North Carolina Newspapers

THE CIRCULATION of the News Is still climbing. Our city and out-of-town lists are both increasing by leaps and bounds. ' CHAKLO inn NEW IT IS A MATTER of daily occur rence practical demonstration of the fact that advertisements appearing in the News are read. VOL. XXIII CHARLOTTE, N. C, MONDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 2. 1903. NO. 5486 f m "Tf TP FT" -li- -XL JUL JJ C - .' irA COMPLICATIONS IN VENEZUELAN ROW Rebels Report Victory Over Castro's troops and Scheme of Powers is ,slow Laid Bare FRANCE IS BLAMED FOR THE PRESENT SITUATION Her Interposition at this Time is Looked Upon By Pow ders As An Astute Move Washington, Feb. 2. Further pos sible complications in the Venezuelan imbroglio are indicted by a dispatch this morning which says that the revo lutionists won a decided victory near Cua, some sixty miles south of Caracas. As the dispatch bears the date ilne of Williamstead, headquarters of Gen eral Mates the revolutionists leader not much credence is given the item, but it is recognized however that this is one of the ever present dangers of the situation. Both Germany and Great Britain have schemed from the first to foster the desires of the rebels and one reason of the prolonged blockade is that it will give Mates and his people more chance to effect a coupe over Castoro. France Is Blamed. London, Feb. 2. The hitch in the Venezuelan negotiations caused by France's demand for equality of treat ment in the settlement of claims has caused great disappointment here, where the Venezuela enterprise is re garded as a dangerous incubus which was needlessly assumed by the British Government. The French interposition at this stage is held in diplomatic circles to be an exceedingly astute move by Foreign Minister Dalcasse, as it is calculated to keep the question open, to the det riment of the relations between Ger many and England, and also to the re lations of both with the United States. Minister Delcasse remained, inactive until Germany ..and .England were about to be extricated from the muddle into which they had plunged, and the point he has now raised is thought to be more difficult of arrangement than any heretofore in dispute. Bowen Offers Compromise. Washington, Feb. 2. A compromise has been offered by Minister Bowden to Germany, Great Britian, Italy and others, that they may maintain their prestige, which they've alleged would be lost if they permitted the non blockade creditors to settle with Vene-' zuela on the same basis as them selves. ' Minister Bowen offers them preferen tial treament for a period of one month, during that time these coun tries to have exclusively to themselves thirty per cent, of the custom's re ceipts of Puerto Cabello and La Guayra. After the expiration of one month all the naaional creditors are to share alike in the thirty per cent, reserva tion. Minister Bowen makes this concess ion in the interests of peace, without abrogating the principles for which he has been contending. TROUBLES OF ITS OWN, IS LABOR Strikers in Belgium Win Wires Report Two New Strikes of Minor Impor tance Today Waterbury, Feb. 2. Cars started as usual this morning on all lines of the local company and no difficulty has been reported. Some miitia men were detailed this morning to do special po lice duty in civilian dress and the at titude of the small crowds who con gregated here was distinctly hostile to the militiament who were frequently greeted with hisses, which marked their greeting in the city last night. Strikers Win the Game. The Hague, Feb. 2. The strike of railway employees has been settled by the company's acceding to the de mands of the men. A meeting of em ployees was held this morning and five thousand strikers attended. While, the meeting was in progress a letter was received from the company stating that the demands were granted. Carpenters Want Increase. Wilkesbarre.Feb 2 Six hundred car penters and joiners in the Wyoming Valley went on strike today because building contractors refuse to grant an increase in wages from $2.50 to $3 per day. STOCK TRAINS COLLIDE. Three Men Are Killed and Four Fa tally Injured. Cloverdale, Feb. 2. Three men were killed, four fatally injured and ten seriously hurt by a rear-end col lision of two stock trains on the Illi nois Central railway, a mile west of here, this morning. Several carloads of live stock were also destroyed. The dead are: Wil son, fireman of the second train, and two unidentified men. The accident was due to a fog here. Operators Close Their Case. Philadelphia, Feb. 2. The first wit ness before the strike commission to day was W. W. Ruley, of this city, sta tistican and publisher in charge of the