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I I TUB STATE. X
VOL. LXVIL NO. 101.
WILMINGTON, N. C, SUNDAY, JANUARY 20, 1901.
WHOLE NO. 10,428
h . n
7 f 1
I HE
Star
OUTLINES.
Lesident McKinley is steadily re
L: t.nm hi recent sickness.
Ti .-. t tmt the British
lernment will return the amended
Pauncefote treaty with amena-
- The Naval
ropriation bill, as reported to the
,e, carries $77,016,635. .The
Ltu Hprttl the greater pari or
EW 11 w v-w B -
Urday to eulogies upon the late
ttor Gear of lowa. ioic
r,. frnm tobacco erowing States
fthe Senate Committee on Finance
l A
iducethetax on tobacco to eigui.
nnnnil. Relations between
irTr,it states and Venezuela have
V:- A disDatch from
fes. Isle of Wight, at midnight,
Queen Victoria was striCKen who
lysis and .lying at death's door;
p,inr of Wales has practically
lined the regency. Germany
offer no obstacle to .Ktitsia seiz
Manchuria. Gen. Lee s birth-
DTODriately observed yes-
hy in many Southern cities.
four-masted schooner ashore near
es. Dal, is the Wm. J. Lipsett.
Nw York markets: Money on
easier at lb per cent ; cotton dull;
j-m 1
ling uplands 10c; nour nominal
nrnalr- wheat SDOt dull : No. 2
pc; corn spot steady; No. 2, 47c:
dull; strained common to goou
; spirits turpentine dull at .40
WEATHER REPORT
DEP'TOB" A.GRICULTCRE, .
weather Bureau,
Wilmington, N. O., Jan. 19. )
mp-jratures: 3 A. AL, 29 degrees;
M., 40 degrees; maximum, 48 de
ls; minimum, 27 degrees; mean, 33
tees.
infill for the day, ; rainfall
1st of the montlv up to date, 1 30
es. A
age of water in tsCap9 Fear river
'ayetteville, N. Q, at 8 A. M , 12.2
FORECAST FOR TO-DAY.
jFashixgton. Jan. 19. For North.
folina: Fair Sunday; warmer in
ern portion; diminishing north
terly winds, becoming southerly;
nday, probably rain.
Port Almanac-- January 20.
Rises 7.03 A.M.
Sets 5.15 P.M.
's Length 10 H. 07 iL
& Water at Southpj-i.79 P. M.
fb Water Wilmfcr b"7 u.JteP. M.
he detectives have come to the
elusion that Pat Crowe is also a
ratory bird, and are hunting for
in in .Louisiana.
iThe town of Warren, Ohio, came
kr having s colored inceneration a
Vr days ago when an angry crowd
fire -to the jail to burn a negro
o had beaten a white boy.
iVilliam Woolsey, of Hartford
jinty, Maryland, departed some
lat from the usual order in mak-
bis will. He left 553,000 to be
Id for the improvement of tho
Ids in that county.
A. Massachusetts horse thief who
a served fifteen years in the peni-
ptiary, and got out to enjoy a for
te of 15,000 which he inherited,
pldn't resist the force of habit and
nt to horse-stealing again.
rThe kisser3 and huggers come to
ef occasionally. " A few days ago
tis3 snatcher out west was jabbed
the arm by a girl with a hat pin,
kl died, and a few nights ago a
low in .New xoric who unaertooK
hug all the girls at a party, struck
e kicker who snatched a table
ife, jabbed it in Whim, and he died.
You couldn't persuade Milton
Combs, of Sharon, Pa., that
fere is nothing in dreams. He
nt to the Klondike a couple of
rs ago and pegged away without
king more than enone-h to buv
" j
hash. Then he went' to dream
, DreamM where he could grab
nuggets, went there, grabbed
jhile and then sold hi3 stake for
p.000 cash, and like a sensible
ow came home.
There now in Asheville two Texas
Ins, visiting relatives. They stand
feet three inches in height, are
lit in proportion and are still
wing a3 they are only 19 years
lhere are thirtebn children
the family and the dwraf of the
hily measures six feet. Their
ents are North Carolinians who
ked to Texas, where all the chil-
n were born. This shows what
tth Carolina stock can do when
las plenty of room to elongate.
O. Armour, who has taken
management of the business
be hi3 father's death, contradicts
eport that he i3 goiug to with-
w from business and devote him-
f to society. He iys when ha
3 readv to r)ATnt$.;monir
J . , . fcninocn bU
ething besides business, it will
It be "society " on wbih ii
more stuck than his sire was. A
to with as many millions as J. 0. can
te ms name for wouldn't have to
much devoting to become a king
in society.
PERSONAL PARAGRAPHS.
Mrs. J. Kohn and son arrived
yesterday from Atlanta.
'Ticket Agent J. D. Edwards,
of the A. C. L., is on the . sick list.
Franklin McNeill, Esq., and
wife returned last night from Raleigh.
Mr. C. E. Gause arrived in the
city last night on his way to SouthporL
Miss Sadie Sloan has returned
to the city after a visit to friends at
Garland, N. C. 4
Mr. F. J. Dempsey of Acorn
Branch, was a pleasant caller at the
Star office yesterday.
