Weather To-Day! RAIN. ‘ THIRD EDITION)
The News and Observer,
VOL. XLV. NO. 153.
A 0 fill Night Session
CONGRESS RAPIDLY CLOSING UP
ITS BUSINESS.
■\
Army Appropriation and Other Bills Pushed
Through Amid Clamor and Con
fusion In Dying Congress*
Washington, March 3.—Excitement,
confusion, heavy strain and hard work
have characterized this, the last legisla
tive day of the Fifty-Fifth Congress in
the Senate. At times the confusion was
so great in this usually staid and deco
rous body as to render the transactions
of business almost impossible. Business
that ordinarily would have the undivi
ded attention of every Senator or the
tloor was transacted amid so much noise
that it was next to impossible to follow
the proceedings.
Toward midnight order was being
evolved from the seeming chaos of
the early part of the day and evening,
and the prospect was fair that Congress
would adjourn at noon to-morrow with
its absolutely necessary work comple
ted.
When the Senate convened in its last
legislative session at 11 today more than
the usual number of Senators were on
the lloor. Morning business was sus
pended practically, and the Senate pro
ceeded immediately to business looking 1
to adjournment.
The following hills wore passed:
To incorporate the National White
Cross of America and for other pur
poses.
Authorizing the construction of a
bridge over the Tennessee river at Shef
field, Ala.
A bill providing a site for the Wash
ington Public Library buliding.
Mr. Mallory, (Fla.), presented the cre
dentials of his colleague, Samuel Pasco,
appointed a Senator by the Governor
of Florida to till a vcancy unfilled by
the Legislature. The credentials were
filed, Mr. Platt, (Conn.), dissenting from
the constitutionality of the appointment.
Mr. Hale, (Maine), called up tin* Gen
eral Deficiency Appropriation Bill and
the Senate proceeded with its considera
tion. Temporarily, the General Defi
ciency Bill was laid aside in order that
some conference reports might be con
sidered.
Mr. Allison presented a partial confer
ence report on the Sundry Civil Bill. It
was read and aroused considerable dis
cussion.
Mr. Morgan denounced what he termed
“the log rolling” regarding public build
ings, declaring that the action of the
ruler of the House was a fraud and an
outrage. “I saw,” said he, “bills pas**d
by the Senate in such a hurry that many
of the names of the cities could not be
understood by Senators. I want to pro
test against that sort of legislation.
I know where the incentive of this per
formance comes from. I know the
origin of that wrong. I know the man
who inspired it. His will and pleasure
was to make fair weather for a particu
lar set of men who are favorites of the
particular ruler of the House.”
The refusal ol' tin l House conferees
to yield on the Hawaiian cable was
discussed at length. Mr. Butler (N. C.),
spoke in support of the Senate conferees
and was followed by Mr. Chandler, who
expressed the hope that the Senate con
ferees would adhere to the Senate’s
proposition even if an extra session
were thereby forced,
“There are some things,” lie said,
“worse tlHin an extra session of Con
gress.”
Mr. Stewart and Mr. Morgan consid
ered the cable amendment as the most
important feature of the Sundry Civil
Bill.
Mr. Morgan said the cable would give
the United States control of intelligence
in the North Pacific ocean. He declared
the contest in the conference report
against the Senate amendment was a
“war in favor of monopoly,” and Ik*
knew, ho said who was responsible for it.
The partial report'was agreed to, and
the Senate requested another conference
with the House.
At 2:05 p. m.. the Senate, on motion of
Mr. Hale, went into executive session.
At the conclusion of the executive
session Mr. Chilton (Texas) announced
the death of Hon. John W. Cranford,
of Texas, and presented resolutions, of
sorrow and providing for the appoint
ment of a committee of Senators to at
tend tin* obsequies. The committee
named consisted of Senators Mills and
Chilton (Texas); Berry, (Ark.); Cock
rell. (Mo.); Foraker, (Ohio); Perkins,
(Cal.): Chandler, (N. II.); and Mason
(Illinois.)
Mr. Frye, (Maine), chairman of the
Committee on Commerce presented the
final conference report on the River and
Harbor Bill. He consented to withhold
it in order that consideration of the
General Deficiency Bill might be pro
ceeded with.
