTON, Jan. 10.—President
Harding’s action In ordering American
troops home from the Rhine should be
followed by the recall of Roland W.
Boyden, unofficial observer for the
U'Aited States on the reparations com
mission, Senator Reed, Democrat, of
Missouri, declared today during an
address In the Senate. An unofficial
representative, he asserted, is “an un
official meddler.”
senator Keen, who was. tne aumor
of the resolution adopted last Satur
day by the senate urging withdrawal
of Major General Allen's command
from Germany, discussed the adminis
tration’s action, and the activities of I
Mr. Boyden abroad during a speech on
his resolution looking to the purchase
by the United States of British and
French possession in the West Indies.
While the advisability of continuing
to have Mr. Boyden on hand at delib
erations of the reparation commission
was being discussed in the senate, the
text of his remarks yesterday before
the commission in which he expressed
disapproval of the French intentions of
holding Germany in default on coal
deliveries, were received at the state
department, which declined to make it
public.
In the senate, however, the policy
of the French was not criticised, Sen
ator Reed declaring he did not wish to
do so because he was not, informed as
tx> details and betrahse "British propa
ganda is being spread in American
newspapers.” Senators generally ex
pressed approval of the administra
tion’s decision to withdraw all Ameri
can troops from the occupied zone in
Germany.
What effect the recall of the Ameri
can contingent would have on the pro
posal before the senate foreign rela
tions committee for official American
representation on the reparations com- j
mission was not indicated by leaders.
Advocates' of the resolution of Senator
Robinson, Democrat. Arkansas, had
urged that there should-be official rep
resentation if the American troops
were held abroad Jo help enforce de
crees of the reparations body.
Senator Robinson made no comment
on the situation. He is waiting the
memorandum being prepared by the
state department for the relations com
missions here relating to the activities
of the unofficial Boyden commission.
Submarine Disabled
Off Cape Hatteras
WASHINGTON, Jan. 10.—The subma
rine S-19 was reported disabled tonight
off Cape Hatteras In a wireless mes
sage received at the naval communica
tions office here. The message, which
did not give details, said there had
been a fire in the engine room, and
that the U. S. S. Savannah and U. S. S.
Bushnell were proceeding to the aid
of the craft, which was en route from
New London, Conn., to the West In
dies.
The message indicated that the S-19
was not in danger. No information
was given, .howeevr, as to the extent
of damage or whether there were any
casualties. The Savanah and Bushnell
were said to be in the vicinity of the
submarine.
High Point Man Badly
Handled by Masked Mob
THOMASVILLE, Jan. 10— R. E. Zim
merman, High Point automobile truck
dealer, but formerly in business here,
was taken from the back yard of the
home of "Mrs. H. G. Strayhorn, a promi
nent woman of this place, and severely
beaten about the head and body by a
band of five masked men shortly after
7 o'clock tonight.
Following the beating, Zimmerman
was taken to the outskirts of the town
and told, it is alleged, never to visit
the Strayhorn premises or the town of
Thomasville again. Zimmerman was
caught by the masked men just as he
stepped from his automobile after driv
ing into the .yard at the Strayhorn
home. Zimmerman formerly lived, at
the Strayhorn home and was a frequent
visitor there.
Testimony Opens in
Condemnation Suits
MURPHY, Jan. 10.—Testimony is be
ing presented by the Carolina-Tennes
see Power company In the land con
demnation suits being' heard by Judge
p. A. McElroy, brought against the
Hiawassee Power company, and present
Indications are that at least ten days
will be required to complete the hear
ing. with the latter company scheduled
to begin lta testimony during the next
few days.