The Stab is glad to announce
the rapid convalescence of Rev. P. C.
Morton, and that he will fill his ap
pointments to-day as usual.
LOCAL DOTS.
A white prisoner named Rod
erick, who escaped from the county
chain gang some time ago, was cap
tured last night by Constable Sheehan
and remanded to jail.
The morning service at St.
Paul's Episcopal Church to day will
be conducted by Rt. Rev. Bishop A.
A. Watson; the evening seryice at
7.45 P. M. by Rav. F. H. T. Hors
field. NEW ADVERTISEMENTS.
Myers & Co. For sale.
N. F. Parker Look in.
S. P. McNair Seed potatoes.
Geo. O. Gay lord New goods.
A. Mavronichols Fancy fruit.
Masonic Meeting Concord Chapter.
D. L. Gore Co. Fox River butter.
VonGlahn & Gibson Silk worms.
A. D.Brown Spring goods arriving.
J. H. Rehder & Co. Walking hats.
BUSINESS LOCALS.
Wanted Cotton sails.
P. EL Hay den Buggies, wagons.
Notice Positions under government
k BOY ACCIDENTALLY SHOT.
Harry Keen Received a Ballet la His Side
at Wrlghtsvllle Yesterday.
Harry Keen, the twelve-year-old son
of Mr. John T. Keen, who resides at
No. 715 Grace street, was accidentally
shot about 5 o'clock yesterday after
noon on Wrightsville Sound by Clar
ence Craft, son of Mr. T. C. Craft.
Young Craft was trying to load a 33
calibre pistol when it went off, the ball
entering Harry Keen's right side just
above the hip. The wound is not
considered dangerous.
Six young boys Harry Keen, Clar
ence Craft,. Harry Stanland, Sam Pen
ny, Will Dunham and Walter Wood
cock whose ages range rom eleven
to fifteen years, went to the Sound
yesterday afternoon in a surry. The
boys were standing on the gangway in
front of the Atlantic View Hotel when
Clarence Craft tried to load a pistol
which he claims to have found, and it
went off, the ball entering the side of
young Keen, who was standing a few
steps away.
Capt. Oscar Grant was near by at the
time of the accident and brought the
wounded boy up to the city on a
special train over the .Seacoast road.
Dr. T. S. Burbankwas notified by tele
phone and met the train at the station.
The boy was taken home and his
wound Pressed. The physician didn't
probe for the bullet but said be
thought it was only a flesh wound.
The young fellow was doing very
nicely last night. The other boys
drove back to Wilmington in post
haste, all more or less frightened.
This is"Chirity Sunday."
The Stab is asked to remind its
readers that to-day will be observed,
it is hoped, in all the city churches as
"Charity Sunday." It is expected that
a collection will be taken at all the
services to-day for the "Associated
Charities," the great work of which in
stitution is so well- known throughout
the entire length and breadth of Wil
mington. Crescent Stock company.
Patrons of the theatre are reminded
that on to-morrow eyening the Cres
cent Stock Company will begin its
Southern tour with a week's engage
ment at the Opera House here. The
cast is one of the very best that has
visited here this season in a popular
priced attraction, and the plays are all
new, bright and admirably interpreted.
The prices are 10, 20 and SO cents.
Daughters of the Confederacy.
Cape Fear Chapter, Daughters of the
Confederacy, will hold its regular an
nual meeting at 3.30 o'clock Tuesday
afternoon at the W. L. I. armory.
The annual dues will be collected at
the meeting. The president expects to
receive written reports from the vari
ous committees and it is urged that
every member who can possibly do so,
be present
Schooner Wm- P. Campbell.
The schooner Wm. F. Campbell,
Capt. Strout, which has been coming
to this port regularly for the past seven
years and which arrived several days
since from Porto Rico, has been mak
ing some remarkably good time since
she left here last The schooner sailed
from Boston to Porto Rico with a cargo
of lumber and then arrived at this port
within 33 days.
Mrs. Meares' Tribute Yesterday. -
Therewere many moist eyes in the
Opera House yesterday when Mrs.
Gaston' Meares read her touching
tribute to the Confederate veterans.
rears, (die tears; I know not waat they mean.
Tears from the depths of some drrlne despair.
Bias from the heart and gather in the eyes.
When th-HUng of the day that are no more,"
94TH ANNIVERSARY.
The Birthday of qen. Robt. E.
Lee Splendidly Celebrated in
Wilmington Yesterday.
ORATION BY E. S. MARTIN, ESQ
Mrs. Qaston Meares, in an Admirably
Written Address, Presented Crosses
of Honor to Veterans The
Military Parade.
Ail the conditions yesterday were
highly favorably to an auspicious
celebration of the ninety-fourth anni
versary of the birthday of General
Robert E. Lee and it is safe to say that
never before was the occasion more
generally observed in Wilmington or
was there manifested such a commend
able sentiment among its people to do
honor to the Confederacy's beloved
hero, than on yesterday when the
streets were lined with people to wit
ness the long and imposing military
parade in honor of the event and when
the Opera House was filled to over
flowing with military and civilians to
reverently do homage to the one, who
among all others, lis worshiped as the
idol of the Southland.