Mr. Hale offered an amendment appro
priating $11,000,000 as an emergency fund
to be expended by the President at his
discretion. The amendment was accept
ed without debate or legislation.
Many amendments were offered and
ruled out on points of order.
Among the amendments agreed to was
the following:
Providing two months’ extra pay for
the volunteer officers and volunteer en
listed men of the navy who served be
vond the United States in tin* war w'fli
S| lain; and one months’ pay for similar
officers and men who served during that
LEAPS ILL PHI CIMUIA DMIUEB IN NEWS 110 MMWTiftL
war only in the United States. The
bill as amended was passed.
A bill providing for a Government
exhibit at, and to encourage the Ohio
Centennial and Northwest Territorv
Exposition to be held it loledo, Ohio,
and appropriating •$”(M),(H)0, was passed.
Consideration of the Army Appropria
tion Bill was then begun. The few
amendments to the Senate Committee
to the bill wen* agreed to as tin* reading
of the measure proceeded.
Mr. Warren, a memlier of the Com
mittee on Military Affairs, offered an
amendment providing dial the Adjutant
General of the army should have the
rank, pay and allowance of a Major
General.
Mr. I’ettus, also a member of the Mili
tary Affairs Committee objected and
made a point of order against it on the
ground of general legislation. lli* said
that if the amendment wns passed there
should be discussion of it.
At this point consideration of the
Army Bill was suspended to enable Mr.
Hale to present a partial conference re
port on the Naval Appropriation Bill,
lie explained that none of the seriously
contested questions such as the price
of armor, were incorporated in the re
port.
The Senate further insisted upon its
amendments and asked for a new con
ference.
The debate on the Army Appropria
tion Bill was then resumed.
Mr. Pettigrew made a point of order
against the amendment that it had not
been referred to the Committee on Ap
propriations.
The Vice President held the latter
point to be well taken.
Mr. Foraker offered the same amend
ment restricting its application, however,
to the present Ajdufant General.
Mr. l’ettus made a point of order
against it and he was sustained by the
chair.
Mr. Allen, (Neb.), appealed from the
chair’s decision, and by an aye and no
vote the chair was sustained. 41 to 7.
Mr. Foraker then offered the amend
ment of which he gave notice a few
days since, declaring against the grant
ing of franchises in Cuba, omitting the
portion relating to the withdrawal of
the United Sta,tes troops in the island.
The amendment as offered was as fid
lows:
“That no property, franchises or con
cessions of any kind whatever shall be
granted by tin* United' States or by any
military or other’ authority whatever in
the island of Cuba during the occupa
tion thereof by the United States.”
Mr. Sewell made the point of order
that the amendment was not relevant,
but he was overruled by a viva voce
vote.
Mr. Barrows stated that he had been
informed by the War Department to
day that no franchises had been granted
and that none was to be granted.
Mr. Morgan thought the amendment
premature and a dangerous innovation.
He said there were many men in Cuba
ready to cut each other’s throats and
we should go slow in our deliberations.
"When we find such a tumult as
there has been over General Gomez’s
acceptance of the .$3,000,000 proffered
by the United States, it is evident that
tin* people are not capable of self-govern
ment.”
After further debate, in which Mr.
IJnlt*, (Maim*), stated that any attempt
at legislation is to be contravened and
stifled, the amendment was adopted,
47 to 11.
At the conclusion of the reading of
i the report Mr. Frye in answer to a
j question by Mr. Carter, saal that the
I appropriation for the reservoirs at the
j head waters of the Missouri ltiver for
1 irrigation purposes had been stricken
from the bill.
Mr. Carter addressed the Senate at
length on the action of the conferees,
maintaining the vast importance to
the entire Western and Southern eoun
j try of constructing the reservoirs. In
conclusion he* said:
"1 am not prepared to sec* this bill
pass, filled as it is with inconcequential
matters, over the prostrate form of a
just and constitutional proposition.”
Fending further debate upon the con
struction of (he reservoirs the confer
ence report on the* Alaska criminal code
bill was presented and agreed to. It
now goes to the* I’resident.