Bellamy and Harris, of Wake,
Will Present the Measure in
the Senate; Bill is Made
* Public
COMMISSION OF NINE
MEN IS PROVIDED
Will Investigate Feasibility of ~
the Whole Proposition and
Report Its Recommendations
to the Governor and Council
of State; Term of Office Bc
gins April 1 With First Meet
ing to be Held by-the 15th;
Speedy Passage in the Senate
is Predicted; Morrison’s Ad
dress conserted Many
Star’s Xem Bureau
312 Tucker Building
By BROCK BARKLEY
RALEIGH, Jan. 10.—Governor Morri
son’s ship line bill will start on Its
journey through the general assembly
tomorrow, when Senator Harris, of
Wake, and Senator Bellamy, of New
Hanover, introduce it jointly in the
senate. Senator Harris Is .chairman of
the special "water commerce commit
tee," created in the senate to handle the
ship bill, and Senator Bellamy is a
member of it.
The measure carries out the idea of
Governor Morrison as presented to the
general assembly in his message yes
terday. It provides for the appoint
ment of a commission of nine men who
shall investigate the feasibility and
practicability of the project, the cost of
purchasing suitable and adequate
boats, the practicability of procuring
through purchase, rental or lease
wharves and other landing places with
in the state and at ports outside the
state, and a reasonable estimate as to
the earnings of the lines to be oper
ated.
Finding; impractical. the commission
will'so report to the governor and
council of state, who shall approve the
commission’s plan for establishing and
operating the lines. The bill provides
for a two million dollar bond issue for
use if the project is undertaken. Five
thousand dollars is provided to cover
expenses of the commission’s prelim
inary investigation. Thp commission'3
term of office begins April 1, 1923.
Attorney General Manning prepared
the measure and he declares it consti
tutionally O.K. and covering fully the
plan for launching and conducting the
big enterprise.
Champions of the measure in tho
senate will be numerous and its suc
cessful passage through this body Is
considered definite. Besides Senators
Harris and Bellamy, the measure will
draw leading support from Senators
Delaney, of Mecklenburg and Varser,
of Robeson, it is understood. The com
mittee to handle it has 18 members.
The house rules committee, through
Chairman Burgwyn, today announced
the creation of a "water commerce
committee” in that body, especially to
handle the ship proposal. Speaker
Dawson will name the committee at
once.
Representative W. M. Sanders, of
Smithfield, one of the biggest business
men of eastern Carolina, will likely be
the chairman of this committee. Re
ported organized opposition to the bill
in the house will not materialize, It
was declared in well informed circles
this afternoon. The governor’s mes
sage yesterday converted many who
had opposed it, and indications now
point to comparatively easy sailing for
it In this body.
While Governor Morrison, in h!s mes
sage yesterday, used the term “ship and
port commission,” the terminology is
changed In the bill to read “ship and
water transportation commission.”
The measure is entitled "An act to
create the state ship and water trans
portation commission and to provide
for the issuance of state bonds for such
purpose,” and the text omitting these
sections containing the usual legal
phraseology concerning the form of is
suance of bonds, follows:
Whereas, in order to further pro
mote the public welfare; to provide
cheaper transportation to the markets
Within and without the state of pro
ducts of farms, the forests, mines and
factories of state, and to effect cheaper
transportation for commodities pur
chased by the people of state, both
within and without the state, it is
deemed advisable to use fully the navi
gable rivers, sounds, and other bodies
of water within boundaries of state;
now, therefore.
The general assembly of Noorth Car
olina do enact:
That a state and water transporta
tion commission Is hereby created to
consist of nine members, who shall
be appointed by the governor and con
firmed by the senate, and who shall be
known as the State Ship and Water
Transportation commission. Three of
said commissioners shall be appointed
for a term of two years from April 1,
1923, three for a term of four years
from said date and three for a term of
six years from said date, and shall be
so designated by the governor In his
message to the senate appointing them;
provided, that any commissioner ap
pointed under this act may be removed
by the governor for cause. In the case
of death, resignation, removal by the
governor for cause, or mental disa
bility of any commissioner during his
term of office his successor shall be
appointed by the governor to fill out
his unexpired term, and such appoint
ments shall be reported to the next
session of the senate for its action. If
the senate shall refuse to confirm any
appointee of the governor, then it shall
(Continued on Page Six.)