North Carolina Newspapers

♦ 4 ♦ THE WEATHER TO DAY. ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ For North Carolina: ♦ t Fair; Colder. _ $ ♦ 4 ♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦ YOLXLIX. XO. Il.i SENSATION FROM SENATOR GUOGER t —1 ■ 1 11 ‘ Opposed Extending an Invita tion to Dr, Curry, WORKED FOR PEARSON Mr. Gudger Informed That Dr. Curry Lobbied Against Crawford. THE SENATE HONORS ROBERT E. LEE Primary Election 8i!l by Senator Foushee. Bill Regulating Solicitor’s Fees. Refused Concurrence in Amendment to One Bill. The session of the Senate yesterday was brief, the body adjourning until Mon day to commemorate the birthday of the late General Robert E. Lee. However. Saturday's proceedings were, narked by a sensation when Senator Gudger. of Asheville, openly stated on the floor of the Senate that he believed 1 > i*. J. L. M. Curry had assisted in de priving Hon. VV. T. Crawford of his seat in Congress and in seating Mr. Richmond Win son; hence Senator Gudger said he was opposed to inviting I)r. Curry to ad dress the General Assembly. Ur. Curry is one of the more promi t • nl educators in the nation, being now tlie treasurer of the I’eabody Educa tional Fund, 'rom which some educational institutions of this State receive aid. and S ‘ii.tior Cudgel 's words could not fail to produce a sensation. Dr. Curry is a Democrat and has held foreign appoint ments from that party. INVITATION TO DR. CURRY. Senator Gudger’s remarks were pro \ iked by a joint resolution introduced by Senator Mclntvre of Robeson and placed upon the Calendar. The resolu tion read as follows: "Resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring: “That the Honorable ,J. L. M. Curry, Treasurer of the Peabody Educational Fund, be invited to address the General \ssembly In ( hc hall of the House of Rep resentatives at such time as will be con v«men; for him." Lieut. Gov. Turner put the motion to adopt and the resolution passed, only one voice being heard in the negative. SENATOR GUDGER EXPLAINS. Senator Gudger was then recognized and said: "Mr. President, I desire to ex ldaiu why I voted 'no' upon the adoption >i' the resolution just passed. I have re b.tbli information that Dr. Curry used his in Due nee and lobbied in the national Hoe-.* of Representatives to unseat Hon. P iliiam T. Crawford, who had been elect ed bv the people of my section, and to '<a, in hi- stead Richmond Pearson, who had not been elected by the people. With tie.- information, since Dr. Curry is con sidered a Democrat, I felt compelled to vote against the resolution inviting him to address this General Assembly.” This dosed the incident in the Senate, but not a few Senators were heard dis «■!!*■:.it:g the matter afterwards. OTHER IMPORTANT FEATURES. The other notable features of yester day's session was the failure of the Sen ate to concur in the House amendments o the bill giving the personal represen tative of trustee the same powers as the personal representative of a mortgagee and Senators Henderson and Foushee v ,re appointed on the part of the Seu •tie on tlie conference committee asked. A resolution by Senator James author izing tite Secretary of State to employ e competent person to index and provide captious for the acts of this general assembly went over until Tuesday upon request of Senator Henderson. Upon request of Senator Foushee of Durham _’oo copies of Senator Brown's bill ' a ,:;fnst the sale of cigarettes was order ed printed. This bill is the special order for next Wednesday. Senator Foushee presented the bill providing for a legalized primary elec tion yesterday and it was referred to the Committee on Election Law. This i bill was prepared by the executive com- ! mittee and has previously appeared in | this paper. The bill introduced by Sena- I in:' James in regard to solicitors fees b published elsewhere in this issue. The Senate adjourned in accordance with a resolution offered by Senator Mor ton of Nt w Hanover, that the Senate ad journ m honor of General Robert E. Lee, Saturday being his birthday and a State holiday, to meet at noon Monday. The resolution was amended by Senator Ward so as 'o meet at eleven Monday. Upon motion the* following Senators wi re added to the committee below nam ed :: • Mr. McAlestcr, to Committee on Educa tion. Mr. Alexander to