11.00 m Yer In Advance -FOR GOD, FOR COUNTRY AND FOR TRUTH." 8lnql Oopl , 1 Cnt.
t VOL. XXVII. PLYMOUTH, N. C, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1917. N0 31
WMMM 1
ADMEN
T III
BILLS TAKE SHAPE
DEFENSE BUDGET TOTALING
$800,000,000 IS NOW GETTING
ATTENTION.
. BIG FORTIFICATION BUDGET
Naval Bill is Ready With a Total of
$351,000,000. Army Bill Will Be
Reported Next Week. Third Ele
ment on Program.
Washington. The Administration's
$800,000,000 defense budget began to
take final shape in Congress when the
House passed the fortifications bill
carrying a total of more than $51,000,
000 for coast defenses, and the House
Naval Committee completed its 1918
naval appropriation bill with a total
of more than $351,000,000.
The Army appropriation bill, he
third element of the program, still la
in the House Military Committee,
which is expected to complete it next
week. Estimates for the Army, reach
a total of more than $360,000,000, ex
clusive of numerous deficiency meas
ures resulting from the border mob
ilization and the rising cost of war
materials.
The only other military legislation
pending is the universal military
tarining bill before a Senate sub-committee
which will conclude its hear
ing this week, when Major Generals
Scott and Wood are to be recalled for
cross-examination
The navy bill carries a total of
$351,453,245 as against $313,000,000
last year. It provides for the con
struction of three 42,000-ton battle
ships at a total cost of $28,178,592
each; one battle-cruiser at a cost of
$26,694,496; three scout cruisers at
$6,746,145 each; 15 destroyers at $1,
748,612 each; one destroyer tender at
$2,808,000; one submarine tender at
$2,199,400 and eighteen 800-ton type
submarines at $1,434,093 each. The
program is that recommended by th.i
Department and represents one-half
of the remaining portion of the three
year program approved last year.
PREESI DENT WILSON VETOES
THE IMMIGRATION BILL.
Literacy Test Prqfision is Reason
Assigned.
Washington. President Wilson ve
toed the immigration bill passed re
cently by Congress, because of its lit
eracy test provision.
It was the second time that, Presi
dent Wilson had vetoed an immigra
tion bill because of the literacy test
and for the same reason similar
measures were given vetoes by Presi
dents Taft and Cleveland.
The President's veto message to
the House, in which the' bill originat
ed, follows:
"I very much regret to return this
bill without my signature.
"In most of the provisions of the
hill I should be very glad to concur,
but I cannot rid myself of the con
viction that the literary test consti
tutes a radical change in the policy
of the Nation which is not justified
in principle. It is not a test of char
acter, of quality, or of personal fit
ness, but would operate in most cases
merely as a penalty for lack of op
portunity inthe country from which
aliens seeking admission came. The
opportunities sought by the immi
grant in coming to the United States
and our experiences in the past has
not been that the illiterate immigrant
is as such an undesirable immigrant.
Taata rt nualltv and Clt nlimOSP. CEn-
v. 4uvj - .
A u . r in nrnpfnlA hut
tests of opportunity surely may be."
BIG FIRE AT BOSTON
WITH $350,000 LOSS.
Boston. Engines from residential
districts were called in to assist the
downtown firemen in their hardest
fight in many months, the fire de
stroying a five story brick building at
Chauncey street and Exeter Place.
The loss was estimated at $350,000, of
which about two-thirds fell on the oc
cupants, Thomas Kelley & Co., blank
et manufacturers.
REPORT CONFIRMED THAT
VILA OCCUPIES EL VALLE.
Juarez, Mexico. Confirmation of the
occupation of El Valle by Villa forces
was received here from Casas Gran
des. It was said the Villa troops mov
ed up from Namiquipa, where they
had been awaiting the departure of
the American punitive expedition be
fore occupying the town. Villa fol
lowers also were reported to have
been seen in the vicinity of Santa
Sofia, on the Mexico Northwestera
Railroad. '
PERSHING'S TROOPS I blamed
ARE WITHDRAWING ni .q gi
W rHUTIiii? n iri i i n. Sl,r.. . .ri im( L AV3iJ
CINAL CHAPTER IN THE OCCUPA
AION OF MEXICO BEING
WRITTEN.
BAKER ISSUES STATEMENT
Border Militia Question and Sending
of Fletcher to Mexico Capital Now
Hold Interest. Villa and Carranza
Are Busy.