The River and Harbor Bill was again
taken up and Mr. Warren addressed
j tin* Sepatc along the same lines as Mr.
| Carter. While lie was still speaking
Mr. Mantle* entered a motion to recom
mit the hill to the conference committee
with the idea of securing a recession of
the House conferees on the reservoir
proposition.
This motion aroused Mr. I* rye, in
! charge* of the* bill and he took the* floor
j and made* an impassioned, though brief
speech upon the motion. The motion
: to recommit was defeated 25 to 41.
A motion by Mr. Hansbroitgh that the*
, Senate go into executive session was
I defeated, 48 to 14.
Mr. Warren then resumed his speech
At 1:35 a. m. Mr. Mantle interrupted
Mr. Warren, noting (he* absence of a
nuorum. A call of the roll deve*lope*d
I the presence* of (52 Senators. Mr. Mantle
then renewed his motion to recommit
RALEIGH, N. C., SATURDAY MORNING, MARCH 4, 1899.
tin* report to the conferees, but it wa -
de*c*isive*ly defeated.
The Senate, at 2 o’clock, recommitted
the River and Harbor Bill to the Con
ference Committee.
At 2:15 a. m. the Se*natc* went into
executive* session.
In executive session the* naval nomina
tions were* taken up and the discussion
was upon the eases of Admirals Schley
and Sampson. It was urged that the
list se*nt in to-day under the Naval Per
sonnel Bill would place* the* men in the
order they ought to be*, and that the*
first nominations in which Sampson was
given the* preference should be dropped.
At 3:20 a. m. the* Senate* resumed leg
islative* business. Mr. Frye reported no
fnrthe*r agreement could be* reached, the
House conferees declining to re-open the*
River and Harbor agreement alre*ad.v
reached.
Mr. Warren said he was satisfied that
the Senate conferees had done* all they
could, and rather than imperil the groat
appropriation hills he* would yield tlie*
point.
The report was then agreed to without
division.
The conference report on the Wash
ington Public Library Bill was agreed to.
A partial report of the conference on
the* Naval Appropriation Bill was pre
sented by Mr. Hale, lie explained that
the* Senate* armor plate* amendment was
the serious stumbling block, and it had
been suggested that the* Senate take* a
vote upon the* proposition as it now was
presentee!. He* declared the* situation
was very se*rious, as it would afle*et tile
price of armor, not only for the* ships
authorizeel by this bill, but for the ships
already contracted for.
PROCEEDINGS IN THE HOUSE.
Washington, March 3.—Crowded gal
leries looked down upon the struggling
members of the* House to-day as the
closing scenes of the* last legislative
day of this Congress we*re* being enacted.
Step by ste*p the leaders in e-harge of
the appropriation hills pushed them
through the* final stages,and during every
lull in tin* consideration of conference
reports mein hers clamored for re-cogni
tion for belated local bills in tin* vain
hope* e>r resoling them from death on
the calendar.
At times the House was like* bedlam.
Pound as the Speaker would with his
gavel it was almost impossible* to pre
serve eireler, and to the casual visitor
in the gallery tin* proceedings em the
floor must have* he*: n about as intelligi
ble as an exciting day in the weat pit
would lie* to a parish priest. The* noise
and confusion on the* floor, punctuated
with the constant banging of the Speak
er’s gavel or back-grounded with the
droning voice of the clerk; irate mem
bers facing each other and talking at
the* same time, pages scurrying up and
down the aisles, all this was utterly
distracting. But the pe*ople in the gal
leries stayed on,and the re were a dozen
persons in line in the corrielors waiting
for every vacant seat so great is the
attraction eif a dying Congress.
In the reserved gaHerb's of th
House were congregated the* elite of
the society in the national capital, while
the public galle*rie*s were banke*d to the*
doors. Stylishly gowned ladies and gen
tle-men in evening dress added eclat to
the occasion.
As the* evening drew on members who
had attended dinner parties began ap
pearing. and ladies and gentle-men hand
somely attired took their place's in the*
galleries.
