TAX ON EXCHANGES
Commissioner of Corporations
Smith's Suggestions.
9 %'
WOULD REFORT TO PRESIDENT.
Cannot Determine How to Eliminate
Evil and Retain Good of the Future
Transactions.
Washington, Special. —A Federal
tax on tiie transactions carried on
by the exchanges of the country is re
garded by Herbert Knox Smitli, com
missioner of corporations, as offering
in some measure a ''constitutional
and available means of regulation"
of these bodies. But in a re|K>rt sub
mitted to President Taft Friday. Mr.
Smith acknowledged that he is some
what at a loss to determine exactly
how "to eliminate the evil and retain
the good" of the future transactions
of the exchanges.
Information requested by the Pres
ident as to transactions on produce
exchanges and as to certain future
contracts in l'arm products led to
Mr. Smith's report on N the subject.
Taking up the various classes of
transactions in farm commodities,
the commissioner holds that "spot"
and "intended delivery" future
transactions are proper; that "bucket
shop" transactions are "unquestion
ably evil and indefensible," and
that "hedging" transactions are nec
essary and proper, being really not
speculation, bat an "avoidance of
speculation."
Hut as to speculation "where
neither party intends to deliver or
receive, but where the contract is
made on a regular exchange, the rules
of which make delivery and receipts
obligatory, if demanded," Mr. Smith
asserts that this class of future
transactions "presents a difficult
problem. Its existence probably in
volves the existence of the future ex
changes themselves."
The trouble with exchange specula
tion, says Mr. Smith, is not with tlie
theory but with the actual practice.
The commissioner bases his com
ments in regard to speculation chief
ly on recent investigation of the cot
ton exchanges. The theoretic bene
fits of exchange transactions, he says,
arc often nullified by improver con
ditions on the exchanges themselves
and cites the New York cotton ex
change, the basic defect of which lie
says is its so-called "fixed differ
ence" syr.tem. The false quotations
produced under this system, h? says,
frequently decrease prices of cotton
received by the farmer.
ADMITS TRIPLE MURDER.
NegTo Confesses That He Killed
Three White Women.
Savannah, Ga., Special.—By his
own stolid confession Bingham Bry
an, a negro, is the i*;un who on De
cember 9 killed three white women,
Mrs. Eliza Gribble, aged 70; Mrs.
Carrie Ohlander, her daughter, and
Mrs. Maggie Hunter, in their home
on Perry street, in the heart of 'Sa
vannah.
The negro is a prisoner in Chat
ham count;' jail here, and has been
in custody since he was arrested De
cember 14 for a minor crime. The
negro's story tallies to minutest de
tails with appearances about the
house of murder after the dead wo
men were found. His story, simple)
but terrible, follows as lie told_J|i
He declares his motive in entering
Mrs. Gribble's home was robberv
only.
John D. Rockefeller Gives $75,000.
X«w York, Special. John D.
Rockefeller has made a conditional
gift of $75,000 towards $300,000 to
the Salem College (for women) at
Winston-Salem, N. C., and of $25,000
towards SIOO,OOO to the Georgetown
College, Georgetown, Ky.
To Investigate the Tariff.
Washington, Special.— An exhaus
tive study of the whole subject of
the tariff is planned by President
Taft. He has directed the Tariff
Board that authorized the recent
Tariff act to prepare for such an in
quiry. In order to defray the ex
penses of the work the President will
ask for an appropriation of $75,000
from Congress.
Mrs. Brokaw Wins Suit.
New York, Special.—Mrs. Blair
Brokaw has been granted a separa
tion from her husband, W. Gould
Brokaw, a miner, and was awarded
alimony of $15,000 a year. The de
cision was handed down by Justice
Putnam. The separation was grant
ed upon the ground of desertion.
Halley's Comet Visible April Ist.
Chicago, Special.—Halley's comet
probably will begin to be visible to
the naked eye about April 1, and will
cross the face iof the sun at 6 p. m.,
May 18, soys Prof. Edwin B. Frost,
director of Yerkee Observatory.
Champ Clark Boom.