Committee on Elec tion law. Mr. Miller, of Caldwell, to Committee on Deaf, Dumb and Blind Institutions. SATURDAY'S SESSION. The Senate was called to order by Lieut. Gov. W. D. Turner at eleven o'clock and Rev. M. M. McFarland, of ' ibe Methodist church offered prayer. The ! reading of the journal was dispensed ! with. Mr. Henderson presented a petition signed by Bishop Riionthalier .of the Mo ravian church and the ministers of Wiu s on for the establishment of a State re formatory. INTRODUCTION OF RILLS. bills and resolutions were introduced ■ as follows and referred to committees: I The News and Observer. Leads all North (Oapolma DailiesimNews and€ip©ulati©n Mr. Foushee, to regulate the holding of primary elections. Mr. James, to amend chapter .1737 of The Code regarding fees for solicitors. Mr. Webb, to supply public documents to the college of Agricultural and Me chanic Arts at Raleigh. Mr. Miller, of Pamlico, to repeal chap ter .70, Public Laws of 1891. Mr. Ward, to pay J. S. Mann the bal ance of salary due him as shell fish com missioner. Mr. Woodard, for the relief of T. K. Kidder. Mr. Mclntyre, joint resolution invit ing Hon. J. L. M. Curry to address the General Assembly. Placed on the calen dar. Mr. Crisp, the place Hannah Davenport on the pension roll; to place J. 11. Rog ers on the pension roll; to place Daniel A. Taylor on the pension roll; to place J. C. S. Hyde on the pension roll. THE CALENDAR. Senate bill, with house amendment, to amend the Code relative to trustees and mortgagees. Senators Henderson and Foushee appointed on conference commit tee, the Senate not concurring. Senate Resolution for indexing acts of General Assembly postponed until Tues day. PASSED FINAL READING. The following passed third reading in the Senate and were sent to the House so" concurrence: Senate bill for the relief of the clerk of Ihe court of Robeson county. Senate bill to allow commissioners of Wilson to levy a special tax to improve the court bouse. Senate joint resolution inviting Hon. J. L. M. Curry to_ address the General Assembly. Senate bill to amend chapter too, acts of 1897 regarding trial of civil actions; a substitute by the Judiciary committee was accepted and passed. Senate bill to amend the charter of the town of Concord. This imposed uo tax merely providing for five policemen and a chief and so passed both readings on yesterday. The Senate then adjourned in honor of General Lee. THE NEWS FROM DURHAM. The Local Happenings of Yesterday in That City. (Special to News and Observer, t Durham, N. €., Jan. 10.—The District Stewards’ meeting of the Methodist church, will meet with Trinity church, thjs city, next Thursday. Dr. W. H. Moore, P. E. will preside. Maj. W. A. Guthrie left yesterday af ternoon lor a Northern trip. He will be absent from the city several days. Bishop J. B. Cheshire. D. 11.. of the North Carolina diocese, will held confor mation services at St. Phillip’s church tomorrow morning at 11 o’clock. Bishop Cheshire is one of the most noted divines of the Episcopal church. The Daughters of the Confederacy met at the residence of Mrs. A. G. Carr this afternoon at four o’clock. The object of the meeting was to commemorate the birthday of Gen. Robert E. Lee. Mrs. Frank Ferguson, formerly of this city, but now of Kittrell, who has been seriously sick for some time is better. .Ah', and Mrs. H. C. Flower, two chil dren and governess, arrived in the cby yesterday afternoon, on a visit to Gen. and Mrs. .1. S. Carr, parents of Mrs. Flow er. Mrs. Lalla Ruth Carr Patton arriv ed this moning. Her brother, Mr. Marvin Carr, of the State Univesity, arrived on the same train as did Mrs. Patton. The entire family, will be together today and tomorrow—a family re-union. Mrs. Flow er and Airs. Patton will remain here for seeral days. A few days ago, Officer W. G. Grub tree, captured Jake Brown, a negro, who escaped from the work house of this county in 1897. Brown was seut to the roads .for assault with deadly weapon and escaped before his term bad expired. WHO WILL ACT 1 Doubt in Congrezs as to Who Will Consider Caban Constitution (By the Associated Press.) Washington, Jan. 19. —The reports from Havana that the Cuban Constitution may be completed in time to be considered at this session of Congress has led to the discussion in Congressional circles as to the