Washington. The final act in . the
entrance into Mexico of 12,000 Amer
ican soldiers as a result of the Villa
massacre of 17 Americans at Colum
bus, N. M on March 9, 1916, was writ
ten with official announcement by the
War Department that General Persh
ing had been ordered, and actually
had started to bring his troops back
to the United States,
Secretary Baker issued the follow
ing announcement:
"General Pershing has been ordered
to bring his troops cut of Mexico. The
movement is to be an immediate one,
and probably Is already under way.
Later advices to the department said
that the troops already had begun the
evacuation of Colonia Dublan, 110
miles from the border, where they
had been concentrating during the
past few weeks. The last American
soldier is expected to rocross the bor
der in about a week."
No official information is at hand as
to whether Villa or Carranza troops
will occupy the territory, left vacant
by the Americans, but the belief is
strong here ' that the bandit, who is
credited with, at least, 8,000 well-armed
men who is now, at least, four
times a3 strong as when the American
troops went across the border, will
make a desperate effort to take the
territory, particularly for its moral
effect. The two other phases of the
Mexican problem on which interest
centers now, are the disposition of the
more than 50,000 militia still on the
border, and the sending of Ambassa
dor Fletcher to his post at Mexico
City. Officials say no decision has
been reached in either of these ques
tions, but that both are dependent on
the turn of events in Mexico.
SENATORS WORK OVERTIME
TO CLEAN UP MUCH WORK.
Less Than Thirty Days to Solve Con
jested Legislation.
Washington. With less than 30
working days remaining in the life of
the Sixty-Fourth Congress, the Demo
cratic Steering Committee of the Sen
ate decided to hold daily sessions of
the Senate from 11 o'clock in the
morning until 10 o'clock at night, be
ginning Thursday, February 1.
Overtime exertions were determined
upon as the first move in an effort to
solve the congested legislation situa-'
tion, the decision being to drive away
as hard and fast as possible on es-;
sential appropriations and the revenue
bill, and to undertake the big general ,
Administration measures one by one
as time permits. Whether any of the
Administration bills over which there
Is so much dispute could be passed,
none of the Democratic leaders would
predict.
The general understanding is that
the railroad labor bills will be consid
ered as soon as the India appropria
tion bill is out of the way, provided
the Interstate Commerce Committee
does not ultimately decide to await
action on this matter is he House. In j
view of the fact that Representative 1
Admason is preparing to rush a sep
arate bill on the subject through the ,
House, the Senate committee may
decide to wait. In that case, the cor
rupt proctice bill or the mineral land-!
leasing measure may be given a try-1
out. :
BIG BRITISH CRUISER 1
MINED OR TORPEDOED. 1
London. The British auxiliary cruis
er Laurentic of 14,892 tons gross, has
been sunk by a submarine os as a re
sult of striking a mine, according to
an official statement Issued by the
British Admiralty. Twelve officers
and 109 men were saved.
PITTSBURGH SUFFERS LOSS OF
MILLIONS IN BIG BLAZE.
Pittsbuigh, Pa. Fire which swept
through a section of the retail busi
ness district here destroyed the Frank
and Sedar Department Store, the
Grand Opera House, the Hilton Cloth-
ing Company and a dozen or more
smaller buildings with a loss estimated
at from $2,000,000 to $3,000,000. Four
firemen were seriously hurt and a doz
en or more so badly injured that they
were removed to hospital. Frozen
hydrants handicapped the firemen. J
(Copyright.)
LANSING SENDS PROTEST
SOMMUNICATION REGARDS CER
TAIN PROVISIONS PROPOSED
IN NEW CONSTITUTION.
Objects Because Chief Executive May
Expel Anyone Without Recourse to
Appeal. Not in Accord With Other
Nations.
Mexico City Secretary of State
Lansing has sent to General Carranza,
through Charles B. Parker, American
Charge d'Affairs here, a communica
tion in regard to certain provisions
which it had been proposed to include
in the new Mexican constitution. The
communication calls attention to ar
ticles vesting the Executive with pow-.
er to expropriate property without
judicial recourse, and also the article
providing that civil commercial com
panies cannot own properties of a
greater area than is necessary to ac
complish the purpose for which they
are formed, and placing the power to
determine what area is necessary in
the hands of the Executive.
The communication says that if the
latter provision were made retroac
tive, it might be confiscatory as no
provision is made for compensation.
Attention is called to the article pro
viding that there be no exemption
from taxation. If this were given a
retroactive effect, says Secretary Lan
sing's communication, it would impair
contracts of many foreign corporations
now operating under agreements pro
viding periods of exemption by the
federal or state governments.