The* big questions in dispute* between
Hie* two houses being naturally the* last
to be* adjusted were postponed far into
the* night. From time* to time short
recesses were taken. These were simply
breathing spills, lmwever, and soon the
leaders were at it again harder than
e-ver.
At 11 o’clock today the House
entereel upon the last legislative
day of the* session. The* man
agers were in tlu ir places and the pub
lic galleries were crowded in anticipa
tion of spectacular scenes. The* desk of
the* late Representative Cranford, of
Texas, who died at. midnight last night,
was shrouded in black and covered with
flowers.
Immediately after the reading of the
Journal, Mr. Burke* (Deni., Tex.) an
nounced the death of his cnlh'ngiu* in
fending words and the* usual resolutions
were adopted. The* following e-ommit
te*e was appointed to attend the funeral:
Messrs. Burke, Henry (Texas). DeGraf
fenreid. Lanhain. Mcßae* (Ark.), Sm .n
(Ivy.), Brewer (Ala.), Moon (Term.). Mc-
Cleary (Minn.), and Mahanv (N. Y.)
Mr. Walker (Mass., Re*p.). who has
been seeking the privilege of addressing
the* House for several days, them receiv
ed unanimous consent to speak for an
hour, such, time, however, not to in
terfere with conference reports.
Bills were passed allowing certain
officers to accept dee-orat ions from for
eign governments, and some eonfere nee
reports on hiHs of minor importance*
were agreed to.
Mr. Walker, Chairman of the Com
mittee on Banking and Currency, then
took the floor under the* privilege grant
ed him earlier in the* day. The* s ato
moiit was largely personal, showing the
efforts Mr. Walker had made during
a long series of years to secure* moii**-
tary legislation. In this connection in
answered published criticisms of his
course* and went into an elaborate ex
planation of the* long fight in his eon
mi t tee which resulted in the report e,f
a bill and its subsequent withdrawal.
His colleague*, Mr. Barrett (Rep., Mas. ,
demanded an opportunity ro . >ply,
claiming that Mr. Walker had agreed to
yielel him time. This Mr. Walker de
nied, saying lie* always kept his promise*
to man and God, but “not according
to the standards of his colleagues.”
Mr. Barrett denounced the denial as
an “unmitigated falsehood.”
Mr. Walker proceeded to criticise the
Currency Committee, selected by Mr.
Grosvcnor, Chairman of the Republican
caucus.
Mr. Walker spoke in high terms of
Mr. 11. H. Hanna, of the Indianapolis
Monetary Committee, but denounced the
manner in which he and his colleague
(Continued on Seventh Page.)
COUNSEL FOR MILES
Maj. Jesse Lee Suddenly Ap
pears in that Character,
SETS TO WORK AT ONCE
MEN ON BOARD THE YALE WENT
HUNGRY.
WHILE THOSE ON THE ST. PAUL FEASTED
Ven Wade Sick by Eating’ Refrigerator Beef.
Court Refuses to Allow Reading of
Letters Throwing Light on
Army Conditions.
Washington. March 3. —The latest de
velopment of tile War Department
court of inquiry into General Miles’ Ikm.* f
charges was the'appearance to-day of
Major Jesse Lee, as counsel for the
Gliteral commanding tlu* army. Major
Leo was so introduced to the court by
the recorder, Colonel Davis, at the be
ginning of the afternoon session. He
began to cross examine witnesses at
once and with the first one antagonized
the court to the exrent of- demanding
the admission of certain letters as evi
dence, but was refused. The proceed
ings were not marked, however, by any
evidence of unpleasant friction between
the court and the new counsel.
The appearance of Major Lee in the
ease is the culmination of considerable
correspondence between General Miles
and the court as to the accuracy of
some statements made by witnesses on
the stand and which General Miles con-,
sidered he had official data to prove
incorrect. It began with the testimony
of Colonel Woodruff several days ago
to the effect that beef herds were sel
dom if ever driven with troops in the
Indian campaigns of the West. /
General Miles called the attention of
the court to this case and was in
formed by letter j that if he chose it
was within his right to be present or to
be represented by counsel to keep track
of the examination.