procedure likely to be adopted on a document of th ! s character. It is expect ed that the Constitution will be forward ed to the President anil by him submitted to Congress, probably with recommenda tions. In the House the understanding pre vails that action on the subject would be framed bv the Insular Committee. But it ; s viG f clear what action, if anv. is call for relative to the constitution of what is held to be foreign territory, ex cept as it contains provisions regarding the United States. Chairman Coop* r of the Insular Committee, says it would not do for Congress to passnipon or ratify the Constitution as it is. for the Cubans are to do this for themselves. He thinks it probable, however, that a declaratory resolution could be framed, expressing the views of Congress as to the sufficiency of the Constitution insuring a stable and pa cific government for Cuba, and perhaps laying down the plan of turning over the island affairs to the Cubans as soon as their Constitutional system is put into practice. In this, however, the purpose would not be so much to pass on the Con stitution as to see that the UnitoA States’ pledges of a pacific government were car ried out. Tn case the Constitution pro vides for an American protectorate, or gives other provisions relating to the United States, special action might lie re quired. beyond the mere resolution ap proving the system proposed. Affected indifference to everything of current interest is a fad with seine peo ple. Affectation springs from the desire of mankind to appear better than it really is lUI.KIGII, NOHTiI <AROIJNA, HOUSE HONORS LEE'SBIRTHOJT Adjourned After a Short Ses sion Yesterday. TALKOVER SMALL MATTER Republicans Oppose a Necessary Ex penditure of $25.00. MONUMENT TO INDIAN CHIEF IUNALUSKA The Resolution to Authorize the Committee on Roads and Turnpikes to Employ a Steno grapher Finally Adopted As er Considerable Debate. The House session was short yester day, an adjournment being taken about 11:30 in honor of Gen. R. E. Lee’s birth day. However, quite a good deal of busi ness was transacted, and a reasonably lively discussion was indulged in over the question of authorizing the Joint Com mittee c.n Roads and Turnpikes to em ploy a stenographer. Representative Gattis, of Orange, fcx pluined that Senator S. B. Alexander, chairman of the committee, had been i called upon io frame a general road law for the whole State. This would entail upon him a great deal of writing, which it was impossible for him to do, on ac count of a broken right hand. Mr, aGt tis further said that Senator Alexander i was peculiarly fitted to draft this meas [ ure, as he was practically the father of j good roads in North Carolina. A LITTLE POLITICS. Representative Ebbs, of Madison, op posed the resolution on the ground of economy. Ho thought that ail minor ap propriations should be kept in abeyance until the all important matter of school appropriations should be settled. If the | chairman was unable, for any reason, to do his own writing, then some other man should be made chairmen. This brought Mr. Watts, of Iredell,* to his feet to offer congratulations to the party of which the gentleman from Madi son is a member, upon the interest they w* re taking in educational matters. He said that if he read aright, when that party had control of legislation, it cared Rifle one way or another whether the children cf the State were educated or not. Mr. Boddingileld, ot Wake, spoke in favor of ihe measure. He thought ih.at reasonable expenditures for the purpose cf expediting business should be approv ed, and expressed himself as being op posed to picayune legislation. Judge Graham, of Granville, humorous ly remarked that no one con HI accuse him of favoring extravagant expenditures, but that he certainly considered the resolu tion a good one, as be thought it would be economy in the end. Mr. McKethau, of Cumberland, offered an amendment, providing for the employ ment of a stenographer by the hour, for such time as he may be needed, at a price not to exceed 25 cents per hour. This aroused Mr. Shannonhouse, of Mecklenburg, who said that to pass that amendment would be to kill the resolu tion. He bad been a stenographer him self, and knew that it would be impossi ble to secure one at any such price. He went on to speak of