Washington, D. C., Special —Rep
resentative Champ Clark, minority
leader of the House, lias been inform
ed that the first "Champ Clark
for President Club" has been
organized in Enid, Oklahoma. An
official notification to that effect has
just reached him. Telegrams from
Tnlsa, Oklahoma, have been received
by the minority leader, nominating
him for Speaker of the next Congress
and then for Presiaent.
GOEBEtJONORED.
Marble and Bronie Monument Un
veiled Over His Grave.
Frankfort, Ky., Special.—The un
veiling of a marble and bronze mon
ument above his grave in the State
cemetery here Thursday was the
feature of the observance of the
tenth anniversary of the death of
William Goebel, the central figure ip
one of the more exciting chapters in
the latter days of Kentucky's his
tory.
If there were any evidences of
partisan strife connected with the
"Goebel troubles" present during the
ceremonies, which was attended by
the Legislature in a body, they went
unobserved. A large gaihering filled
the space around the monument.
Former Governor J. C. W. Beckham,
who as lieutenant governor, succeed
ed to the executive chair at William
Goebel's death, acted as master of
ceremonies.
ADMINISTRATION PROGRAM.
Approval is Given the Program as
Arranged by the Leaders.
Washington, Special.—The admin
istration program, as revised by lead
ers of the Senate and House and giv
en the Btamp of White House appro
val comprises the following legisla
tion.
Statehood for Arizona and New
Mexico in the form of the Senate
kill, which provides for ratification
Ay Congress of the constitutions of
the new States after the approval by
the President.
Postal savings banks, with safe
guards against tfunds being trans
ferred from sections where originally
deposited to the money centers.
Giving to the President authority
to withdraw from entry public lands
desired for conservation purposes oi
for classification, the withdrawals
to remain in force until revoked
him of by acts of Congress.
Federal incorporation open to the
volutary application of concerns en
gaged in ituerstate business and will
ing to subscribe to Federal regula
tion.
Creating a court of commerce and
amending the interstate commerce
act as; provided by the Townsend-
Elkins bill.
Creating a legislative council for
Alaska, the members to be appoint
ed by the President.
All of the measures designated nre
to be enacted into law if the influ
ence of President Taft and.Congress
leaders, who are in charge of the
machinery of the Senate and House
is powerful enough to carry the pro
gram through.
JURY INVESTIGATES.
Canse of Mine Disaster in Colorada
Unknown.
Primero, Col., Special.—"Cause un
known" was the verdict reached Inst
Thursday by the coroner's jury that
investigated the explosion in the mint
of the Colorado Fuel Iron Company
Monday afternoon that caused the
death of at least seventy-three men
Mine Explosion in Mexico.
Laredo, Tex.,. Special.—Word reach
ed tliis city from Las Esperanzas
Mexico, Thursday, that 75 persons
lost their lives in a mine explosion
there. All reported dead were Jap
anese miners. The explosion waf
caused by the ignition of gas by t
spark from a miner's cigarette.
.Peary Wants to Find South Pole..
\\ iishington. Special.—Commander
Robert E. Peary, discoverer of the
north pole, has made a proposition
to the national geographic society
which if accepted, will mean that an
American expedition jvill be on its
way to discover the unconquered
south pole next fall.
Paris Relief Fund.
Paris, By Cable. —Up to Friday the
j relief fund from foreign countries
had totalled $700,000, and the re
port was that the river Seine was,
■till falling.
Want Money For Cotton.
p Washington, Special. Senator
Overman introduced » bill Friday
providing for the refunding of $42,'-
532 for cotton burned at tke close of
the eivil war.
Dickinson Sncceeds DeArmond.
C'inton, Mo., Special.—C. C. Dick
inson, (Dem.) has been elected to
succeed Rep. DeArmond from the
sizlh Missouri district.
, . *
Representative Levering Dead.
Washington, D. C., Special.—Rep.
resentative William C. Levering oi
Massachusetts died at his home in
this city Friday, aged 75. He had
been engaged in cotton manufacture
ing nearly all of his life, and was a
member of the House committee on
manufactures.
To Test Bread Price Limit.
Louisville, Ky., Special.—The Nat
ional Association of Master Bakers
will carry to the Supreme Court a
case to test all city ordinances and
statutes limiting the price of a
of bread.