General Miles rdplied that it was some
times the custom) in courts of inquiry
to have present an officer to "assist
the recorder in keeping the records in
shape.” *
The court replied to this that it did
not m* d any "assistance” for its re
corder. hpt suggested again that General
Miles cmild be present to aid in the ex
amination of witnesses, or could be* rep
resented by counsel if he wished.
To this General Miles replied to-day
that in accordance with custom in such
cases in* would be represented here
after by Major Jesse Lee, “for the pur
pose of participating in the examina
tion with a view to eliciting the full
truth pertaining to the/’fcubpeet under
discussion.”
This does not place General Miles
in the position of defendant before the
court, lint gives his counsel the right
of conducting a direct or cross exami
nation as fully as lie desires.
Colonel J. A. Case, of the Fourth
Pennsylvania, who served with General
Brooke in the Porto Itican campaign
testified that he had about six days’ ex
perience with canned roast beef. At
first the men tried to keep the meat
after the cans were openjed, but it
spoiled between meals. He ordered the
company cooks to make stews of a
whole can sit a time and it proved very
satisfactory.
Captain A. 51. Gray, of the Sixth
Massachusetts, which wunt to Porto
Rico on the Yale when she carried Gen
eral Miles South said the principal cause
of complaint among his men was not
as to the quality of the rations, but be
cause they were short in quantity.
"Did not the Yale carry provisions in
her cargo aside from the men’s travel
rationsV” asked Colonel Davis.
"I understand that she did.”
“Dili you report this state of things
to any higher authority?”
"I reported to my Colonel.”
“Was there any higher officer on
hoard?”
“Yes, there was the General com
manding the army.’
While on detached duty on shore wit
ness said his men got hold of one lot
of very poor canned l*eef, two-thirdt
of which was spoiled and the remainder
of worse quality than lit* had seen else
where.
Alfred F. Foote, of Holyoke, Mass.,
a sergeant of the Second Massachusetts,
which served at Santiago, had a new
adjective for the much discussed can
ned roast beef. ll** said it tasted
“bleached.” Some of it seemed to be
sijnply boiled t<> death and tin* other
was absolutely putrid. Probably one
third was spoiled in this way. His
command got comparatively little refrig
erated beef, most of it spoiling before
it could be cooked and failing after it
was cooked to keep from dinner t«> sup
per. A
Captain M. B. Critehfield, of the
Eighth Ohio, which also served in Cuba,
described the voyage South on the St.
Paul as a feast of plenty, corned and
roast beef being piled up by the ton
on the deck where the men could get
it for the taking.
Witness said that from the landing on
July 10th to the surrender on the 17tli,
there was little or no complaint as to
tin* ration. After tin* surrender the
regiment was camped at Sevilla, about
six miles east of the city. Here they
got on issue of refrigerator beef, but
the men refused to take it. He
inspected the meat, cut a quarter in
half and found that it was apparently
good on 11k* inside, though green and
slimy oil the surface. He cut some
from the inside, cooked it and was made
very sick by eating it. So were other
men who tried it.
11. S. Van Schaick. of the Rough Rid
ers, testified that the canned beef was
bad and rations generally unsatisfac
tory.
At this point Major Loo. counsel for
General Miles, raised the first issue
with the court. Witness said lie had
certain letters written home from Cuba,
describing the conditions there from day
to day. He offered to read them, blit
Colonel Davis declined. Major Lee
stated that he thought the letters should
be admitted as evidence, tending to bring
out vividly the very conditions which
were being inquired into. The court de
clined to entertain this suggestion.
Lieutenant Thayer, who was aboard
the Yale on her trip to Porto nu-o,
supported the preceding witness in all
the uncomplimentary things they had
said of the canned roast beef.
Major Lee continued the examina
tion and elicited the fact that the
refrigerator beef served aboard the
Yale was so offensive that it was re
pulsive even in soups and stews. Major
Lee also got from the witness a de
tailed description of tm* canned beef to
the effect that it was in long strips in
the can, the meat being held together
by long strips of fibre or gristle which
had to be cut away, being wholly un
eatable.