the importance of the law proposed, and the folly of allow ing a slight expenditure to stand in the way of its best preparation. Mr. McKethau, after bearing seeral other expressions on the subject, with drew liis amendment. OUGHT TO TAKE IT BACK. Mr. Curtis, of Buncombe, thought the gentleman from Madison (Mr. Ebbs) ought to take back what he said about putting in another man as chairman of the committee, if the present incumbent was unable to do the writing. COONS AND POSSUMS. Mr. Oarraway, of Lenoir, said good roads h"d much to do with the education and intelligence of the people. With the fusicuists in charge of the roads, the children could not get to school in bad weather, and the coons and ’possums even had left the roads and taken to the woods. Mr. Ebbs said bo could not understand why politics had been dragged into this discussion, unless it was for the. same reason the irishman gave for beating his dog the next day after he had killed it for worrying sheep, “because he was afraid it would come to life again.” Dr. McNeill, of Brunswick, said he thought the matter was taking of a great deal too much time. He considered that when a man like Senator Alexander ask ed for a reasonable thing like this, it ought to be granted without question. In calling for the previous question, Mr. Gattis said the time that had been consumed was worth more than the whole amount involved. The resolution was adopted without further discussion. FOR A MONUMENT. A bill was introduced bv Mr. Mauney, of Graham, appropriating S3OO for a mon ument. to be erected to the memory of the famous Cherokee Indian Chief. Juna luska, who rendered valuable assistance to General Jackson in bis victory over the Creek Nation in I<l2. Junaluska, with some of It’s warriors, swam Tallapoosa Itiver and captured the canoes of the Creeks, thereby cutting off their commun ications. T HE SESSION. The Hr*ise was called to order at 10 o’clock by Speaker Moore, and opened UN PAY MORNING. .1 AM \I!Y in. 190-1. with prayer by Rev. George F. Smith, pastor of the Edenton Street Methodist church, this city. Mr. \Y. E. Ardrey. representative from Mecklenburg, was present in the House for the first time, and was duly sworn in as a member. Mr. Ardrey has just re covered from a serious illness. On motion of \V. 11. Morris, of Cabarrus, the reading of the journal was omitted. The following are the petitions a.ud memorials that were addressed to the I louse: By Mr. Mclntosh, from citizens of Yancey countv, to prohibit the manufac ture and sal*' of whiskey and brandy in the county. By Mr. Carlton, of Duplin, to incorporate the town of Rose Hill By Mr. Winston, from T. H. Bazemore and others, of Bertie county, to place W. o. Copeland, a disabled Confederate sol dier, on the pension roll. By Mr. Yarborough, from certain citi zens of Franklib county, for a stock law for a portion of Dunn’s township. By Mr. Hartley, from citizens of David son county, for an additional term of one week in December for the trial of civic cases. Mr. Winston, of Bertie, upon request of Mr. Hartley, of Davidson, lodged a motion to reconsider the vote by which Senate Bill 42, House Bill 189 was tabled on the day previous, and to refer the bill to the Committee once more, as Mr. Hartley had some additional facts to j bring before the committee. The motion j prevailed, and the bill was ordered taken | from the table. This is the act to amend 1 chapter 20, Public Laws of 1899, so as to ! provide that no one except the owner in fee simple of the land could prosecute lor violation of laws on hunting. Mr. Whitaker, of Forsyth, introduced i.y request a resolution to investigate the claims against the estate of M. I. and J. C. Stewart, former public printers. INTRODUCTION OF BILLS. Carlton, of Duplin, to incorporate the town of Rose Hill. Thompson, of Onslow, to protect, deer in Onslow county. Thompson, to emend the act to incor porate the Wrlglltsville and Onslow Navi gation Company. Bannerman, of Pender, to place the name of Jacob Beasley on the pension roll of Fender county. Mauney. of Graham, to erect a monu ment to th** memory of Junueuska, the famous Cherokee Indian chief, for services rendered General Jackson in the war of 1 1812. Dean, of Macon, for the relief of J. C. Burns, of Macon county. Introduced by request. Fields, of Mleghany, to