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Weather To-Day: RAIN; COLDER. VOL. XliV. NO. 114. GoUrtm'artial For Eagan THIS IS THE PRESIDENT'S DECISION AFTER LONG AND CAREFUL CONSIDERATION. The Specific Charge on Which he Will be Tried Will be Conduct Unbecoming an Officer and a Gentleman. The Penalty is Dismissal from the Service. The Cabinet Unanimously Approves the Decision of the President. Washington, Jan. 17.—The President today announced to the Cabinet shortly after it assembled for its regular Tues day session that he had decided to order a court martial to try Commissary Gen eral Eagan for the abusive and violent language he had used respecting Major General Miles, while on the witness stand before the investigating commis- J sion last Thursday. Ever since the sen sational event the President has been carefully deliberating over the matter, and has had frequent consultations with army officers and others regarding the steps that should be taken, for he was convinced at the outset that the ques tion for consideration was what action should be taken and not whether any disciplinary measures at all should be. had. A determination to take some ac-! tion was vigorously expressed at the last Cabinet meeting, but the President re served final decision. Today just before the Cabinet session he held a conference with the Secretary of War and Adjutant General Corbin. It was long in dura tion, but the action to follow' General ' Eagan’s utterances was decided, and when the Cabinet met, the President announced that he had reached his deeis-, ion in the matter. lie said he had de-. termined that there was only one course | to adopt, and that was to order a court j martial to be convened at once to try j General Eagan. The decision which was reached only this morning notwithstand-, ing reports that a court martial had i bee” decided on yesterday, met the unani-j mous approval of the members of the Cabinet. Three of the President’s offi cial advisers, Secretary Alger, Secretary Wilson and Postmaster General Emory Smith were absent, but in each instance their views are known to coincide with the President’s decision. The details of the action were left to; the Secretary of War, who had with- j drawn just prior to the session to return : to the War Department, to put in mo-1 tion the machinery for the convening of j the court. While it was not definitely stated after the Cabinet meeting whatj specifications would be made against Gen-; oral Eagan, it is understood that the! specific charge on which he will be tries) will be conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman. The personnel of the court was not taken uy, that phase of the action being held to be not a Cabinet! matter, but one that rested between the | president and the Secretary of War. | General Wesley It. Merritt, former com-: mamler in chief of the Philippines, has I been mentioned as likely to preside over the court, and a Cabinet official said to day he would not be surprised at Gen eral Merritt’s designation. Contrary to general expectation no announcement of i the personnel of the court was made at the War Department up to the dose of business this afternoon Adjutant . General Corbin, at the last moment, in j reply to a question, said that he had j nothing whatever to make public touch ing the Eagan case. In the absence of the announcement of the detail for the court martial there was a good deal of speculation as to its composition. General practice is for a majority of the court to consist of the jicers or superiors in rank of the de fendant. This would make the task of selecting a court a hard one, because it is not easy to find a sufficient number of general officers ranking with a Brigadier General to make up a desirable quota. But latitude is permitted the appointing authority in such selections, as the ninth article of war reads: "No officer shall, when it can be avoid ed, be tried by officers inferior in rank,” It will be noticed that the phrase “if it can be avoided” leaves opportunity for the appointment of junior officers. The mention of General Merritt's name as President of the court was due to the fact that lie is the only available Major General of the regular army, the others being General Brooke in Cuba and Gen eral Miles here, neither regarded as available. The friends of General Mer ritt are hoping that he will not lie select ed. fearing that he will be accused of prejudice by one or perhaps by both sides The penalty of the offence on which General Eagan probably will be tried—conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman—is one of the most severe known in the army, being dismissal. Ar ticle 01 reads as follows: "Any officer who is convicted of con duct unbecoming an officer and a gentle man shall be dismissed from the ser