Tariff War is Averted. •
W ashingten, Special.—Concessions
by both the United States and Ger
many have averted a threatened tar
iff war. Negotiations have been con
cluded between the two countries,!
which settle the question of minimum'
and maximum rates with the- excep
tion of the'cattle and dressed meat is
sue which was eliminated from the
present negotiations and which will I
l>e pursued hereafter in separate I
diplomatic representation. '1
—Cm toon by W. A. Roger*, in \he New York Herald.
WHITE HOUSE "ISOLATION"
A BORE; "NOBODY DROPS IN."
"Shr':ing Hands and Talking to People Is Not Work." Says
the President—Reveals Human Side in Talk
to Newspaper Correspondents.
Washington, D. C.—President Taft
stood before 150 newspaper cor
respondents at the Press Club by ap
pointment and told of his exper
iences.
The President appeared incognito
in often worn trousers and waistcoat;
over the waistcoat a sweater (opened
that he might put his hand in his
pocket), and a snck coat over all; no
top coat. He had started out for an
automobile ride.
"I have to apologize for appearing
before you in a garb that I have found
convenient to wear when walking
through the streets of Washington.
There are, I suppose, some limitations
upon Presidential pedestrianism, but
I have not found them as yet, except
in tired muscles. It is a very great
pleasure to me to walk along the
street, look into the windows and pass
by a great many people who don't
know who I am, and at times to meet
a fellow who looks onca at me and
then passes on without any further
curiosity, and another fellow who
looks twice, nudges his friend and
then, with that degree of reverence
that we all feel for high officials,
says, Taft!"
"But there is in the White House
a sense of Isolation due to the fact
that, generally, nobody drops In.
Everybody comes by engagement, and
you don't have that pleasant surprise
that comes from having neighbors
look in on you at odd times and Witb
a feeling that they have a right to
come. 1 don't know that that feature
of 1 the White House life can be
cnanged. Perhaps it ought not to be
Perhaps if we changed the system
HO WHITE SLAVE TRAFFIC, GOVERNMENT AGENTS FIND
Innocent Women Hot Enticed Here Prom Abroad, They Say-Tbose Already Vicious Soughf
—lmmigration Authorities Report Indifference of Other Countries
to Treaty Protecting Allen Girls.
Washington, T). C.—That the treaty
ratified on March 1, 1905, for the re
pression of the "traffic In white wom
en" Is practically worthless to this
Ooverninent in preventing the migra
tion of alien procurers and prosti
tutes, 1b the conclusion of Commis
sioner-General Keefe, of the Bureau
of Immigration, in a report trans
mitted to the Senate by President
Taft.
Mr. Keefe not only takes the posi
tion that the treaty is worthless, but
he adds "that practically no co-opera
tion at present can be expected of the
signatory Powers as regards the en
forcement of the immigration laws
with which some of the Powers are
found to be out of sympathy."
The bureau made an effort to as
certain the degree of 00-operatlon to
be expected of the signatories. The
following Powers were communicated
with: England, Germany, Austria-
Hungary, Belgium. Spain, Russia,
Portugal, Bweden, Denmark, Holland,
Canada, Bermuda and Brazil. Re
plies were received from the majority
of those countries. The replies dis
closed that no steps could be expected
to prevent the free passage from their
country to this side of the profes
sional' prostitute or procurer who con
stitute the bulk of white slave traffic
In this country.
"The procuring of innocent women
and girls for purposes of debauchery,"
he said, "has seldom Jf ever come to
the attention of the bureau, and as
It Is the purpose of the treaty to pre
vent such procuration the treaty's
usefulness ends there.
"The present immigration law Is
not and drastic eiibug'n In
terms effectually prevent further
additions to the already large num
bers of alien prostitutes and procur
ers in this country, and does not pro
vide adequate means to rid* the
country at large of those aliens who
are here unlawfully, and In particular
does not reach what Is the very root
of the evil, the free passage to and
fro of those engaged in It."
The Investigations of a epeclal
officer, whose name is not given, con-
BUI Proposed to Prevent Gambling
at Racetracks in Maryland.
Baltimore, Md.—Racetrack men j
are alarmsd over an announcement
that a bill will be introduced in the
Legislature prohibiting racetrack
betting.