prohibit live stock r rom running at large iu certain parts of Allogba/te. county, and bogs from running at hirVe' tn the residue of the countv. Nash, of Pasquotank, to protect the pub lic roads of Pasquotank county. McFarland, of Stokes, to place the name of Solomon Ballard upon the pension roll. Harris, of Northampton, to amend chapter 388, Public Laws of 1899. Blythe, of Henderson, for the relief of the Henderson County Cattle Association. Brittain, of Randolph, to amend section 3748, volume 2 o' the Code, regulating fees of Justices of tlit* Peace. Brittain, to amend chapter 157, Laws of IM‘I. Reinhardt, of Lincoln, tor the relief of Mrs. Rhoda McCorklc. Reinhardt, for the relief of Mrs. Emma Bunigardner. McNeill, of Brunswick, to prohibit the manufacture and sale of spirituous liquors within two miles of Silent Grove Baptist church, in Brunswick county. McNeill, to authorize the commissioners of Brunswick county to levy a special tax. Morgan, of Johnston, to amend section II of the Code, relating to apprentices. Ebbs, of Madison, to prevent the felling of timber or brush in Meadowfork of Spring Creek, or any of its tributaries in Madison county. Ebbs, to place the names of .J. J. Hich am, A. Miller and W. M. Woody, of Madison county, on the pension roll. Roberson, of Guilford, to allow the city of High Point to issue bonds. Roberson, to amend the charter of the city of High Point, chapter 238. Laws of 1891. Nash, of Pasouotank, for the relief of T. P. Wilcox, ex-sheriff of Pasquotank county. Bill accompanied by petition. Mr. Smith, of Gates, lodged a motion to reconsider the vote on bis motion of the previous da v , bv which was tabled his bill to systematize and regulate special proceedings, H. B. No. 24. Motion car ried and bill oi tiered taken from table. THE CALENDAR. The bill to incorporate the Bank of Hendersonville was slightlv amended by the committee, passed its second and third readings and was ordered engrossed and sent to the Senate. At this juncture, Mr. Wright, of Itowan, called the attention of the House to the fact that the day was the anniversary of General Robert E. Lee’s birthday, and moved that ‘be House adjourn in honor of the occasion until Monday. Mr. Gattis, of Orange, asked that, lc fore adjournment, he House consider the joint resolution to employ a stenographer, at a. cost of not more than 825. (mi. to fa ciiitate the work ot the Joint Committee on Roads and Turnpikes. The resolution vas brought before *'.:<* House, and after the discuss'on described above, was adopted. Judge Connor, of Wilson, then offered a resolution that the Senate and House meet in joint session on F* Pr Ist. for me purpose **f electing a State Librarian. On mot io" of -*t Wtutiit. nous-* Gun adjourned w-Dj ..lon k*v at 1J o clock. President McKinley Improving. (By the Associated Press.) Washington, Jan. 19.—The President is reported to he steadily regaining the ground lost during his recent illness, and is slowly assuming the full meas ure of his official functions. Secretary Root is stated to he improving, as is also Admiral Dewey. QUEEN VICTORIA IS NEAR DEATH'S DOOR She Has Suffered a Stroke of Paralysis. WALES DE-KACTO REGENT HBs Been Given Authority to Sign State Papers. KAISER WILLIAM HASTENS TO SEE HER Great Gloom Manifested in London Over Prob ability of Her Early Death. The Bul letins Express Hope, But People Fear th < ? Worst. (By the Associated Press.) London. Jan. 19. —Probably nowhere else in ilie world has Queen Vivtoria's pros tration been so conservatively treated in the newspapers as here, where it is of the most vital importance. The papers like her subjects hesitate to speak plain ly of the fears oppressing them regarding the Queen. The headlines of most of the afternoon papers today were confined to non-committal words in big type like "Her Majesty’s Condition.” But the news ven ders were doing a tremendous business wiih every edition. It was a gloomy day for London. The anxiety on every face, from the East End workingmen to the fre quenters of the St. James Club, comport ed with the dreary, drizzling rain. Lon don’s comment on yesterday’s official statement was that it might mean little or much. The bulletin of today forced the conviction on the public miud that it meant much. The officials told the news paper correspondents that they hoped for the best, but their manner showed they feared the worst. Withal, the intelli gence did not surprise people. The unani mous comment was that they feared it. While the Queen was wonderfully strong physically, for her age, the cares and sorrow's not only of the war. but arising from the death of her grandson in trfouth Africa, and of ht r favorite lady-in-wait ing, the Dowager Lady Churchill, at Christmas, affected her vitality, an 1 the empire awaited the news from Osborne with the keenest suspense in the memory of the Queen’s subjects. Cowes. Isle of Wight, Jan. 19. —(Mid- night.)