vice.” If the court shall find General Eagan guilty, even with extenuating circum stances, they must, attach this sentence, and then the only hope for I lie officer would be in the exercise of clennncy by the President, based ]K*rliaps ujkim the court’s recommendation. Just prior to the Cabinet meeting Gen eral Milt-s made a rather unusual call upon two of the members of the Cabinet, Secretaries llay and Long. He had The News and Observer leads Hi lira mmm dailies in news and circi^hon. just returned to the city from Now York and when spoken to with reference to the Eagan case, adhered to his original declaration that this was not a time for him to act, if at all, leaving the implica tion that if the commission did not act, or the Administration, it would then be time for him to take some steps. The Commissary General was on duty as usual at his office, and business was apparently going along in the usual way, althougn it was noticed that there were more callers upon General Eagan, of the official class, namely officers of his own corps, than is usually the case. Prior to the Cabinet meeting he said that he was prepared to accept loyally whatever action the President might decide to take. ACCEPT EAGAN’S STATEMENT. No Objection to it in Its Amended Form. Washington, Jan. 17.—The war inves tigation commission today made public the amended statement filed by Commis sary Genral Eagan yesterday. The com mission permitted the representatives of the press to read the statement, and it was formally announced to newspaper men that General Eagan had eliminated all objectionable statements and there fore the document would be accepted officially by the commission as evidence. As already stated the changes made by General Eagan in the document are mainly in the line of excision, yet the phraseology has been also altered fre quently. He refers to General M.lts as “the senior Major General. Nelson A. Miles,” and while keeping strictly with in the line of propriety in the judgm nt of the commission in a negative manner at least, he resents any assumption of Gen eral Miles’ superiority and asserts that he is as good, as old and as experienced a soldier as General Miles. It is be lieved that so far as the commission is concerned the incident is now closed Another witness was heard today in the person of Colonel Gibson, the dis tributing agent of the National Relief Commission at Santiago. He testified that he carried supplies to the sick there on tihe Resolute. He had great diffi culty in landing those supplies, owing to the confusion. General Shafter had re fused him assistance, and it was with great difficulty that hi? was able to hire horses. He succeeded in this finally, and with the assistance of General Wheeler the supplies were carried in land. Respecting the quality of the beef fur nished the troops. Colonel Gibson said fht‘ canned corn beef was bad—unfit for use and should not have been issued. It was repulsive in appearance, stringy, and he himself had been unable to cat it. The refrigerated beef was likewise bad. being covered with a green beard caused by exposure to the sun’s rays. The com mission adjourned until tomorrow^ QUAY’S SUCCESS IN DOUBT. Result of the First Day’s Battle for Senatorship. • Harrisburg, I’m,, Jan. 17. —The end of the first day’s tight in the battle for Uni ted States Senator leaves the result very much in doubt. It is Senator Quay against the field, and the indications are that there will be a deadlock, lasting some days at least. The Republicans are divided between Mr. Quay and eight "favorite sons,” and the Democrats are united on George A. Jenks. The Sen ate and House voted separately this afternoon and will take a ballot to-nior row in joint session. There was no election to-day, and should the ballot show no election to-morrrow the ballot ing will continue daily until a’ selection is made. Senator Quay’s total strength in both Houses was 112 votes, 10 less than tlie number necessary to elect on joint ballot, assuming that the full mem bership of 2« r t 4is present, a condition that does not seem possible as there are several on the sick list now. The fifty-one Republican Senators and members who have signed the second anti-Quay pledge voted as they prom ised. Representative Clinton Rogers Woodruff, of Philadelphia, who is op posed to Senator Quay, but declines to act with his opponents, voted for Presi dent Charles E. Rice, of the Superior court. This makes fifty votes which the uuti-Quay leaders claim Senator Quay cannot got while he is a candidate. Rep resentative Timlin (Deni.), of Lackawan na, cast his ballot for Superior Court Judge IVter P. Smith, of Scranton. He was the only Democrat who failed to vote for Jenks, the party choice. The essence of the situation is that so long as the anti-Quay Republicans are united