The parade formed at 3 o'clock in
front of the Wilmington Light Infan
try armory and the line of march was
identical with that given in yester
day's Stab. It was in charge of Capt.
James I. Metts, chief marshal, with his
aides, Messrs. C. McD. Davis, George
P. James and D. D. Barber. The
order observed was also practically the
same, as follows :
Platoon of four policemen. Messrs.
C. E. Wood. J. J. Moore. W. H Bar
den, and E. L. Smith.
Drum corps, consisting of Messrs.
Will Rehder, Frank Turrentine and
W. L. BurKhimer.
Third North Carolina Infantry As
sociation, with twelve men, com
manded by (Jot. Wm. U. DeKosset.
Cape Fear Camp No. 254. United
Confederate Veterans, with 52 men in
ranks, commanded by Col. F. W.
Kerch ner.
George Davis Camp No. 50. United
Sons of Confederate Veterans, with 23
in ranks, commanded by Col. Walker
Taylor.
Wilmington Light Infantry, with
2i men in frank, commanded by Capt.
Alex. P. Adrian.
Wilmington Division, Naval Re
serves, with 20 men in ranks, com
manded by Lieutenant A. B. Skelding.
First Battalion, Boys .Brigade or
America, with 24 men, commanded by
First Lieu ten aut James A. Price.
Howell's Military Academy cadets,
with 20 in ranks, commanded by Capt
II. M. Durant
The exercises at the Opera House
commenced with a very fervent prayer
by Rt Rev. Bishop A. A. Watson,
who was introduced by Capt Metts as
one ever in the thickest of the fight,
administering to. the sick and wounded
things earthly and spiritual.
Eugene S. Martin, Eiq.t the orator
of the day, was also presented by
Capt Metts as one among the first to
volunteer for service at Fort Caswell
in 1861 and as a soldier and scholar of
distinction. The address by Mr. Mar
tin was, in the 'main, historical and
full of pretty thought and interesting
reminiscences for those who followed
the intrepid and great and good leader,
General Lee. He closed with a splen
did eulogy of Lee's life and character
and was given a round of hearty
cheers.
Capt Metts next read the famous
"Farewell Address" of General Lee, so
familiar to students of Southern his
tory. It was listened to eagerly and
the final words were greeted with feel
ing applause.
Mrs. Gaston Meares, who was chosen
by Cape Fear Chapter, Daughters of
the Confederacy, to present to the
veterans, the Crosses of Honor, was
presented by Capt Metts as a true
daughter of the Confederacy and the
widow of as fine an officer and as gal
lant a soldier as ever marched to taps
of a drum.
Mrs. Meares read in an impressive
and dramatic manner her address as
follows: '
Veterans and heroes of our war for
Southern independence;
In the name of the Cape Fear Daugh
ters of the Confederacy, I bid you wel
come on this our Confederate holiday
the birthday of Robert E. Lee:
Just forty years ago our quiet land
was stirred by a great uprising of its
people. The tyranny of might had
forced upon us an unnatural and un
welcome war. Submission had ceased
to be a virtue, and at the call of their
sovereign States, from every section
of the South there poured a mighty
host of men going forth to meet the
foe. Saying good-bye to peaceful
homes and all else that men held dear,
thy set their faces to the front and
never faltered; going out, they knew
not whither, but trustful and strong in
the rightousness of the cause for
which they were to fight
Four years later, with hearts quiver
ing with woe and eyes blinded with
tears, we saw the broken remnants of
that great army coming back in strag
gling squads, to ruined and desolated
homes. Scarred and maimed by battle
wounds, hungry and sick and destitute,
branded with the crue'ties of prison
life, their hearts crushed and bleeding,
the "Bonnie Blue Flag" trailing in the
dust of conquest, our noble President
in hopeless captivity, with kidgly dig
nity wearing for his people a felon's
chains in a prison cell.
Ah I those days of bitter anguish
Can they ever be forgotten? Can we
wonder that , our people's hopes were
dead?
The memories of the golden deeds of
those four heroic years were all that
was left to us; and while you men,
with greater heroism than even war
had called forth, took up again the
battle of life's duties and fought it out
to glorious success, we women gath
ered up those memories, enshrined in
our hearts, gloried in our heroes,
treasured as a sacred trust the noble
army of martyrs who never came
back to us; and still with unswerving
devotion to the cause for which they
fought, we honor all who followed the
banner of the Southern Croat till it
was furled forever. (Applause.)
Let me show you a memento of those
times you well remember. I have here
a pair of silver cuff buttons mounted
on a card for preservation and thus
inscribed: "These buttons were made
from the two identical silver quarters
paid to a Confederate soldier at the
Goal distribution of specie, just prior
to' the surrender of General Joseph E.
Johnston at Durham. N. C. in 1865.
They represent four years hard
earned pay to a weather beaten 'Con-
fed.' who had them decorated with
the colors he fought under." Ah,
what a tale they tell ! Such was your
guerdon and reward, but 'twas all
your country had left to give. Ap
plause. And there is another (pointing to a
tattered old flag full of bullet holes)
a pitiful relic, but we "treat it gent
ly for 'tis holy" 'tis the tattered frag
ment of the once beautiful flag of the
Third North Carolina regiment of
StateJTroops. That was one of our own
home regiments the one I knew
most about in which I had great per
sonal interest. Its officers, some cf
whom had been members of the old
Wilmington Light Infantry, were all
meuQpf the "Free City on the Cape
Fearr' Its companies wre recruited
from New Hanover and neighboring
counties. It was a gallant band and
we were very proud of it, and it is
something now for me to tell my
grandsons (and they are "Sons of the
Vet- rans" too) how I took their fath
ers, little boys then, and went with
too Third to Virginia.