bureau maintained by the Reading company, who stated that for 13 years he has compiled statistics and maps especially dealing with the anthracite coal regions. Many of thosermaps, as well as the accompanying statistics, were placed in evidence. The coal op erators will close their case before the commission today. Every Man to His Trade. Boston, Feb. 2. Because of the ob jection to the employment of machin ists upon boiler work, 55 boilermakers and iron ship builders, employed in the yards of the Georgia Lawley and Sons. Corporation, yacht and ship builders, in South Boston, struck today. C II CONFIRM THE SALE No Site Has Yet Been Chosen For County Home But Sev eral Are Under Con sideration The board of county commissioners met this morning at 10 o'clock. There was a full attendance. Mrs. L. J. Teeter was relieved from paying the taxes of the late Jas. Teeter who recently died in Crab Orchard township with smallpox. J. W. Meacham was given the privi lege to peddle goods without license. Mr. A. M. Brown was relieved of pole tax on account of the loss of an arm. W.'E. Pressley was given privilege to peddle goods without license. The lamps around the court house were ordered to be painted. S. T. Stowe was ordered to make a survey and locate rock yards on the Newell road. The board confirmed the sale of the County Home property made through the chairman, Mr. J. H. Weddington to the Highland Park Company and au thorized the chairman and county at torneys to make such deeds and con veyances as necessary. The following was unanimously ap proved by the board. An Act to authorize the board of com missioners of Mecklenburg county to change the cite of the County Home. The General Assembly of North Caro lina do enact: Section I. That the Board of Com missioners of Mecklenburg County be, and it is hereby authorized, to change the cite of the County Home, and to re-locate the same at such place in said county, as in the discretion of the said board may seem advisable, and, to that end, said board shall have full power and authority to sell and convey the lands upon which the County Home is now located, and to purchase other lands upon which to locate said Home, at such place as to the board may seem proper. Section II. That all laws, and clauses of laws, in conflict with this act are hereby repealed. Section III. ihat this act shall take effect from and after its ratification. Mr. Sam Kirkpatrick tendered his resignation as janitor of the court house which was accepted. His sue cessor had not been named when the News went to press. Jurors for March Court. The following jurors were drawn for the March term of Mecklenburg Su perior Court that convenes Monday, March 9th: First week: J. W. Dewese, Geo. H Newcomb, H. C. Eccles, Thos. M. Barn hardt. W. F. Hinkle, R. E. Young, J E. Hough. R. L. Auten, Jno. Ran- dolnh. E. W. Alexander. Thos. O. Gra ham. C. P. Beaty. W. E. Alexander, J. N. Lee, J. F. M. Beard, W. M. Con- nell, H. H. Orr, D. C. Miller, Walter P Cnrhrane. S. L. Hoover. C. A. Barn hardt, G. L. Hipp, J. W. Biggers, B. G. Shannonhouse. Sppnnrl week: T. J. Davis. R. L. Alexander, J. E. Snell, Joe M. Sloan, J. A. Marks, J. L. Rea, Jr., A. H. Alex ander, S. Y. McCall, E. A. Christen- hnrv. J. M. Herron. J. E. Elliott, C. W. McCoy, J. M. Allen, Jno. L. Brown, W. R. Taliaferro, D. R. Jenkins, w. u. vtnnA n. F. Davis. J. A. Erwin, B NToah nriffith. J. T. Thrower. W. A. Alexander, L. M. McAlister, S. S. Mc- MM Ninch. THE GROUND HOG SAYS "SPRING" Woodchuck Comes Out, Fails to See His Shadow and Remains. Did the groundhog see his shadow today? It is barely possible that he did, but the preponderance of indications is that he did not. All the forenoon was cloudy, with some rain, except an interval now and then of momentary partial sunshine. If he saw It and went back in his hole we are to have six weeks more of winter. If he didn't which Is probably the case, then it means that we have entered upon spring. ' Today, Feb. 2, is "ground hog day," which has been brought down by tra dition from time immemorial. Every human being is credited with being more or less superstitious and the weather is of all subjects the most prolific of superstition. So ground hog day is naturally a red letter one in the nnals of superstition. The emergence of this little animal from its subter ranean hibernation is looked forward to by some of the weatherwise as the event of the greatest meteorological significance in the calendar. His ad vent is ominous for the control of the weather for six weeks following it. If the sun is shining upon his appearance from underground so that he sees shadow upon the ground he beats a hasty retreat into his winter quarters and