and the Democrats vote for Jenks. Senator Quay cannot be re elected. His friends are confident, how- RALEIGH, N. C., WEDNESDAY MORNING, JANUARY 18, 1899 I ever, that he will steadily gain votes after to-morrow, while the leaders of the other side are just as confident that he I lias reached the high-water mark. Gov ernor Stone is the Senator’s friend and is aiding him in his campaign. The Sena tor is on the ground managing his can* I vass and expects to stay during the early I stages of the contest. The anti-Quay Republican Senators and members have agreed to meet daily until the fight is settled. They are di vided on Congressman Dalzell and Stont and other independent Republicans. Their leaders say it is too early con centrate on one candidate against Sena tor Quay. JOHN RUSSELD YOUNG DIES. He Was Librarian of the Congressional Library. Washington, Jan. 17.—John Russell Young, librarian of the Congressional Library, died at his residence here at 9:40 this morning after an illness of sev eral weeks. Mr. Young was at the point of death nearly all of yesterday. This morning it was evident that the end was close. There were with him at his death Mrs. Young, Berkley Young, his son: Dr. Freer, his physician, and Ralph J. Mock er, one of the old newspaper friends of the librarian. Dr. Freer, the attending physician, made a brief written statement that death was due to “acute Bright’s dis ease with complications, due to work and too much brain work.” THEY ENDORSE BUTLER ONE CAVIP OF CONFEDERATES APPRECI ATES HIS PENSION AMENDMENT. Carried Out, They Say, it Would Show the Wo Id that the War Between States Was no Rebellion. Washington, D. C., Jan. 17.—(Special.) —Senator Butler received to-day the first endorsement of his proposition to pension Confederate soldiers, which ho has yet had. It came from a camp of Confederate veterans at Columbus, Ga., who. writing him, argued that while they don’t want pensions as mendicants, they believe that pensions should be granted to ey-Con federates in response to the spirit manifested by the President as showing to the world that the war between the States was not a rebellion. The letter was sent to Senator Butler, evidently with the thought that he was General Butler, of South Carolina; for it was so addressed. The Senator was not able to get the petition read and published in the* record, as he hoped, but it was a long argument in favor, not only of the decoration of the graves, bnt of the pensions ns well. This is the first paper that has come from Confederate veterans any where, endorsing the Butler idea. There were fifty-five signers to the request that Senator Butler do not abandon his hill. Among other petitions and memorials on the same subject presented in the Senate to-day were resolutions from \ ieksburg, Miss., Batesville, Ark., and Baltimore camps of Confederate-veter ans; all of them protesting against, not only the pensions, but the Government caring for the graves. Judge Ewart is here looking after the interests of his case, which he has be fore the Senate. A HAKE TREAT. Prof. Joyner's Lecture at the Tabernacle Last Night. The Sunday school room of the Bap tist Tabernacle was full last night to hear the lecture of Prof. .1. Y. Joyner, of the State Normal and Industrial school, on “The Other Side of Life.” Itapt attention was given to him for the three quarters of an hour that he spoke. The other side of life that he referred to was the spiritual one, and he sounded in the very beginning a warning lest in the hurry and bustle of this materialistic age of ours we forget Pint to be is always infinitely greater than to know or to do. He preached for the cultivation of the soul of man, and to this end urged the reading and studying of good literature, especially of that kind which is best calculated to develop and inspirt' the imagination— lH>e try, he said, is the natural language of the soul, of nature, and of God. It, is the first, the truest and tin* greatest form of language into which human thought is ever east. Poetry, said he, is the language of rhythm, and rhythm is the language of God. All great feeling finds expression in Vhyinth mieal utterance, and perhaps the charm and deathless interest of poetry consists in the fact that the groat heart of the poet who wrote it keeps beating forever through its rhythmical senten ces. The lecture throughout abounded in beautiful thoughts most beautifully ex pressed. Not in many a day have the people of Raleigh had the opportunity of hearing so chaste and beautiful a dissertation on “The Other Side of Life.” The privilege of hearing it was a rare treat, and we hope that it will be published so that many others will enjoy iso rich a gem. Pol. S. H. Eishblate, ex-mayor of Wil mington, is in the city. Referring to th.' political situation of Wilmington, Col. Eishblate said: “There are no factions. The people are thoroughly united and at the election in March it will be seen that. Wilmington will lie all one way.” "We are going to build a siij.OOO cot ton factory in Roxboro.” said Col. John S. Cunningham, who is in the city “It will have all modern equipments and: give employment to quite a number of! people.” * PUSSES NAVAL PERSONNELBILL fight Won Ten Years’ Struggle. WHAT THE BILL MEANS STAFF OFFICERS ARE GIVEN POSITIVE RANK. PAY EQUALS THAT OF ARMY OFFICERS Marine Corps to Consist of 6,000 Enlisted Men. Banking and Currency Bill Recom mitted. Nicaragua Canal Bill h th® Senate Washington, Jan. J7.