—The Queen ot England now lies at death’s door. Site was stricken with paralysis tonight. Reuters Telegraph Company understands that the PVince of Wales hits received authority to act iu Mer Majesty's stead and thus has been created a practical, though not consti tutional regency. Cowes, Isle of Wight, (Midnight,) Jan. 19. —A rumor purveyed by Osborne House employes declares that the Queen cannot live until Monday, but this receives no official confirmation, though it is admit ted that it* is scarcely even likely the queen, if she recovers at all, will regain the use of those vigorous faculties which ’’stinguished her among the wo*»eu of all time. Gathered at her bedside are the Prince and Princess of Wales, Princess Louise and other members of the royal family, while Mr. Ritchie, the Secretary of State for home affairs officially represents the Cabinet. Lord Salisbury is in constant telephonic communication with Osborne House, and it was rumored that he had arried at Osborne, but this does appear at best to be true. The arrival of Em peror William and other members of the royal family are anxiously awaited. The last time the Queen drove out in Cowes the rain beat heavily down upon her. Osborne. Isie of Wight, Jan. 19. (6 p. m.) —The following official bulle tin has just been issued: “The Queen’s strength has been fairly maintained throughout the day and there are indi cations of slight improvement in the symptoms this evening. (Signed) “JAMES REID. R. DOUGLAS POWELL." Cowes, Isle of Wight. Jan. 19.—Them was no change in Her Majesty's condi tion at .1:40 p. m. Accarding to local understanding and report, the Prince of Wales comes to Osborne with the object of practically assuming the re gency. eH v ill take over the powers of signing State documents and is ex pected to return to London, the centre of State business, until his return here is necessitated by the possible course of events. TREATY MAY BE AMENDED. The British May Make Amendments to Hay- Panneefote Treaty. (By the Associated Press.) Washington, Jan. 19. —The expectation here is that the British Government will return the amended Hay-Paunce forte Treaty with amendments of its own, and ij is not expected that these British amendments will tye acceptable to the United States Senate. Whether or not this expectation is based on advices from Mr. Choate or communi cations from Lord Paunceforte, it is not possible to determine. Adam was probable created in the afternoon —at least it was a little before Eve. A gosling never attempts to teach a goose, yet there are children who imagine they are wiser than their parents. LEE S BIRTHDAY IN WILMINGTON. Obsei ved With Fitting Ceremonies New Char ter Meets With Opposition (Special to News and Observer.) Wilmington, X. C., Jan. 19.—The anni versary of General Lee’s birthday was rather more generally celebrated in Wil mington this year tlxm usual. The banks, produce exchange and a number of offices were closed during the day and at many other places of business half holiday was observed. There were elaborate celebrations by the local camp of Confederate Veterans and Daughters of Ihe Confederacy. The proposed new city charter which will bo submitted ro the Legislature for enactment into law at the present ses sion is meeting with strenuous objection from an unexpected quarter, because of the inclusion in its provisions of a section making possible a Board of Equalization invested with the light to conduct such critical examination of per sonal property tax payers as to be deemed unjustly inquisitorial into the af fairs of individuals. It further provides for the publication in a daily newspaper for three days of an abstract of all per sonal property listed in the city