there remains for six weeks, dur ing which time bad weather prevails. Should the day be overcast and he fail to see his shadow the oracle makes his home above ground and notice is ser ved that the backbone of the winter is broken. Vernal breezes blow, the froz en earths thaws out, the sap goes up and bud and blossom herald the com ing of the spring. TO BUY CHILEAN SHIPS. Such a Proposition Said to be Under Consideration. New York. Feb. 2. A special dis patch to the New York Herald from Washington says: 'Purchase bv the United States Of the two battleships now being built by Chile in Eneland. and which she will have no need of on account of her dis armament agreement with Argentina, is now being officially considered. The advisability of adding to the united States fleet by the purchase of these ships will soon be passed on by the Secretary of the Navy, who will call upon members of the General Board of the navy, of which Admiral Dewey is the head, and upon the members of the Rnard of Construction for their profes sional opinions. In Congress the idea of purchasing these ships will receive strong support from certain advocates of rapid naval increase. "Information in the possession of tne Navv DeDartment shows that the Chil ean battleships, which were ordered about a year ago and were to- be com pleted in 18 months, are of l2,wu tons displacement each. They are to cost about. S4.800.00O each. Their dimen sions are: Length 45d teet, Deam u fppt. indicated horse-oower 25,000, speed 21 knots. Each ship win carry 4 10-inch sruns. 14 7.5-inch guns and many smaller rapid-fire guns. "The disarmament agreement Be tween Chile and Argentina found both rountries raoidlv increasing their sea power. It was not known precisely here that Argentina desired to sell the two armored cruisers which are now building for her at the Ansaldo works, at Genoa, Italy. They are to be of the same tvne as the Italian armored cru iser Garibaldi, 8,500 tons displacement 17.000 indicated horse-power and 21 knots speed. The estimated cost or each of these ships is $3,400,000. They are to be known as the General Mitra flnfl the General Roca and were laid down March 14 and March 29, 1902, re spectively. Seaboard Bank for Washington. Washington, Feb. 2. After trying to buy some of the national banks here and finding the price too high jonn Skelton Williams, representing the syndicate in control of the Seaboard Air Line, has decided to start a bank It will be known as the American Na tional. Marriage Proposal From Hawaii. Tone.ka Feb. 2. Lieut.-Gov. Hanna today received a proposal of marriage from a native of the Hawaiian islands, who says she is young, handsome, well educated and worth $100,000. She says she will send her photograph if Mr Hanna looks with favor on ner suit Mr. Hanna says he is" inclined to in vestigate the proposition. SCEHTTHEDRHGER Realize Falsify of Roosevelt's Position and Will Put Themselves Clear on the Situation Birmingham, Ala., Feb. 2. A con gress of representative negroes from all over the South, who are opposed to antagonizing the Southern white people by seeking political preference. will be held in Birmingham in May The call says: "For the purpose of announcing the exact position and feeling of the Southern negro towards the white people of the South." LEAK NEGROES LATEST FOREIGN HEWS JO VIEWS 'owerful Tribes in Turkish Domain Have Arisen Against Sultan and Declared Independence KING EDWARD IS ILL; HAS A FEVERISH GOLD 'ope Receives Schwab -Well Known Miser Dead Twenty- Four Seamen Go Down in the Deep Rome, Feb. 2. It is probable the Marquis Dirudeni will succeed Minister of Foreign Affairs PrinettL who is suff ering with a stroke of apoplexy. Uprising Against Turkey. Constantinople, Feb. 2. Dispatches from the Province of Yemen, Arabia, state that several powerful tribes there have risen against Turkey and de clared their independence. The garri son in the Province are but illy equip ped to control the uprising and serious trouble is feared. The Sultan has sent orders to the Italian government .o undertake the chastisement of the coast tribes. Countess Gets Divorce. London, Feb. 2. In the divorce court today a decree of nisi obtained by the Countess Delia Warr against husband was made absolute. Twenty-Four Drowned. Copenhagen, Feb. 2. It is now be lieved that 24 of the crew of the Nor wegian steamship Avona, New Orleans for Aarhuus, which went ashore at Lemvig, Denmark, were drowned. Bouquets for Schwab. the Rome, Feb. 2. The Pope, in re ceiving the family of Charles M. Schwab, president of the steel trust, yesterday commented on Schwab's charitableness, especially his placing the steamer Happy Hour at he dis pcsal f New York