—The House to day passed the Naval Personnel Bill without division onj the final passage, thus accomplishing what the officers of the navy have striven for during more than a decade. By its provisions the line and engineer corps are welded into an amalgamated line, staff officers are given positive rank, but their command is limited to their OWII corps, and a sys tem of voluntary ant} compulsory retire ment on three-quarters’ pay as of the next higher rank of forty officers a year, is established, which is designed to re move the congestion in the lower rank at forty-five. The bill also practically equalizes their pay with that of army officers. Three important amendments were adopted. One creates a judge ad vocate’s corps, another abolishes prize money, and a third provides for the re tirement. on three-qdarters’ pay of on listed men and petty officers in the navy after .'SO years’ service. Bnt the most important change in the hill as reported was the adoption, after a hard fight, of a substitute for the or ganization of the marine corps, by which the corps is to consist of 6,000 enlisted men and petty off|‘srs with general officers and staff. Tw xvlti Increase the marine corps by 1,800. men. and increase the cost of its maintenance $1,500,000. Several unimportant bills were passed by unanimous consent, before the per sonnel hill was taken up. The consideration of the Brown- Swauson contested election case from Virginia had been set for to-day, hut was postponed until Thursday, in order that the House, might proceed with the Na val Personnel Bill. At the beginning of the session Mr. McCleary, (Rep. Minn.), on behalf of the Banking and Currency Committee, made a statement to the effect that the vote on the Currency Bill reported at tin* last session had been irregularly taken in tin* commission, and he there fore. asked that the bill Ik l re-committed. “This does not mean that the bill is to be abandoned?” asked Mr. Richard son, (Dem. Tenn.) “The other side promised currency re form.” continued Sir. Richardson, “and I would like to know if the bill is again to he reported.” “I am neither a prophet nor the son of a prophet,” responded Mr. McCleary. Mr. Mitchell. (Rep. N. Y.). explained that there had been some irregularity in the vote, and in order to avoid any show of unfairness to the opponents of the bill this action had been decided upon. There was no objection and the bill was recommitted. The House at 5:20 o’clock p. m., ad journed. THE PHILIPPINE BOARD THE PRESIDENT NAMES SCHURMAN, DEV/- EY O r IS AND WORCESTER. Cabinet Meets, and Advices Reach it fom the Philippines, Stating that the Situation is Still Further Improved. Washington, Jan. 17.—The session of the Cabinet today occupied about an hour and a half. Advices were received from Manila that the situation on the islands is very quiet. The dispatch was to the War Department and proved the most gratifying official news from that quarter received since the state of affairs in the archipelago recently assumed a serious phase. It is announced that the people who hau moved out of the city of Manila owing to alarming but un founded reports, were returning to their homes. At Iloilo affairs are progressing satis factorily, and a gratifying fact report ed in the cablegram was that the officers aboard our ships and the individual in surgents were fraternizing freely on shore and that there wen* no signs of trouble. President McKinley announced during the session that he bad finally passed on the personnel of the commis sion to visit and report on the Philip pine Islands as follows: Messrs. Sehurman, Dewey, Otis, Den by and Worcester. Their selection already had become known and official announcement short ly will follow. AI a meeting of the Cabinet yesterday advices were received of satisfactory conditions in the Philippines and the President announced the following names as members of the board to the Philip pines: Messrs Scurman, Dewey, Otis, Denby and Worcester. i BRYAN WARNS AGAINST GREED Ahab’s Covetousness Led to Death and Shame. AHAB AN IMPERIALIST NABOTH’S VINEYARD COMPARED TO PHILIPPINES. RESULTS OF HOLDING THEM BY FORCE Imperialism Might