and by whom listed. The tax provision, with minor amendments, has been approved by the board of aldermen, but will be re heard at its coming meeting, when all those interested will be given an op portunity of being heard. Prof. Woodraw Wilson, of the chair of Jurisprudence of Princeton University, is a distinguished visitor to the city and is a guest of Mr. James Sprunt. Prof. Wil son is' here to visit ltis venerable father, the Rev. Dr. Joseph R. Wilson who is near the grave by reason of the infirmi ties of old age. The new James Walker Memorial Hos pital, which has been munificently donat ed to the city at a cost of $59,000 by Mr. James Walker and for which incorporation privileges are now being asked at the hands of the Legislature, is practically completed and is a very imposing struc ture. Ex-Governor Russell entered upon his professional duties as a member of the firm of Russell and Gore yesterday. TOBACCO GROWERS HEABD. Senate Finance Committee Hears Committee Urging Reduction of Tax (By the Associated Press.) Washington, Jan. It*. —The Senate com mittee on Finance today granted a bear ing to o delegation from the tobacco growing States. North Carolina, South Carolina, Kentucky, West Virginia and Georgia granted the support of reduce the tax on tobacco iu connection with this legislation on the war revenue. The delegation was composed entirely ot mem bers of Congress, and was headed by Senators Pritchard, Tillman and Martin. They said that the tax had been doubled in the war revenue act and that over $35,000,000 of the revenue of the country is raised upon tobacco and they asked for a reduction from tlic present tax of 12 cents per pound to 8 cents. The argu ment for a reduction was made upon the theory that it would be in the interest of the consumer and also that it would ben efit small manufacturers. EULOGIES TO SENATOR GEAR The Time of the Senate Taken Up With This Yesterday. (By the Associated Press.) Washington, Jan. 19. —Under a special order the Senate , devoted most of its time to eulogies upon the late Senator John A. Grear, of lowa, who died in this city last July. A concurrent resolution off* red a few days ago by Mr. Lindsay, (Ky.) provid ing for the celebration on the 4th of February next of the one Hundredth an niversary of the assumption of the chief justiceship of the United States by John Marshall was called up and passed. HOUSE PROCEEDINGS DULL. Abont One Half of the Postal Codification Bill Disposed Os. (By the Associated Press.) Washington, Jan. 19.—The session of the House today was devoted chiefly to the Postal Codification Bill, which was about half completed. The discussion turned mainly on the proposition to compel star route contracts to be let to persons living contiguous to the >oute, hut the proposition was defeated after extended debate. Among the bills passed was the grant ing fifteen days annual- leave to em ployes of navy yards arsenals, etc. Kaiser Goes to England (By the Associated Press.) Berlin, Jan. 19.—Emperor William and the Duke of Connaught, with their suites, left Berlin by special train for England at U o'clock this evening, by way of Flushing. The British second class cruiser Mi nerva (having a speed of over 20 knots) leaves Portsmouth at 9o 'clock tonight to intercept the vessel bringing Em peror William and the Duke of Ron naught from Flushing and take them io Osborne. An urgent telegram has been sen tto the Duke of Cambridge recall ing him from Paris. Weekly Bask Statement New York, Jan. 19.—The weekly state ment of averages of the associated hanks shows: Loans $830,873,409, increase $22,- 8)1,000; deposits $921,787,200, increase $40, 0. 1,000; circulation. $30.1(73.200. increase $2,300; legal tenders $73,050,000, increase $2.47C,C00; ..specie $184,052,800, increase $11,195,300; total reserve $257,703,400, in crease $10,971,8o0; reserve required $230,- 448,800, • increase $9,112,750; surplus re serve $27,250,000. increase $!.858,550. A pessimist is a man who prefers ar:i fcial Sight to genuine sunshine. * ♦ THE WEATHER TO*DAY. X ♦ For Raleigh: 4„ . ♦ ♦ 1 iws. m ith :ree*Jng tempera* ♦ tore 4 ♦ ♦ fWMVK OKNTB. CONVERT THE "PEN" Into a Modern Hospital For the Insane A Suggestion That Would Give Ample Ac commodations For All the Insane of the State at Small Outlay. I v\as talking last night at the Yar