poor. Wealthy Miser Dies. Budapast, Feb. 2. Johann Schoen berg, a well-known miser, died as the result of exposure at Hereneseny, near Budapest. He lived in a garret, ate bread and water and always wore rags even in the coldest weather. After his death it was discovered that he posses ed five million dollars. He left no will and no relatives have yet appeared to claim the wealth. He owned several thousand acres of land and thirty houses. King. Edward III. London, Feb. 2. Sir Francis Lak - ing, the King's physician, has been seeking the cause of his illness and has found His Highness had a touch of influenza. Sultan Wins Victory. Tangier, Feb. 2. The report that Sultan has gained a complete victory over the forces of the petender is con firmed. King Has Influenza. Windsor, Feb. 2. King Edward is ill with a feverish cold and has postponed his visit to the Duke ofT Devonshire's palace at Chatsworth. The King's ill ness is not serious. He suffered from a slight chill while out planting com memoration trees with the Prince of Wales and little Prince Edward this morning. The weather Is exceedingly cold and this is probably responsible for His Majesty's illness. British Cabinet Demoralized. London, Feb. 2. The illness of another minister is announced this morning, thus adding to the already unheard of demoralized condition of the cabinet. Eary Selbourne, first lord of the admiralty, is sick with acute rheumatism and cancelled his engage ments. Balfour and Lansdowne are still sick while Secretary of War Broderick is abroad. VENEZUELANS AMAZED. News of Latest Hitch Caused a De cided Sensation. Paris, Feb. 2. A Matin special from Caracas says: "The food supply is rapidly dwindl ing. News received relative to the hitch in the negotiations between the allies and Minister Bowen caused a great sensation throughout the coun try. The populace is anxiously await ing the raising of the blockade." Fatal Result of Spree. Albany, Feb. 2. Martin Velasona was drowned in the Champlain canal at Cohoes last night. John Cozloer is under arrest, charged with having pushed Velasona into the water. Both men, it is said, were intoxicated. Mr. Long Improves. Boston, Feb. 2. The condition of Ex-Secretary Long continues to im prove. It is said he passed a very comfortable night and is more ration- al in mind. TO CUT DOWN FEES. Senator Hale Thinks Lawyers Are Fleecing Their Clients. Washington, Feb. 2. Hale (Maine), in the Senate today during routine bu siness, urged the enactment of legis lation limiting fees to attorneys in cas?s before the Spanish claims com mission. He said 542 claims were pending, the aggregate amount claim ed being over $61,000,000. Of the 67 claims allowed, aggregating over ten million dollars, the records showed the attorneys' fees average 33 1-2 per cent. The credentials of Senators-elect Henry M. Teller (Colorado), E. W. Pettus (Alabama), J. P. Clark (Arkan sas) were received and placed on file. The bill will pass attaching Demitt county to the western judicial district of Texas. Suspension Day in House. Washington, Feb. -2. Today was suspension day in the House and rules were suspended and various bills con sidered and, passed. MISS MARLOW IS SUED. Publishers Say She Promised $4,000 If She Failed to Give Play. New York, Feb. 2 Julia Marlowe. who is playing at the Criterion Thea tre, and Charles Dillingham, her man ager, have been sued in the United States Circuit Court by the Bowen Merill Company, a publishing house of Indianapolis, for $4,000. They allege this sum due them by reason of the actress failure to produce some time during last year a dramatization of "The Redemption of David Corson," a novel by Charles Frederick Goss. According to the complaint the Bowen-Merrill Company is the pub lisher of the book in question and "for a consideration sold Miss Marlowe the dramatic rights of the novel. She in turn, it is claimed, agreed to have a good dramatization made and to pro duce the play not later than November 1, 1902. In case of the failure to produce the play by October 1, 1902, however, Miss Marlowe and Mr. Dillingham, it is said, agreed to pay the plaintiffs the sum of $2,000 and a second $2,000 January 1. CALLS ACRE DEAL MONSTROUS. Brazilian Foreign Minister Serves No tice of Attitude. Rio Janeiro, Brazil, Feb. 2. Baron de Rio Branco, Minister of Foreign Af fairs, has sent a circular cablegram to the Brazillian legations in Europe stating among other things that the lease of the Acre territory to a foreign syndicate and the cession of rights of sovereignty are "monstrous" and that they are "possible only in Africa and not on the American continent." He says that Peru claims part of that" territory. ' Brazil was