Expand our Territory bu Wou'd-Contract our aims a Step Back ward to the Narrow Views of Despo’s. Denver, Colo., » Jan. 17. —Colonel W. J. Bryan made two public speeches in Denver to-day, both of which were list ened to by audiences only limited by the capacity of th,e auditoriums. The first j was at 2 o’clock in the Hall of the House of Representatives, to which only those who Held tickets were admitted, j The other was at 8 o’clock at Coliseum | Hall, the largest room in the city, where thousands struggled for standing room, while other thousands turned away dis appointed in not even getting a glimpse of the great silver champion. In his address before the Legislature. Mr. Bryan devoted most of his time to a discussion of the duties of legislators! and other public officers whom he desig nated as servants, not masters of the people. After this address. Mr. and Mrs. Bryan repaired to the residence of Gov ernor Thomas, where they were enter tained at dinner to which half a dozen of the lending Democrats in the State, including ex-Governors Grant and Adams and a number of ladies were the guests. The crowd which greeted Mr. Bryan at Coliseum Hall to-night began gathering at 4 o’clock, four hours before the time set for the meeting. At 8 o’clock when Hon. Milton Smith, chair man of the State Central Committee, called for order there were 5.000 persons in the hall and as many more outside pressing for admission. Governor Charles S. Thomas was present as chair man of the meeting, and in an eulogistic speech introduced Colonel Bryan, who was received with prolonged applause. Mr. Br.van spoke in part as follows: “The Bible tells us that A hah. the King, wanted the vineyard of Naboth, and was sorely grieved because the own er thereof refused to part with the in heritance of his fathers. Then follow-' ed a plot, and false charges were pro-1 ferred against Naboth to furnish an ex-| cuse for getting rid of him. “ ‘Thou shalt not covet,’ ‘thou shall ! not hear false witness,’ ‘thou shalt not' kill’ —three commandments broken, and still a fourth, ‘thou shalt not steal.' to. be broken, in order to get a little piece of ground. And what was the result ?, When the King went forth to take! possession. Elijah, that brave old! prophet of the early days, met him andi pronounced against him the sentence of the Almighty: ‘ln the place where the dogs licked the blood of Naboth shall dogs lick thy blood, oven thine.’ “Neither his own exalted position nor the lowly station of his victim could save him from the avenging hand of outraged justice. His case was tried in a court where neither wealth, nor rank nor j lower could shield the transgres sor. “Wars of conquest have their origin iu covetousness ami the history, of the human race has been written in charac ters of blood because rulers have look ed with longing eyes upon the lands of others. “Covetousness is prone tO'seek the aid of false pretence to carry out its plans, but what it cannot secure by persuasion it takes by the sword. / “Senator Teller’s amendment to the intervention resolutions saved the Cu bans from the covetousness of those who are so anxious to secure possession of the island that they are willing to deny the truth of the declaration of our own Congress that ‘the people of Cuba are and of a right ought to be free.’ ” Mr. Bryan then proceeded to apply the story of Naboth to the Philippine ques tion and argued that a war.of conquest would be wrong in principle as well ns expensive, and as harmful to the people of the United States as to the Filipinos. He spoke at considerable length and concluded as follows: “Imperialism might expand the na tion's territory, but it would contract the nation’s purpose. It is not a step for ward toward a broader destiny; it is' a step backward toward the narrow' views of Kings and Emperors. ’ “Dr. Taylor has appropriately ex pressed it in ‘His Creed of the Flag’ when he asks: “ ‘Shall we turn to the Old World again. With the penitent prodigal's cry?’ “I answer, never. This republic is not , a wayward son; it has not spent its sub stance in riotous living. It is not , ready to retrace its steps. and with shamed face and trembling voice, solicit an humble place among the servants of royalty. It lias not sinned against Heaven, and God grant that the crowned, heads of Europe may never have occa sion to kill the fatted calf to comment- 1 orate its return from reliance ui>on the I will of the people to dependence upon the * authority which flows from regal birth or superior force. “We cannot afford to enter upon a colonial policy. The theory upon which a Government is built is a matter of vital importance. The national idea lias been a controlling influence upon the thought and character of the people. Our national idea is self-government, and un less we are ready to