borough House with a gentleman who is greatly interested in public matters. “I have been tb.nking.” he said, "how we can providf accommodations for the in sane. Wo a’*e told that there are five hundred who ought to be in the asy lums. It wiil sorely tax the State to care for theta and 1 do not see where the money is coining from to provide the buildings “Why not convert the Central Prison in Raleigh*into a Hospital for the male insane? it was largely a waste of pub lic money to build that magnificent building—the handsomest in the State, except the Morgan!on Hospital—and it is not needed now that the convicts are worked on the farm. 1 know they talk about industries in the ’pen.' They've been trying them twenty years, but none have ever paid for any length of time. Put most of the convicts on the farms or on the public roads, and build cheap, strong barracks for the long term convicts (there are not many now because Russell pardoned most of them) and it will be the best thing for the penitentiary. "The building is near the Central Hospital. For a small sum the land lying between could be bought and Dix Grove joined to the present peni tentiary property. The penitentiary building could be fixed up without great cost, the grounds improved, and in a few years people would forget it had ever been a penitentiary. It is well lo cated and ought to be utilised. “it has long been a reproach to us that the second handsomest public building in Pastern North Carolina was the penitentiary. This plan would re move (hat reproach. Why isn’t the idea a solution of the problem that the Leg islature is up against?" TAX CASE WILL END he Railroads Will Pay Tax on $42,000,000 Assessment The Atlanta Coast Line and Seaboard WJIIInj to Pay. but the Sou hern Has Been a Hard Kicker Col. Warren G. Elliott left last night at seven o'clock. He failed to give the News and Ob server a promised interview about the railroad taxation case, but be will do that later. None of the attorneys for the State would talk last night. I went, to see Judge Connor, Col. Hinsdale and Mr. Pott and they were like clams, "Nothing for publication.” they all said, hut intimat ed that within their brea3‘.s they knew much that would interest the public if they should choose to open their mouths. But I got the story that the papers will get in a few days officially. As published exclusively in the News and Observer two weeks ago, the railroads will pay the tax assessed against them and the Slate will not recede from the as sessment made iu 1899 and 100. Col. Elliott has all along been in favor of adjusting th? matter and willing to pay the tax assessed. The Seaboard has also been ready to do likewise. But the Southern has been slow to give in. Its political manager has been so accustom ed to defeat the State that he was slow to realize the new order of things, and the Southern has delayed arrangements. There is one other thing: Col. Elliott and the Seaboard and Southern folks wished the attorneys and Democratic, leaders lo make a promise that if they paid tax on the $42,000,000 assessment they should be exempt from any privilege, franchise or other tux. No such agree ment was made or will be made. "The State wifi make no arrangement that backs down an inch, or that pledges itself to any future policy,’’ said a gentleman on the inside last night. , The tax litigation is at an end and the result will be announced this week if the Southern Railway does not kick out ol' the traces. PRACTICLALY AN ULTIMATUM Note Delivered by Minister Loomis to Vene zuelan Government (By Hie Associated Press.) London. Jan. 12.—A dispatch from Curacoa, Dutch West Indies, to Reuters Telegram Company, says the relations be tween the ITnDed States and Venezuela have not inmroved, and that the United States Minister. Mr. Francis B. Loomis, has sent a strongly worded note which it even described as being practically an ultimatimuni, to the Venezuelan Goveru ruen'. L?e's Birthday in Richmond. • (By the tssoeiated Press.) Richmond, Va., Jan. 19.—Lee’s birthday was celebrated here today by a closing of the State and c’t.v public offices, a parade of the local companies of the Seventieth Virginia regiment, and the firing of an artillery salute by the Rich mond Howit'« ”s. The tongue of a woman in her sword—* and she never allows it to rust.