disposed to give all facilities to Bolivian com merce through the Amazon river and placed the most liberal interpretation upon the treaty of 1867, but as Bolivia had ceded her rights Brazil decided to follow a strict interpretation of the treaty. Brazil claims that her frontier line extends from the confluence of the rivers Boni and Paru westward to the Peruvian frontier; therefore the territory situated west of the River Madeira to the source of the River Javary is disputed by Brazil, Peru and Bolivia. The Foreign Minister declares that Bolivia cannot cede the territory to a ' foreign company. Brazil suggested other arrangements, he says, but Bo- livia persisted in her purpose. The Brazilian Government, therefore, was compelled to send troops. BATTLESHIPS AS GIFTS. Man in Paris Has a Plan to Acquire Vessels. Paris, Feb. 2. A man writes to the Herald asking that a subscription be opened for buying and presenting to the United States Government the two battleships just built for Argentina and Chila. now for sale. He cites the instance where the Mat in raised a subscription for buying a sub-marine vessel for the French Gov ernment as an example. "Only blow your trumpet announcing the opening of your columns for the subscriptions," he says, "and money will come in by the millions." Thomas Pescud Dead. Raleigh, N. C, Feb. 2. Thomas Pescud, representing the Stanard Oil Co., in this city, died in Rex Hospital at noon today from an operation for appendicitis. GANNON GETS OFF W1THJJGHT FINE Recorder Goff is MercifuJ Be cause of Defendant's Good Record and of His Unus ual Poverty New York, Feb. 2. Former Police Captain Gannon, who was convicted of neglect of duty, was this morning sentenced to a fine of $250. In passing sentence Recorder Goff said he took into consideration the thirty years of good police records, during which time Gannon had been mentioned five times for life-saving; furthermore, because he was penni less, which, the recorder said, . was not a condition supposed to be normal with the average police captain. ROBBERS NABBED AFTER HOT FIGHT BIG ROBBERY OF MAIL. Huge Pile of Opened Letters Found in Lumber Yard. Toledo, Feb. 2. A robbery of the United States mail came to light with the discovery of a huge pile of letters in the lumber yard of the William Pet ers Lumber Company. Every envelope has been slit and the contents examin ed, but Government money orders, which could not be safely cashed, were replaced. Some of the letters contain ed checks, one being for $480 on a lo cal bank. The letters when spread out out on a table made a pile two feet high. The place where they were found is not twenty rods from the house where the famous post-office robbers, under the leadership of "Topeka Joe" were arrested. No estimate of the amount of the plunder taken has been given out. HERE'S A FIVE-FOOTED COW. one's to oe aoia at Auction and is Wanted as Museum "Freak." Paris, Feb. 2. "Sale at public auc tion, by virture of a decree of the President of the Civil Tribunal of the Seine, of a phenomenal cow with five feet." This is the announcement making Nantere the centre of much curious in terestt. All the magazines of museums from near and far plotting to obtain the bovine to whom nature has been so singularly over-generous, and a sensa tion is expected when the sale comes off. TRUSTEES FOR THE CRTTEHTOH HOME Board Named This Morning Site For Institution is Also Under Consid eration At the regular meeting of the Min isters Conference, held this morning in the parlors of the Y. M. C. A. there was a full attendance. Evangelist Crittenton and Mrs. Bar rett were present and addressed the meeting, their theme being the work ings of the Florence Crittenton Res cue; Home. Both speakers were given the closest attention as they went over every de tail of caring for fallen women. After the addresses it was decided to appoint a board of trustees for the Home, that is to be located here. The following were named as trustees: Dr. J. R. How erton, Dr. John W. Stagg, Dr. R. C. Holland, Dr. J. Knox Montgomery, Dr. G. H. Detwiler, Dr. A. C. Barron, Rev. C. C. Leman. Messrs. P. M. Brown, J. A. Durham, S. S. McNinch, B. D. Heath, Heriot Clarkson, R. B. Alexander. It was then decided that a canvass ing committee be appointed to secure contributions for the Home. This com mittee is composed of Dr. John W. Stagg, Dr. G. H. Detwiler and Mr. Walter S. Alexander. While no site has been definitely de cided on an offer was made the board of trustees this morning. It is under stood that the residence of the late Wil liam Clarkson on Cedar street is the place now under consideration. The board of trustees will hold a meeting at 5:30 o'clock this afternoon for