abandon that idea forever, we cannot ignore it in dealing with the Filipinos. “That idea is entwined with our tra ditions; it permeates our history, it is a part of our literature. “That idea has given eloquence to the orator and inspiration to the poet. Take from our national hymns the three words, j Free, Freedom and Liberty, and they would he as meaningless as would be our flag if robbed of its red. white and blue. “Other nations may dream of wars of conquest and of distant dependencies governed by exterior force; not so with the United States. “The fruits of imperialism, be they hit ter or sweet, must be left to the subjects of monarchy. This is the one tree of which the citizens of otir republic may not partake. It is the voice of the ser pent. not the voice of God, that bids us cat.” LODGE GETS SENATORSHIP. Boston, Mass., Jan. 17.—Each branch of the Legislature balloted for United States Senator to-day, and Senator Ilenry Cabot Lodge, the Republican ‘ nominee received heavy majorities in , both houses. THE SEABOARD IS SOLD , THE TRANSACTION DELAYED BY RYAN IS NOW CLOSED. Syndicate Headed by John Skelton Williams Secure s 8 300 Shares of the Sea • board and Roanoke. Balimore. Jan 17. —Eight thousand j and three hundred shares of stock, a controlling interest in the Seaboard and I Roanoke Railroad Company, parent company of the Seaboard Air Line, were transferred today by lam is It. McLane and Legh It. Wafts, pool managers of the majority stockholders, to the syndi cate headed by John Skelton Williams, the Richmond banker, and President of tae Georgia and Alabama Railroad Com -1 party. The consideration was S2OO per ' j share as agreed upon several weeks ago. i l’he consummation of the deal was de layed by a temporary injunction restrain ing the transfer secured some days ago by Thomas F. Ryan, of New York, but Judges Wickes and Stockbridge dissolv ed the temporary injunction. THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. Discuss Texile School—Takes Action on Death of Mr. W. R. Tucker. The Chamber of Commerce met in the ' mayor’s office last n.ig'ht President W. N. ! Jones presiding. *ue following resolution was offered | and adopted relative to the proposed ex ' position to ho held in October next: “Whereas the State Fair of 1808 held in this city in October, under .the wise, energetic and business-like management of Col. John S. Cunningham, its Presi dent. was a marked success and espe cially as to the extent, variety and char acter of the exhibits in every depart partment thereof, as well as the high water mark attained in point of attend ance, and whereas Col. Cunningham has again accepted the I residency of the Fair for this year, 1809, therefore “Resolved, That the Raleigh Chamber of Commerce heartily approve and en dorse the ideas and suggestions advanced by the President of holding a great State Exposition here during the fall of 1899, under the auspices of the North Caro lina State Agricultural Society, and the Chamber hereby pledges its cordial and earnest support in all matters pertain ing to the success of the said State ex position.” The textile school matter was thor oughly discussed and it was the opinion of the Chamber that the best interests of tihe State demanded that the school be established at the A. and M. College, near this city. The following committee was. appointed to look after the establish ment of the school: Messrs. R. 11. Bat tle. chairman; .T. E. Pogue, A. A. Thompson, J. S. Wynne, Frank Stron aeh. F. O. Moring, Josephus Daniels, A. M. Powell, W. N. Jones. The following committee was appoint- ed to use their efforts to secure the rt'- peal of the merchants’ purchase tax by the Legislature: Messrs. D. T. John son, Frank Stronach, M. T. Norris, John R. Ferrall. Sherwood Higgs. Jam s I. Johnson, T. 11. Briggs and F. T. Ward. The following resolution was offered by Mr. Joseph E. Pogue and adopted: “Resolved, by the Raleigh Chamber of Commerce and Industry that the sad in telligence of the death of our late col league, Mr. William R. Tucker, is re ceived with profound regret, and that the sympathy and sincere condolence of this body be conveyed to the sorely'strick en family of the deceased. “Resolved further, That a eotnmityee of five members be named by the Presi dent to draft suitable resolutions rela tive to this sad visitation of Providence to be reported to this chamber at its next regular meeting.” Mr. Drewry. by request, stated the changes in the bill which has Wen drawn up under the supervision of the board of aldermen for the purpose of amending the city charter. He stated that a hill would be introduced to allow the city to vote on the issue of SIOO,OOO bonds for street improvements. Dr. .1. M. Ayer and Mr. A. M. Powell were elected members. —- The poor man never troubles himself I about the