J ust too late for the first Manassas,
but reaching Richmond iu time to hear
that the cannon were booming in the
distance, while we waited with baled
breath for the hourly dispatches from
t; e battle. Those were the early days
the halcyon days of hops! and when
the news came of Beauregard a hrst
great victory for the South it was
hailed with joy and acclamation, and
we hoped the happy end was near at
hand. But, sad omen of sadder days
to come, the glad news was dashed
with the inevitable war note of sor
row, for Bee and Bartow had fallen in
the strife and hundreds of the men
who wore the grey lay dead upon the
battlefield ! ,
The Winter followed, and with the
early Summer came the advance on
Richmond, and the seven days fight
for its defence, and when the sun set
upon that fatal field of Malvern Hill
the light of many of our hearts and
homes was1 quenched in a horror of
great darkness, for Virginia's soil was
watered with the precious blood of
many of Carolina's noble sons.
The years rolled on. Chancellors
ville and the Wilderness, Sharpsburg
and Gettysburg, and scores of others
wrote in letters of blood their stories
of unrivalled bravery and heroism, of
victory and sometimes of defeat, but
never of cowardice or treachery.
At last the scene shifted to our own
North Carolina coast Fort Fisher,
our watchful sentinel upon our out
posts the fortress we bad deemed im
pregnableadded Us chapter of superb
defence and final fall and the gates of
Confederate supplies were closed.
The end soon followed at Appomat
tox when Lee, our &n immortal Lee,
surrendered to overwhelming forces
his good sword stainless as his own
pure sol unsullied as his own bright
honor !
Our peerless Lee ! My friends you
bore an honorable part in the making
of that wonderful story of the Southern
Confederacy, and for that we owe you
a debt of gratitude and are proud to do
you honor
Flashing across the pale of history
like a meteor athwart the sky, but
glorious as the splendor of the noon
tidesurJl too soon the young repub
lic went own in the darknes of disap
pointmeul nd defeat. The Sun of
Peace ind never risen upon its moun
tain top, its fertile valleys could
never laugh and sing with fruitful
harvests, for there were none to till
the land. FDm first to last the men
were at the front, fighting for "their
homes, their altars and their sacred
rights" for the freedom they could
not win 1 (Applause.)
But "in eong and story it will go
sounding down the ages" as one of the
greatest war records the world has
ever known. Unequalled and unique in
many respects during its brief continu
ance, the story of the Confederacy
would not be complete without its epi
logue for it stands alone in the
world's annals for the loyalty and de
votion which after nearly half a cen
tury of humiliation and subjection of
injustice and insult, still flow in the
heart of every true son and daughter
of the South. (Applause.)
Can any other country tell of a band
of conquered soldiers so tenderly be
loved and cherished by the people for
whom they foaght and failed? Other
nations have had their conquering he
roes and welcomed them with trium
phal processions and built their tem
ples to victorjk; but our monuments are
inscribed only to "The Confederate
Dead" bur processions are the yearly
pilgrimage, of Memorial Day to the
thousands of sacred spots that dot the
land, where rest the braves who fought
a goodlght, and gave their lives for
the cause that was lostl TApplause.
Ah, dearly do we love the cold, dead
hands that bore the banner of the Stars
and Bars aloft conquered indeed it
was, but stained never, save by their
own life blood.
And no less do we love to honor the
battle-scarred veterans who are with us
to-day; sole representatives of the glo
ries and the sorrow of the dead past.
I regard it as a crowning honor of
my long life that the Cape Fear Chap
ter of the United Daughters of the Con
federacy have chosen rne their rep
resentative to bestow npon you this
Southern Cross of Honor. Simple
bronze badges they are unostentatious
and of little intrinsic value but wor
thy of your acceptance, and a fit inher
itance for your children's children, as
symbols of Confederate endurance and
valor and as tokens of woman's undy
ing appreciation of all that is grand
and:heroic in men who. great in action,
have proved themselves greater in de
feat Wear then these badges proudly
on your breast as gifts of the women
of the South who are proud to be called
"Daughters of the Confederacy."
Soon life's long warfare will be ende d
and with yourkown Stonewall, the good
and great, you too - must "cross the
river and rest under the shade of the
trees." When the last revielle shall
wake you from that sleep, may each
one of you find an immortal crown of
true victory awaiting him in the sweet
and blessed country of everlasting
peace!
God bless you all. Amen.
.Upon the conclusion of Mrs. Meares
beautiful presentation, Captain Metts
stated that it was deeply regretted that
Col. Jno. D. Taylor was confined to
his home by illness and would not be
able to respond in person to the grace
f ul act upon the part of the ladies, but
that he would ask Col. W. J. Wood
ward to read his manuscript: Col.