the lauching of arranging all details for the launching of the Home. A local committee of 30 ladies from the differ ent churches of the city will be select ed. These are to form the different working committees and will have di rect charge of the work. The News man learns this afternoon that the aggregate sum so far sub scribed amounts to about $4,500. This amount will be largely increased when the canvassing committee gets to work in the city. FORMALIN SAVEo LIFE. Wonderful Result of Treatment in a Massachusetts Case. Springfield, Mass., Feb. 2. Dr. J. H. Carmichael, of this city, this morning announced the new formalin treatment for blood poisoning on a patient opera ted upon five days ago and now pro nounced out of danger. Dr. Carmichael's patient was low with septic peritonitis and on Jan. 26 was near death. The pulse was 160 and the patient was comatose. A solu tion of formalin, 1 in 5,000, was used and instantly the pulse dropped to 120 In twelve hours the pulse was almost normal. MADE MORBID BY GRIEF. Parents Have Baby's Body Dug Up and Photographed. Ithaca, Feb. 2. After having been dead fror two weeks, the body of the small child of Mr. and Mrs. Miles Arm strong, of Carter's Creek, was exhum ed today for the purpose of having its photograph taken. No picture of the infant had ever been taken in its lifetime, and the fa ther and mother decided they could not live without some such momento. 'osse of Monroe Policemen Run Safe - Crackers Down Four Miles From That Town this Afternoon OVER TWENTY SHOTS EXCHANGED AT DEPOT Both Robbers and Officers Were Poor Shots and For mer 'Fled, Only to Be Captured Later MONROE, N. C, FEB. 2. Two men, supposed to be safe four miles crackers, were arrested north of here at 3 P. M. One is about 45 years old, short and Carle skinned, and the other tall and light. Both were shabbily dressed. Several policemen attempted to ar rest the men at the train at six o'clcck this morning and were fired on, about twenty shots being ex changed at short range between the policemen and the safe-crackers, none taking effect. The safe-crackers came in on a train from Waxhaw. The posse of police gave chase to the men at once and the capture this afternoon resulted. The two robbers captured near Mon roe today are supposed to be all or part of a gang that has been operating in this community for some weeks. The recent attempt upon the bank of Ad vance at Mocksville, the robbery of W. G. Shoemaker's safe in Charlotte and the robbery of Heath, Barrett and Grier's safes at Matthews Saturday night, are all crimes that are laid to the door of this gang. It is known that the safe-crackers were in this vicinity for a message to the Charlotte police last week warned them to be on the lookout, further stating that the gang five men had boarded a freight train near Winston Salem for Charlotte. There is hardly a doubt but that the Monroe police have the right men. though it is probable there are three of the gang still at large. The Union county authorities have done well. It remains now for the alert hand of the law to reach for the remaining mem bers of this bold gang and then for the courts to give them good, long sen tences. Robbery at Matthews. Cracksmen blew open the safes of Heath, Barrett & Grler, at Matthews, at one o'clock yesterday morning. All the money in the safes, something over $100 was taken. Nitroglycerine was used in opening the safes. Mr. Frank Hoey, who sleeps a short dis tance from the store heard the noise of the explosion. He aroused the own ers of the store but before they could reach the place the robbers had se cured the money and disappeared. Three men were seen leaving in a bug gy and those are supposed to have been the robbers. No doubt they were the same men who robbed Shoemaker's store Friday night. The officials here sent a posse down to Matthews this morning to investigate but nothing could be learned and they returned to the city empty-handed. TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGFJCBUELTY Sub- Committee of Legisla ture to Take Testimony at Marion-Aimed at Meck lenburg's Primary Raleigh, N. C, Feb. 2. A resolution for full investigation of the alleged brutality in moving convicts from Mit chell and other charges against the penitentiary, passed both houses. It provides for a sub-committee of five to visit Marion and take evidence. The following bills were introduced: Vann, taxing dogs for benefit of the school fund; Mitchell, regulating the sale of concentrated feed stuff; a resolution for a committee to meet the shippers tomorrow in investigating freight discrimination; Freeman, elim inating the oath teature from the Mecklenburg election law in certain cases.