The measure will be modelled along
the lines of the law put through by
Governor Hughes, of New York.
Since the New York tracks have
been handicapped by the new law the
Pialico course has regained Its for
mer prominence and the last two
meet«*ecalled old Pimlico days.
we would long to return to the sys
tem of Engagements—for the engage
ments are many, time passes rapidly
and business Is active.
"People say to me, "You must be
tired—you are working very hard.'
I suppose what they say is true and is
founded on fact. But my education
on the bench has made me feel that
there was no real work which was not
sustained Intellectual work—ln writ
ing Out opinions; and, viewed from
that standpoint, I have not had any
work In the White House, except oc
casionally when 1 have dictated mes
sages. Shaking hands and talking
with people has seemed to me to be
always a preliminary until I could
get to work, and I suppose I shall
never settle down to a philosophical
consideration of what Is labor in the
White House until I realize that three
or four hours Is taken up each morn
ing in discussing—not the qualtflca
tlons of collectors and district attor
neys and other appointees, but the
claims of those who recommend that
such gentlemen be appointed.
"The truth Is that Executive work
is work not because of sustained
mental effort, but it is work that
arises from the consumption of ner
vous energy and vitality In the rub
bing up against one's fellow-man.
That is work you don't have on tile
bench, and It is a little difficult for
oue who has had so long an experi
ence as I have had to realize that it
is work, and who does not feel it un
til he gets to bed or until he finds
himself in some way or other ex
hausted, without any sufficient excuse
for the exhaustion."
firm the conclusions reached In this
country that there Is no such thing
as an International organization hav
ing for its object the exploitation of
women In various countries by means
of the practice of prostitution. The
report says:
"Innocent women and girls are
rarely Imported into this country for
purposes of prostitution, the groat
bulk of such women coming In ae
mistresses of various Individuals and
subsequently adopting or being forced
Into a life of Bhame, and the procur
ers selecting their Innocent victims in
this country."
Discussing conditions he found In
Europe, the United States agent says
the large cities "were found to be so
Infested with women of Immoral ten
dencies, living in poverty and dire
squalor, that they were only too eager
to embrace the opportunity of living
comfortably In an Improper life in
this country." Consequently, persons
who desire to get fresh rupplles of
women for their resorts in the United
States are not forced to seek Innocent
women, when with much less ex
ertion, expense and danger numbers
of women can he found ready to ac-;
cept their terms.
"The dance, concert and music halls
and the drinking places of the Conti
nental cities were found to be fertile
fields for the operations of the cadets,
their numerous groups of worn*
en «not so openly immoral as to be
under police control, but who make
It a practice to add to their Incomes
by Immorality,
j "In many of these cities it was
found that certain cafes and resorts
are habitually frequented by persons
seeking fresh supplies of women, not
so much because such resorts are
'clearing houses,' but because women
| of the type desired are to be found
and kindred spirits are always con
gregated there."
Tales of easy life and riches await
ing alien women In the United States
have much to do with the ,great in
crease of immoral women and attend
ant evils in this country, says the re
port.
Lackawanna Railroad Has Ix>*t
Its Splendid Record.
Wilkes-Bavre, Pa.—After being
able to boast that for ten years no
passenger had been killed on its
tracks, the Delaware, Lackawanna
and Western Railroad lost the record
when a youth, Edward Hill, of Gib
son, Pa., stepped hurriedly from the
local passenger train at New Mllford
end *ras struck and killed by a coal I
train. His mother and sister, prepar
ing to alight after him, witnessed the
accident and were overcome by the
shock.'
| TAR HEEL JWS NOTES.
i IN MEMORY OF DANIEL BOONE.
Cabin to Be Dedicated With proper
Ceremonies at "Devil's Den."
Extensive preparations have been
j made for the dedication of a cabin to
the memory of Daniel Boone at what
is known as Devil's Den, in Boone
township, Davidson county, near
Spencer. The cabin, which has been
bruit with great care, will be for
mally defeated on May 1, at which
time a number of prominent speakers
from various parts of North Carolina
will be present. The location is at
Boone's Cave, which is known far
and wide as being at one time occu
pied by the noted Daniel Boone. It
is well preserved to the present
time, and is said to be well Arranged
with seven living rooms underground.