Taylor referred in highest terms to the
courage and devotion of the noble wo
men of the Southland; their part in
the great conflict between the States,
and their assistance to the men re
turning from the battlefield with shat
-1.
tered hopes and fortunes. It closed
with grateful thanks for the tokens of
appreciation presented and invoked
theblessing of God upon each of
the ladies.
After the reading Capt Metts read
a partial list of names of those entitled
to wear crosses and they were invited
to the stage, where a cross was pinned
upon each by Mrs. Meares, Mrs. J. J;
Hedrick, Mrs. W. M. Parsley, Miss
Mary Sanders and Mrs. C. E. Steven
son, who had seats on the rostrum,
which was beautifully decorated with
United States and Confederate flags
and relics of the Ciyil war.
After these exercises the entire as
semblage, led by Col. Woodward,
sang "Carolina" with great spirit and
enthusiasm. By request, when the
singing of "Carolina" was concluded,
Capt Metts sang "I'm A Good Old
Rebel" amid much applause and feel
ing.
After these exercises the military;
Veterans and Sons of Veterans and
other organizations repaired to the City
Hall, where a splendid collation was
served by the ladies of Cape Fear Chap
ter, Daughters of the Confederacy.
The hall was beautifully decorated with
flags, bunting and evergreens and the
scene was indeed a pretty one. The
following committees had charge of
the affair and performed their duties
with signal ability, as attested by the
success of the occasion :
Refreshments Mrs. W. L. Har
low, (chairman), Mrs. Owens, Mrs.
T. E. Sprunt Mrs. W. G. Pulliam,
Mrs. J. W. Carmichael, and Mrs. Hi
G. Smallbbnes.
Decoration Committee Mrs. W. L.
Parsley, (chairman,) Mrs. J.T. Rankin,
Mrs. Jas. Carmichael,' Mrs. Jno. C.
James, Mrs. R. D. Cronly, and Miss
Belle Anderson.
Table Committee Mrs. Gabriel
Holmes (chairman,) Mrs. D. H. Lip-
pitt, Mrs. James F. Woolvin, Mrs. D.
O'Connor, Miss Mary Calder and Miss
Sarah Kenan.
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, i
Both Houses Adjourned Early in Honor of
Qen. Lee's Birthday A Number of .
Bills Passed Third Reading.
Special Star Telegram.
Raleigh, N. C, Jan. 19. The Gen
eral Assembly adjourned early to-day
in honor of Lee's birthday. Neither
branch was in session more than an
hour. The resolution for the Senate
recess was presented by Mr. Morton,
of New Hanover. .
A number of bills passed a third
reading. Among them the following:
For the relief of the Clerk of Court of
Robeson county ; to allow commission
ers of Wilson to issue fifteen thousand
dollars in bonds and levy a special tax ;
resolution inviting Dr. J. L. M. Curry
to address the joint session. Senator
Gudger voted against the invitation to
Dr. Curry. He said Dr. Curry lob
bied in Congress against the seating
of Crawford and favored Pearson in
the contest from his district.
On motion of Senator Foushee, two
hundred copies of Brown's anti cigar
ette bill were ordered printed.
Notable bills introduced in the
House : By Carlton, ! to incorporate
Rose Hill ; Thompson, ; to protect deer
in Onslow county; Thompson, to
amend charter of the Onslow Navi
gation Company ; McNeill, to prohibit
the sale of liquors near the Baptist
church, Brunswick county ; McNeill,
to allow the commissioners of Bruns
wick to levy a special tax.
Bill passed final reading to provide
pay for a stenographer to the joint
Committee on Public Roads.
A resolution was introduced by Mr.
Connor to provide for a joint session,
February 1st, for the election of a
State Librarian. :
The Assembly reconvenes Monday
at noon. j
Public Schools.
The State Association of Superinten
dents of City Schools met in session
here yesterday, and to-day elected the
following officers for the ensuing
year: President, J. I. Foushee, Golds
boro; Vice President, J. A. Matheson,
Durham; Secretary, W. O. Lane, High
Point The attendance was large and
the meeting was the most successful in
the history of the Association. The
feature of the programme to-day
was an address by Prof. J. J. Blair, of
Wilmington, on plans for school room
decoration.
Electrical Wire Workers.
Local Union No. 123, International
Brotherhood of Electrical Wire Work
ers, with a charter membership of
twenty persons, was organized here
last night in the Mayor's office at the
City Hall by Mr. E. C. Yarbrough, of
Lceal Union No. 84, Danville, Va.
The following officers were elected for
the ensuing term: J
President E. B. Burkhimer.
Vice President W. B. Savage,
Recording Secretary, Financial Sec-;
retary and Press Secretary Jno. T.
Yates I
Treasurer E. C. Yarbrough.
Inspectors R. S. Hughes and J. A.
Kelley.
Foreman J. W, Reilly, Jr.
Trustees E. B. Burkhimer, D. B.
Holland and W. A Lawrence.
The new organization starts off well.
Its object is mutual assistance to mem
bers, and has accident, sick and death
benefit features. It in no way tends
to nromulsrate anything but the sand
est relations between employer and
employe, and the new order in this
light eminently deserves to succeed
New Hanover Superior Court.
The January term of New Hanover
Superior Court, Judge W. A. Hoke
presiding, will be convened ;to-mor
row morning at 10 o'clock. The suits
for trial on th opening day are Mrs.