When his command went ashore 15
per cent of tin* men were sick. After a
short march in the hot sun their weak
ness, due, as h** considered, to bad
food on tin* ship, increased till most: of
tlu* men were sick even if not on sick
report.
STRUCK BY A THUNDERBOLT.
Two Mili Instantly Slain—A Horse
Stunned—Barn Struck.
Greensboro, N. C., March 3.—(Spe
cial.)—During a heavy thunder storm
yesterday afternoon lightning struck a
barn belonging to a nurseryman, John
A. Young, about two miles east of
Greensboro, and two negro men. John
Younger and Daniel Esta, recently from
Rcidsville, were struck and instantly
killed.
A horse was also struck, but after
about thirty minutes came to and will
probably get well.
CYCLONE IN MARLBORO
HMLSTONES MEASURED TEN INCHES IN
CIRCUMFERENCE.
Windows Shattered and Shingles Split Open.
Several Tenant Houses Destroyed and
Some Larger ones Wrecked.
Gibson, X. C., March 3.—(Special.)—
The upper edge of Marlboro county,
near this place, was visited by a terrible
hail storm and cyclone between 4 and 5
o’clock this afternoon. The hail stones
were of enormous size; the larger ones
were by actual measurement found to
be ten inches in circumference. Win
dow glasses were shattered, shingles of
the houses wore split, quite a number of
fowls were killed.
The path of the cyclone was fifty to
seventy-live yards wide, and so far as
heard from about three miles long. It
destroyed several tenant houses on 51 r.
D. J. Adams' place and severely dam
aged his residence, completely demol
ishing the residence of Mr. Joseph New
ton. Mr. Newton himself was badly
injured. Tt next struck Mr. C. D. Now
ton’s residence, which was) also wreck
ed, but no one wa sinjured.
Several tenant houses on the planta
tions of N. T. and E. G. Fletcher were
wrecked. No one was injured there.
Owing to interference in telephone com
munication we are unable to ascertain
further damages. There was no wind
here, but considerable damage was done
by the bail.
TERMINALS AT SAVANNAH.
Contract for Dredging and Piling
Given Out.
Savannah, Ga., March 3.—Some con
cern has been felt here since the Georgia
and Alabama road purchased the Sea
board and the Florida Central and
Peninsula, lest the projected great ter
minals of the Georgia and Alabama at
this place he abandoned and the Sea
board's terminals at Portsmouth, Va.,
be used for tin* new system. Anxiety
on this score, however, has Iteen allayed
by the letting to W. W. liegeman, of
Pittsburg, of .a $300,000 contract for
dredging and piling for the terminals
across the river from this city. Tin
contract provides that the work shall be
in progress by April Ist. The Georgia
anil Alabama has also taken options on
a considerable quantity of real estate in
the city adjacent to the present Central
1 )<*pot.
THE SUNDRY CIVIL BILL.
Washington, March 3.—The confer
ence report on the Sundry Civil Bill re
porting a partial agreement, shows that
of the 102 Senate amendments adding
$8,503,233 to the bill: the Senate receded
from $1,049,050, and the House agreed
to $3,004,243. No agreement has been
reached upon amendments aggregating
$4,389,940. 'l'lie Ilonse agreed to the
amendments for public buildings at
Macon, Ga.. $58,000; Columbus, Ga.,
$50,000; Depot at Mobile, $12,000. <
Some small items under the Fish
Commission, the Geological Survey and
other miscellaneous items were also
agreed to by the House; also $1,010,000
for the Paris Exposition; $50,000 for
souvenir dollars for erecting a statue
to LaFnyette at Paris; also appropriat
ing for a new Government printing office
.$350,000, limit of cost .$2,000,000.
Arcadia, La., March 3. —Jack Brad’ y.
colored, was hanged in the Bienville jail
to-day for murdering a colored woman
and her little girl, He confessed his
I guilt on the scaffold.
The New Sch/,i Law
a-
CV**
THE HOUSE BALKS/ *DLY ON ITS
ADOPTION,
Complains That the Machinery is Too Com
plicated and Ask Re-Enactment of
the Old Law of 1893.