A large number of visitors are ex
pected for the occasion.
Food Ohemists Report.
During the year 721 samples of
food and beverages were examined,
154 or a little more than 21 per cent
of which were found to be adulterat
ed or misbranded. Eight violations
•f the law have been reported to
solicitors for prosecution and others
are being put in shape to be report
ed. In each case the defendant was
convicted and fined. The adultera
tions of greatest importance were
found in butter, ice cream, vinegar,
syrup, molasses and flour. Butte*
contained fat other than milk fat;
ice cream was made from gelatin,
etc., and was below standard in
milk fat; compound vinegar was
sold for fruit vinegar; molasses and
syrup contained too much water, and
flour was bleached with chemicals
that are deleterious to health.
New Railroad 3.
A corps of surveyors have arrived
at LeaksviUe for the purpose of sur
veying the Leaksville '& Western
Railway from that town to Madison,
following the banks of Dan river.
In May work will begin on a now
railroad from North Wilkesboro to
Butler, Tenn., a distance of 90 miles.
Frank A. Linney, Ed Coffey and
other men of means in Western North
Carolina are behind the project and
have expended already $200,000 in
securing rights-of-way, under 'the
name of the Watauga Railroad Com
pany. This link will pass through
Lenoir and will connect the Southern
railway with the coal fields of Ten
nessee and Virginia by the most
direct route.
Big Land Deal.
At Asheville the greatest timber
deal of the year in western North
Carolina was consummated last week
and announcement made when 15,000
acres of land on Forney's creek, in
Swain county and extending from
Clingman's dome on the North Caro
lina-Tennessee boundary line to the
railroad tracks of the Murphy div
ision, embracing a part of the 700,-
000 acres in the noted Whittier
boundary, was sold by the Harris-
Woodbury Lumber Company to the
Norwood Lumber Company, a West
Virginia corporation, for the sum of
$220,000.
Pleased With Their Trip.
The wateraways committee which
traveled through the eastern part of
the State last week with Senator
Simmons, Senator Piles and Clarke
and Representatives Wanger and
Stevens and Col. A. I). Watts
stated that they had a pleas
ant trip and were favorably impress
ed with the State and the people
they met. *
New Officers Elected.
At Denham last week the city pub
lic school superintendents of this
istate held their annual session, and
wfter discussing many subjects of
(interest, elected the following officers:
Prof. Harry Howell of Ilisrh Point,
'president; Prof. W. D. Carmicliael
'of Durham, vice president and sec
retary C. W. Wilson was re-elected.
Site For Mason's Home.
Mooresville citizens have given
113-4 acres to the Masons of the
State for a home for the aged and
infirm. The ladies of the Eastern
Ktar of the order, have joined in
the movement and a handsome build'
ing costing probably $15,000 to $20,-
000 will be erected on the site do
nated.
Briefly Told.
January term of Foiwyth criminal
court was postponed on account of
smallpox.
Five inches of sntiw fell at Win
ston-Salem last Saturday.
Monroe citizens are planning for a
new and commodious hotel.
The Eagle Furniture Co., at High
Point, barf 0 failed.- Liabilities be
tween .Y!)0,000 and $110,000; assets
$25,000 to sßs.oo**^
Wilmington is to have a Comraer-'
cial Club. ."1 .>
The Raleigh & Southport railroad
will build to Clark!on and may be
extended to Wbiteville.
Some time in March Senator Cum
mins. of lowa, will deliver an ad
dress before the Manufacturers' Club
of High Point. Among the- other
speakers will be Cov. Mann, of Va.;
Gov. Ansel, of South Carolina, and
President Alderman of the University
of Virginia. . .
J\t Oioldsboro highwaymen sand
bagged and robbed three citizens
separately and in different sections
of the town. One was relieved of
SSOO. * N
AROUND NORTH CAROLINA
\
IMPROVE STATE HOSPITALS.
Nearly 9500,000 Spent in Enlarging
Asylums to Meet Demands.