J. R. Strauss, executrix, vs. City of
Wilmington, and Laura G. Hales vs.
J. W. llarper. ; - U
BACK TAX MATTERS.
City Attorney Meares Has Pre
pared Very Comprehensive
Annual Report.
FIGURES ARE INTERESTING.
Pronounced Views and an Able Exposi
tion as to Listing of Personal Property-Review
of His Work Dur
ing Present Administration
City Attorney Iredell Meares yes- I
terday finished his annual report for
iccarporation in the forthcoming mes
sage, which will be issued by Mayor
Waddell. The Star cannot publish
the entire report, but gives below such
information contained therein as re
lates to tax matters, with which his
branch of the city government has so
much to do. The report i3 as follows :
To the Mayor and Board of Aldermen:
Gentlemen I have the honor to
submit my report of the conduct of
the City Attorney's office from the
first day of April, 1899, the com
mencement of the term of the present
incumbent, to December 31, 1900,
both dates inclusive.
The City Attorney has attended the
meetings of the Board of Aldermen, as
required by the Ordinance, and ad
vised when called upon the city om-
cials with relation to official business.
The drafting and execution of the va
rious contracts from year to year have
been under the supervision of this
office. Appended to this report will
be found a series of statements show
ing the civil actions, State prosecu
tions, and tax suits, pending and dis
posed of, as well as statements show
ing the collection of back taxes and the
present condition and value of the tax
books.
Tax Suits. On taking charge of the
for ciiita nandinw in thft flnnainnv
Court, it Vas ascertained that there
were 66 cases of that character on the
docket These suits had been insti
tuted chiefly in 1896 and in 1897; some
few in 1898. In the 66 cases pending,
instituted by former city attorneys.
complaints had been filed in only five
cases, in two of which judgments had
been taken. Four of these are now
pending. It became necessary to non
suit many of these cases, because, in
some, service had not been obtained on
the defendants, in others, proper par
ties were wanting, and, in a few, the
tax appeared on the books as having
been settled. Perhaps, in these cases
so settled, counsel had overlooked non
suiting them. In straightening out
these old cases, a number of orders had
to be obtained to issue alias summonses
and to join new parties as defendants.
The present City Attorney has filed in
these cases ii complaints, and has non
suited 15, for different ajauses, and 19,
because the tax had 2eeu paid either to
him or the former city attorneys. He
has instituted 40 new cases in which
the complaints have been filed in all
except one. Of these new cases 19
have been non suited or retraxit en
tered, because of the settlement of the
tax. Statement ''A" will show in de
tail that within this term 53 tax suits
have been disposed of in the Superior
Court; 38 because the tax was settled,
and 15 for other causes.
It will be seen from Statement "B"
that theJe are jow pending in, the
Superior Court firy three cases for the
collection of back . taxes. Of these
suits, twenty-four are in judgment;
twenty-nine are at issue; judgment not
having yet been obtained. Complaints
are filed in all of them except eight
The amount involved in thes9 suits
will be seen to represent $10,882 36.
Many of them are in course of settle
ment These tax suits cannot be brought
properly without first examining in
each case the title, in order to get the
description of the property and the
proper owners. Each of them involves
considerable professional labor, both
in the examination of title, and in the
drafting of the complaints. It has
necessitated the employment, at the
City Attorney's own expense, both of
clerical and professional assistance,
but the status of these suits is at present
in a satisfactory condition.
Statement of Back Taxes Collected
It will be seen from Statement "F"
that the present City Attorney has
collected since April 1st 1899, to De
cember 31st 19,00, $23,743.63, of which
$21,354 13 represent the actual tax col
lected and $2,388. 5C represent the costs
and interest collected.
Value of Tax-Books. In order to
ascertain the present worth of the
back taxes due to the city of Wil
mington, the City Attorney has pre
pared, with the assistance of his asso
ciate and an intelligent accountant,
the statement appended and marked
"G." It will be seen from this state
ment that the nominal value of the
tax-books for the years prior to 1900 in
$154,131.23. The uncollected personal
and poll tax for the years 1894 to
1899. txsvh inclusive, amounts to $9,
796.11, which two items aggregate and
represent an uncollectable tax on
these books of $73,376.91. Taking
from the nominal value of the tax
books the estimated uncollectable tax,
leaves a balance due this city on De
cember 31, 1900, of $80,752.32, which
it is believed fairly represent
the present worth and collectable
value of these back taxes. These
estimates do not include the tax books
for 1900, which are regarded as the
current tax books and are not at
present in the hands of the City At
torney. Taking the estimated uncol
lectable tax, as above given, which
includes the years from 1Z7V to 189a,
both inclusive, it will be seen that
there has been an average loss to the
citv in the collection of taxes of
$2 445.06 for each year.