The other day it was predicted i:>
these columns that the Solons now here
grinding out laws, would, if they didn't
strike a snag, be on their way home by
Tuesday.
This latter prediction may yet come
true. *l{ut tin* aforesaid snag has been
struck.
Yesterday' afternoon the House
saddle-bagged itself on the edge of a
hidden reef, and at the latest advices it
\yas-still pinioned there —a jagged hole
in its side and the water gaining on the
pumps.
That reef is the new school law, and
the point on which the ship of legislation
stuck was sections 17 and 18, which pro
vide for the appointment of township
school trustees by the school Jirectois
of each county; also that this “county
board of school directors shall on the
second Monday in January and the sec
ond Monday in July of each year appor
tion the school fund of the county to
the various townships in said county per
capita.”
The House didn’t like this "county
board of school directors,” and it said so
individually and collectively. It savored
too much of the Fusion law, declared
one. It was a complicated piece of ma
chinery, said another; and it’s as un
necessary as it’s complicated and more
cos fly, chimed in a third.
“Give us rather the good old simple
Democratic law of 1893,” said a whop
ping big majority.
And as the craft was about to tip upon
its nose to go down a plea was made lo
let it stand till this morning to see if
the water couldn’t be baled out and
something done to repair the injury. As
the remaining time is too short to permit
the building of an out-and-out new law,
this may save it.
We shall see. for it is to be considered
again this morning.
The bill was first taken up at the
morning session as a special order, and
was put on its third and final read
ing.
The bill was explained by Mr. Craig,
of Buncombe, who pointed out tin* differ
ence between the provisions of the bill
and the old law.
The first fifteen sections of the act
were adopted, then the House adjourned
to meet again at 4 o’clock
At that hour the bill was again called
u)), and barring the passage of a few
local bills, its consideration consumed
the whole afternoon.
No sooner had the section providing for
township trustees been read than a
storm of protests arose. Several amend
ments were sent forward. One proposed
to take out the whole section, another
to strike out the word “trustees” wher
ever it oeurred, and still another pro
posed to recommit the bill to the com
mittee with instruction to report back
the old law of 1893.
All of these were, after discussion,
voted down except the one presented by
51r. Davis, of Haywood, to strike out
the word “trustee” wherever it occurred.
Tin* vote on this was 44 to 31.
This adopted they were about to gu back
and adopt the amendment of slr. Thomp
son, of Onslow, recommitting the bill to
the committee with instructions to report
back to the House the law of 1893.
This motion was about to be put and
carried when it was pointed out that the
Legislature being practically at an end
and much work remaining to be done, it
was no time to Ik* swapping horses if by
any possibility the bill before the House
could be patched up so as to do.
For these reasons the bill went over
till this morning.
During its consideration yesterday a
very strong speech was made in support
of tin* bill by Mr. Craif, of Buncombe,
chairman of the Committee on Educa
tion.
WESTERN CRISIINAL COURT.
The House and Senate Yesterday Elect
ed Henry B. Stevens Judge.
(
At 1 o’clock yesterday the House went
into the election of a judge of the West
ern District Circuit court.
slr. Craig, of Buncombe, placed in
nomination Henry B. Stevens, of Ashe
ville. There were no other nominations.
Judge Stevens received all the votes
cast, except one, the Republicans and
Populists refraining f rom voting.
The bill abolishing the district was
passed Thursday, and the one re-creating
it, became a law half an hour before
Mr. Stevens’ election.
Judge Stevens was last fall elected
to this office by the people overcoming
a Republican majority of 900. His re
election wns made necessary by tin* abo
lition and re-establishment of the dis
trict. His term of office is until the
next general election.
This legislation was necessary to get
rid of a very objectionable clerk and
a solicitor that were legislated into of
fice by the Fusionists.
The district is composed of Madison.
Buncombe, Henderson, McDowell, Yan
cey, Surry and Forsyth, and the court
has jurisdiction of all the crimes
and misdemeanors committed in these
counties.
The act empowers the present Legisla
ture to elect a judge of the court who
PRICE FIVE CENTS.
will hold office until the next general
election. It makes it Judge Stevens’
duty to appoint a solicitor in each of the
counties embraced in ihc district.