troubles of the millionaire. I THIRD EDITION; t .'BICE FIVE CENTS. V ISAAC SIIC COES A-SIIPE UTIiC The Colored Member Talks Out in Meetin’. ABOUT HERTFORD MAN SAYS IIE'S GONE BACK ON HIS CONSTITUENTS. DESERTED NEGROES THAT ELECTED HIM A Warm Debate and a Vote Full of Explanations Tlat Didn’t Explain. The Govern or's Message Rend in the Hcuse. The talkers got loose in the House yesterday and it took over two hours to corral them. Even the call of the “Previous Ques tion” would not do it. for after that stopper had been applied, almost every Republican son of them, and some Dem ocrats too, insisted on explaining their votes at great length and in tedious de tail. As a result the House did little busi ness yesterday, beyond listening to the Governor’s special message and intro ducing some forty new bills and resolu tions. The immediate cause of the deluge of talk set adrift yesterday was what is known as the Hertford county hill —an act increasing the number of county commissioners from three to eight. Immediately upon the reading of the bill, Mr. Snipes (Rep.), of Hertford, hob bed up with the back-alley declaration: “This is one time you have me where the hair is short.” , With this he went on drivelling out a rehash of his former speeches, about all the officers being white men—men of high reputations and graduates of fa mous institutions of learning. &c., &c., Ac*., &e. The hill, he denounced as "a deep-laid scheme to deprive the present county officers of their offices.” “The only respect in which Hertford county is negro-ridden,” he declared, “Is in her school affairs, and on a proposi tion to change that so as to eliminate the negro, you shall have my vote. And if there was a colored man among the present county officers I would favor this bill also.” This latter declaration gave to Isaac Smith, the colored member from Craven, the opportunity he had been longing for to go “snipe hunting.” “I want to inquire,” Prof. Smith be gan, with great earnestness and de’iber ation, pointing his index finger at the member from Hertford and looking him steadily in the eye—“l want to inquire why so much stress is laid upon the words, ‘All white men,’ ‘all white men’? And then why do you add, ‘lf there was a colored man among the officers I would he in favor of this billV (Laughter). “The men named in the bill before this House are all white men too. (Applause). “On the Bth day of November the peo ple spoke and said they wanted to take charge of their own affairs. (Laughter and applause). “The men put in by my race in Hert ford and some other counties represent only a part of the people of the county. The Negro is not opposed to having the other part represented. It is that un represented part that has most at stake, and is the Negro’s best friend. “Here is the gentlemen from Hert ford, sent here by negro votes and yet his first act here is to turn against those who gave him their support. ‘All are white men, all are white men, if there was a negro among them I would be against him,’ he says. (Applause and laughter). “Mr. Speaker, I sail vote for this hill and feel that I’m doing my race a ser vice. “When I speak I represent a half mil lion people: when you speak you repre sent 1,600,000 souls; when he speaks (pointing to Snipes) I don't know how many he represents. (Laughter). “I shall vote for the bill and hope it will pass.” Mr. Hampton, of Surry: “1 rise to en ter my protest against the passage of this bill. The object of the hill is to centralize the county government of Hertford in this General Assembly, and to take it out of the hands of the people. \\V were sent here to enact law not to create offices and with them pay f<*r party services. This bill creates new offices and when offices are increased the burden of taxation on the people is increased. There is no evidence here that the present county officers are not compe tent men—no complaint against them whatever. They are white men, men of education and experience. So war as the school law is concerned I’m with you, I want whites to control white schools and negroes to run the negro schools. I hope to set» either a new school law enacted, or Wie old one amended so as to remedy such defects as this. But, it has been objected, the present county commissioners were not e:ected by the wealth and intelligence of the county, and therefore are unfit for office. The wealth and the intelligence can take care of themselves. It is tin* poor and the weak we must look after. We were not sent here so legisla'e for wealth and intelligence alone. There are others who have rights. Mr. Hampton spoke of the commission continued on Second Page.) ~
The News & Observer (Raleigh, N.C.)
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Jan. 18, 1899, edition 1
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