Remarks There is a great deal of
sentimentality attempted to be aroused
in this city over the collection of these
back taxes. My observation is mat
the ereat bulk of the back taxes here
tofore collected has been largely col
lected from people, who could have
paid their tax at the proper time, but
who were indifferent to it, and after a
long delay were disposed to resist their
collection. The smaller tax payers,
even when "much behind with their
taxes, show a disposition to pay in
smallpayments. The city has certainly
been negligent in not enforcing the
collection of taxes in the past It
ought to be pursued with the utmost
vigor. It is easier for the average man
to pay his taxes when due than to
abide the consequences of a long de
lay. Appreciating always the diffi
culty that men nave to meet their tax
obligations and having for those who
have gotten behind in this duty the ut
most sympathy, I think, nevertheless,
that the in just wrought even upon
the small tax payer, who does pay his
tax oftentimes with a struggle.
is overlooked in the indulgence
of the non-taxpayer. Every man
who does not pay his tax simply
imposes upon mis fellow, citizens
an additional burden to bear. There
ought, too, to be a more vigorous'
policy pursued in the collection of per
sonal tax. Every citizen ought tolbe
made to realize, if his poll tax or per
sonal tax is not paid, his personal prop
erty will be levied upon and sold.
These books show thousands of dol
lars that have been lost to the city i by
men, eminently able to have paid their
personal tax, simply by the negligence
of psst city officials in indulging them.
lhe poll tax to-day shows numbers
of people in this city who though they
have not personal property, have yet
sufficient income to well meet at least
their poll tax. It is not alone the poor
laborer, who does not pay his poll tax.
but it is evaded often by a class; of
men who are holding clerical or pro
fessional positions, though having little
personal property. j
As to Personal Property. An ex
perience of two years, involving; an
intelligent study, of the tax-books of
this city, convinces me that by proper
action upon the part of the city
officials, with efficient machinery, a
large amount of personal property,
which now evades the payment of
taxes, could be placed upon the pro
perty list, -with the result of a reduc
tion in the tax rate of at least -a half
of one per cent, or to a one and a quar
ter rate. I am well aware that a per
fect system of taxation will be reached
only when the millenium of honesty
is attained. One who examines the
tax books of this city will find nbt a
condition of inequality, but an omis
sion of men to list their property at
even a minimum value. Whether!
through the Board , of Equal
ization, as provided in the recent re-;
draft of the city charter, or whether
under the direction of your Board of!
Aldermen, the publication annually of
the personal tax lkt of this city would!
lead to a laree increase given in of per-)
sonal taxable propey. This publicity
will accomplisn two results: (1) Mens
who now list improperly or fail to list!
their property, because they think'that;
their neighors generally do not know;
the amount, when they find that the;
list is to be published, so it may bej
called to the attention of their families,!
friends and neighbors, will hesitate to
place themselves in an attitude before
his wife, children, churchmen, and!
citizens generally, as having commit-!
ted an act of periury for the sake of th
Almighty Dollar. (2) The publica
tion of this list will lead to discussio
of this wrong and out of that discus
sion will come a moral pressure am
an aroused conscience among the tax
payers about tax listing. i j
I have before me two instances, one
a man of wealth, whose taxable prop!
erty, I know, is given at a ridiculously
absurd value, and his act in thusjevadt
ing taxation casts the burden upon
others, as, in the second instance I
have in mind, an old woman piferf
ing to sell her bureau and bedstead;
savmer she could sleep on the floor, in
order to pay a trifling tax upon a little
shackling homestead left by her dej
ceased husband. This necessity she
was relieved of by the charity of an
other, who paid her tax. ' j
1 recommend to the Board of Alder
men, therefore, whatever the cost, as
a common justice to every citizen
alike, to put the pressjye of the law,
however severe, troon every man alike
and force him to contribute his pro
rata share to the burdens of govern
ment. j
Some respect may be had for a high
wayman who stops me on the high
way and robs me of my purse, for he
at least does it boldly; but for the
man who, in order to save a few dol
lars, deliberately perjures himselfrun
der the solemnity of an oath in wrong
fully listinghis taxes, and by that act
indirectly robs the other tax payers
by imposing upon them a greater bur
den, deserves without amelioration
the censure of all men. Publicity will
not injure the man who correctly lts
his property. Conscious of his own
rectitude of purpose, he will not fear
criticism. As to the man who evades
his taxes, he ought to be exposed. It
is not inquisitorial. It is a means jof
exposing violators of the law and tin
effort to correct a shameless Wrong
upon all citizens. I L
I have written thus strongly in
making this recommendation because
I think this community, while I it
should enforce the collection jof ijhe
back tax due the city, should with
equal vigor arouse its conscience, its
sense of justice and equality, and com
mand others to give in their taxes, j in
regard to personal property, with sonde
aproximate regard to equality, j Anlin
telligent system of taxation should
contemplate as low a rate as possible
on general property, and where
especial improvements are made, as
sessments against the property so ilm
proveM. Thus, if the personal property
wereksted in this community with
anythiC like fairness, the general
ratecoud be reduced, and when streets
and payments are improved, a pro
rata asslstment should be made upon
suchimfjoved property.
Respectfully submitted.
Iredell Meares,
City Attorney
E. H. SCOTT & SON.
Skilled Mechanical Painters, Frescoers
and Decorators Located Here
E. H. Scott 8c Son. of Baltimore.
Md., who are skilled mechanical
painters, frescoers and decorators,
with the best facilities, have perma
nently located in Wilmington and are
to be found at the office of the Pannill
Paint Co., 114i Princess streetj 'They
come highly recommended as reliable
and efficient gentlemen, and whether
plain or high grade work, their patrons
may rely upon the best material the
market can produce and the very best
workmanship. One 'trial will con
vince the most skeptical of this fact.