The act creating the court likewise re
quires him to appoint clerks in Madison,
Buncombe and Forsyth counties. In
the other Counties lhi* clerks of the
Superior courts will he ex-officio clerks
of the Criminal court.
Earlier in the morning a supplemental
act to this bill had boon passed, taking
Haywood county out of the district.
This step was requested by slt*. Da
vis, of Haywood, lie said that on Wed
nesday Haywood county was put in the
criminal court district.
“This was done.” he added, against
my wishes and against: my protest, and
against the wishes of my people. Since
then tin* supplemental bill, remedying
this defect has been introduced and pass
ed in the Senate, and I* now ask this
House to do the same, in deference to
me and to the wishes of the people of
Haywood county.”
The bill passed.
KEEPER OF CAPITOL CHOSEN.
slr. Burns Will Resist 51r. Cherry's
Claims to the Office.
On the heels of Judge Stevens’ elec
tion came another special order the elec
tion of Keeper of t In*-CtfltTfol.
slr. Moore, of Jackson, nominated C.
C. Cherry, of Edgecombe.
5Fr. Giles, of Chatham, named J. 5L
Burns, of Martin, the present incum
bent.
The roll call resulted: Cherry. 58;
Burns, 14.
It is understood that 51r. Burns will
contest the title to the office in the
courts, contending that lit* was elected
to serve during the present administra
tion, unless sooner dismissed by the
board that elected him. and that his terra
of office does not expire for two vears
yet.
THANKS TO SPEAKER CONNOR.
A Force of Clerks in the House That is
Just the Finest at All.
The dead dull drudgery in the House
yesterday was broken by two pleasant
incidents.
To the tired-bodied and heavy-eyed
legislators, many of whom had hardly
been to bed the night before, these
incidents must have been especially
pleasant.
The first was the following resolution
introduced by Mr. Johnson (Pop.), of
Sampson: “Resolved that the thanks
of the House of Representatives are
hereby tendered to lion. 11. G. Connor
for the able, impartial and dignified
manner in which lie has presidl'd over
this body during its session of 1899.”
Speaking to this resolution srr. John
son paid a high tribute to Judge Connor
and, on behalf of the Populist members,
thanked him for his fair rulings and im
partial treatment of them.
For the Republicans slr. I’etree, of
Stokes, spoke. He said Judge Connor
had been ever considerate, just and
thoughtful, knowing no man’s polities
in his rulings.
“The Democratic majority,” added
51r. I’etree, “has been sometimes per
haps disposed to ride a little rough-shod
over us. lint this has only been when
urged on by tie heat of politics. For
the most part their treatment of tin*
minority has been all that could be
asked or expected.”
Smith (col., Rep.), of Craven had voted
for Judge Connor for Speaker and now
he was glad to see his political collea
gues, who had at the time criticised his
action, coming over to his way of think
ing.
Judge Connor was not In the hall at
the time, 51r. Ray, of Macon, being in
the chair.
The motion to adopt the resolution
prevailed unanimously.
Another incident no less pi asanr was
the presentation of a beautiful scarf pin
to 51 r. Brevard Nixon, the chief clerk.
The pin was the gift of tin* other clerks
in Mr. Nixon’s office, ami its presenta
tion was made by Mr. Clarkson, of
Mecklenburg.
In doing so 51r. Clarkson spoke appre
ciatively of 51 r. Nixon’s splendid ser
vices to the House and of the kind
'and thoughtful conduct toward his sub
ordinates. And added:
“For this. sir. they desire to express
to you their thanks and appreciation.
To them you have been kind and in
dulgent; to us you have been faithful
and true. In presenting you with this
token of the love and esteem of your
fellow clerks allow me to add the wish,
which is also their wish, that your
life may be one filled with prospertiy
and happiness.”
It may be well in this connection to
add that no General Assembly has ever
had a more faithful, efficient and ac
commodating force of clerks than has
this one. No one knows this better than
do the newspaper men. for they are
continually making calls upon the kind
ness and patience of these hard-worked
clerks.
The clerk force in the House is as
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