The North Carolina State Hospital
Commission reports to Governor
Kitchin of operations of the com
mission under provisions of the act
of tlie General Assembly for ex
pending $500,000 in enlarging the
capacity and improving equipment of
the State hospitals at Raleigh, Mor
ganton and Ooldshoro, that $447,528
lias been expended, with $30,045 re
maining on hand. The report shows
$.'(17,511 expended on the Central
Hospital at Raleigh; $()">.599.. r )2 on
the Western Hospital at Morganton;
$>0,928 on the Eastern Hospital at
Goldsboro.
The item of $3,4H9.23 is rejjorted
'as the total cost of the administration
by the commission. The commission
] has provided for 828 white insane,
and white insane epileptics and 84
colored. There is now mom in the
hospital at Raleigh for at least 400
more patients than are there, and
the hospital at Morgan ton is now
capable of accommodating the pres
ent demands upon the institution, the
two being of equal capacity.
The commission insists that there
is now any valid reason why every
white insane person in the State
and white insane epileptic cannot be
cared for by the State.
Big Meeting for Greensboro.
The North Carolina Association for
the Prevention of Tuberculosis meets
in Greensboro March 15-1(5, and
promises to be the largest public
health gathering that has ever as
sembled in the South. Men from
every section of North Carolina,
have been selected by the association
to speak on every phase of tubercu
losis; the national association has
directed it* highest oilicers to be
present and speak on the national
crusade against this disease, and
other States are sending l delegates
and representative men. Gov. Kithin
will open the meeting and make the
welcome address.
All Primaries on One Day.
Democratic State Chairman A. 11.
filler announced last week that he
and his special committee from the
State Democratic Executive Com
mittee have decided to recommend to
the full committee that it be called
together in about thirty days; that
there be a common day for all the
counties throughout the State to
hold their primaries, and also their
subsequent county convention. There
are other minor changes to be pro
posed, the report not being perfect
ed. Later conferences are to he held
to perfect the work of the special
committee, and then the State chair
man will call the State cornmitee to
gether to take action.
Arranged Program.
Members cabinet of the
North Carolina "Epworth League
gathered in Greensboro last Saturday
and held its annual session. The
work of the league for the year was
thoroughly discussed and plans were
laid for advance along all lines of
league work. Among other things the
cabinet arranged the program for
the Epworth League conference
which meets this year at Hertford.
Death Chair to be Ready.
The State's prison authorities, at
Raleigh, announce that the missing
parts of the electric death chair fiave
been shipped from Fort Wayne, Ind.,
and that the date now set for the
first electrocutions is March 2ti, when
Walter Morrison, of Robeson county,
and John Atkinson, a first-degree
murderer, will pay the death i»en
altv.
Widow Receives SIO,OOO.
The Soqlherd Railway has paid to
Mrs. Virgil E. llolcomh, of Mt.
Airv, SIO,OOO for the death of her
huslmnd, who was one of the dozen
|>ersiikfc killed in the wreck near
Brown Summit, December 15.
Poods Must be Stamped.
Commissioner of Agrieu It tire Gra
ham calls attention to the fact that
the weight must be stamped on all
packages of buckwheat flour and
other foods so customers can he sure
of weights being correct. This is
under the pure food law. He has
lieJd up ..foods -at Asheville ■winch
were* not stamped with the weight.
Briefly Noted.
Hertford is to have a new $20,000
hotel in place of the old Eagje tavern.
The people of Jonesboro township,
Lee county, at an election last Sat
urday, voted for a bond issue of
$15,000 for tfood roads.
The latest enterprise for Lumber
ton is a building and Loon associa
tion which has just been iiVeoniorat
ed. . \
Congressman Thomas of the third
congressional district has appointed
Carl I*. Hurtling 'of Newbern to the
•vacancy HOW existing at the An
napolis naval academy for this dis
t rieL
The 2-year-oid' child of Mr. and
Mrs. Roger .Collins, of Wisljart's
township'. Rohesofi rount/.fiWirs burn
ed to death last Saturday.
Beginning Sunday, February 13th,
the Virginia & Carolina Southern will
operate u Sunday train front Lum
hertou to FavoHeville.
Rev. Alvin Hoits>, who some years
ago retired from active work' in 'the
Tiaptist ministry dial very suddenly
at his home, in Raleigh, last Mon
day, aged 82.