To succeed in establishing a permanent
business they realize that they icanBot
afford to use spurious material ior poor
workmanship. Try them and you
will not resrret it Their rates
are; as
low as possible consistent with
high
grade material and labor, whJ0h is
al-
t
Satnrday Afternoon Kecitai.
The usual Saturday afternobn reci
tal by pupils of Miss. Cannie Chasten's
piano classes was given at 4.30 o'clock
yesterday in Schubert Hall, during
which the following programme Was
creditably rendered :
"Sonatina in D Major" (Clemen ti),
by Miss Bertie Hansen. I
"Venetian Gondolied" (Mendels
sohn), by Miss Sue Boon. i
"Polish Dance in E Plat" (Schar
wenka), by Miss Nellie Corbett
"Spinnliedchen" (KllmereiCb), by
Miss May McMillan,
"Ginsv Rondo" (Haydn), by Miss
Irene Peterson. .
For Whooping: Obu
grn
use CHENEY'S
PEOTOBANT.
EX-
NEW ADVERTISEMENTS.
Concord Chapter No. 1, R, A. H.
p O MP ANIONS The regular Convention will
be held Monday evening at 8 o'clock.
jn 80 it w. A. MARTIN, Secretary.
cmmIncing Monday, Jan. 2 1 .
THE CRESCENT STOCK CO.,
Including
HISS CABBIE LOUI8,
H. GUY WOODWARD,
and the
LADIES' SYMPHONY OR3HE9TBA.
Pricae ..10, SO, 80 oenis.
Ladles Free Monday night If accompanied
by an escort holding a Dald 303 ticket.
Ma "FORGIYEN."
jan 18 tf 1
FOX RIVER
BUTTER.
SHALL TUB9FOX BIVEB
BUTTER
LABGE TUBS FOX RIVER
BUTTER.
BUSHELS VIRGINIA HEAL.
CAB-LOAPS CORN.
CAB-LOADS OTHEB GOODS.
50
15
1,300
5
175
D. L. GORE CO.,
130, 122 and 134 North Water street,
jin23tf WUmlngton. N. C
1 car Seed Potatoes.
EABLY BOSE,
PEERLESS,
HEBB'tNS and
BURBOUK8.
1 car Nails.
COFFEE, SUGAR AND
MOLASSES,
AND AJFULL LIKE OF
Heavy Groceries.
For Sale
at
Close Prices.
S. P. McNAlR.
jan 20 tt
LABGE SHIPMENT
OF 3JANCY FRUIT
Has jJust Arrived.
Bananas, Oranges, Oocoanuta, Apples
and Fears. .
Our Candy Factory lslln full blast.
The Palace Bakery.
Supplies before examining- onr jine.
Andrew Mavronichols,
70s North Fourth street.
Bell 'Phode 846. Inter-State 191. t
119 Market street.
Bell 'Phone 261. Inter-State 25.
Look In !
My Show Windows
for
Daily Reduction
Bargains.
N. F. PARKER,
Furniture and Furniture Novelties,
ill Market street.
Bell 'Phone 613.
jan 80 tf
Inter-Btate 431.
For Sale.
TO HOUSEKEEPERS AND INVESTORS.
OS EASY TERMS.
Desirable Lots and Hou'es at Lambert's Point;
the Industrial suburb of Norfolk, Vlrsinia.
Five large Factories, and the N. & W. Rail
road Shops, give employment to a large number
of men and women, and are constantly calling
for additional hands.
Two electric ear lines afford transportation to
all points In the city for 5 cents fare.
Values o' property in this section are con
stantly advancing and offer opportunities for
profitable investments.
Norfolk county is growing rapidly; its popu
lation, with the cities of Norfolk and Ports
mouth, embraced in it was by census of 1890,
77,038; by census of 1900, 114 831.
Foririces.termS,etc.,app1yOBa &
Jan SO lw 140 Main street, ftorfolk, Va.
The Best Silk Worms
Are constantly employed,
by us. We demand their choicest, silkleet and
finest work. That is the foundation of every
Necktie in this store that makes any preten Ion
of being silk. It is silk aU the way through.
terms and you'lfflnd that it's entirely made of
noneec matemu. neuuue wo ynvca uu u uuu
they are as low as the goods.
VonGlahn & Gibson,
janSOtf
?o. S North Front street.
Choice and
Exclusive.
Naming a price without regard to
quality does not make a continued
successful business. You may put on
the public an inferior goods one time
and maybe two times, but not all the
time, we are in the Cigar business to
win; and knowing It to only a ques
tion of quality that counts with a dis
criminating pnbilo, we have made It a
question TofQuaUty first, Quality last,
aad Quality all the tune. We posi
tively claim ;
that "Rnownf"
"Cuban Blossom"
Cigars
ABE THE BEST VALUE
FOR THE MONET
sold on any market. Ifyour grocer
won't sell them because of the small
margin of profit to nlm, we can tell
you who does.
V0LLERS & HASHA6EN,
Cigar Manufacturers', Agents.
janetf
x