Regarding article 33, dealing with
the expulsion of obnoxious foreigners,
objection is made because the pro
posed article permits the executive to
expel anyone, without recourse to ap
peal, whose presence is deemed inad
visable by him. The letter states that
this is not in accord with the usual
practice of nations that cause be
clearly shown.
FIGHTING UNABATED IN
MARSHES NORTH OF RIGA.
With Germans Having the Advantage
Cold Weather Halts Operations
in Rumania.
The big battle between the Germans
and Russians over the frozen Tirul
marsh, southwest of Riga, continues
unabated. Further progress for the
Germans along both sides of the Aa
River is reported by Berlin, which
claims an advance over a front of
about six miles and the capture of
Russian fort positions together with
14 officers and 1,714 men and 13 ma
chine guns.
Petrograd admits the southeast of
the river, the Russians have had to
fall back a third of a mile, but says
the attacks by the Germans on the
marsh we.e repulsed.
Aside from this battle, the fighting
in the various other theaters con
tinues to be carried out mainly by
the artillery and small reconnoitering
and raiding parties. In Rumania, the
extermely cold weather has virtually
put an end to the operations for the
moment.
Lively fighting has taken place on
the famous Dead Man Hill, in the Ver
dun region of France, but no details
of it have been made public. Recip
rocal artillery duels, which have
reached considerable proportions at
several points, are being fought from
the Swiss frontier to the North Sea.
The British Treasury, under the de
fense of the Realm act, will shortly
requisition such foreign securities
held in Great Britain, as may be re
quired to strengthen the country's
financial position.
NEW BASE FOR TROOPS
OJA FEDERICO, EIGHTY MILES
NORTH OF COLONIA DUBLAN
IN CHIHUAHUA.
Column Will Enlarge at Columbus.
De Facto Troops Occupy Evucat
ed Territory. El Valle is Perman
ently Abandoned as Outpost.
EL Paso, Texas Ojo Federlco, 80
miles north of Colonia Dublan, Chi
huahua, will be the temporary field
headquarters of the American punt
tive expedition during the withdrawal
operations. After retirement of the
American troops, Major General
Pershing and his staff will proeeed to
the border at Columbus, N. M., in the
rear of the expeditionary column.
General Perching has perfected his
plans for moving the headquarters
equipment to Ojo Federico at once
and it was considered probable that
he had already sent advance detach
ments there to establish the head
quarters camp.
El Valle (San Buena Ventura) has
permanently abandoned as an outpost
of the American expedition at dawn
when the Fifth United States Cavalry,
which had been acting as a rear guard
for this preliminary .withdrawal move
ment started northward.
Juarez, Mexico. Two thousand de
facto troops reached Jimenez, Chihua
hua, early In the day from Torreon,
en route to Chihuahua City to police
western Chihuahua after the evacua
tion of the American punitive expedi
tion, an official message from Jimenez
stated. These troops were sent north
following the receipt of orders from
General Obregon, Minister of War.
PROVISION TO FORBID STRIKES
STRICKEN OUT BY SENATE.
Committee Again Defeats Effort to
Incorporate Suggestion By
President.
Washington. For the second time
siuce it began consideration of rail
road legislation to supplement the
Adamson law, the Senate Interstate
Commerce Committee declined to ap
prove a irovision suggested by Pres
ident Wilson forbidding a strike or
lockout pending investigation of a
labor controversy.
The vote was ten to five, with three
Democrats, Senators Underwod,
Smith, of South Carolina, and Thomp
son, voting with the Republicans in
the negative.
On the first vote 10 days ago, the
committee turned down this provis
ion seven to three. A further effort
may be made to win the committee's
approval, and if this is unsuccessful,
a fight will be made for the provision
on the floor of the Senate.
Chairman Newlands said the com
mittee was still at work on an inves
tigation bill with this feature elimi
nated, and was confident that approval
would be given a measure that would
prevent obstructions to interstate
commerce without actually forbidding
a strike.
The action of the committee cam
shortly after representatives of the
four railroad brotherhoods informed
President Wilson that they desired to
suggest changes to the bills now pend
ing. The President asked that the
suggestions be submitted in writing,
and promised to give them careful
consideration. The brotherhood lead
ers declined to make public their pro
posals at this time, but it is under
stood they follow the lines indicated
in hearings before , the House Com
mittee and provide for a permanej
investigating commission compo
partly of employees and evof
without any strike I prohibiti'.
-'
B
BILL PASSES BOUSE
CARRIES AN APPROPRIATION OF
$38,000,000, OF WHICH $10,000,
000 IS NEW WORK.
PARTY LINES NOT DRAWN
President Wilson's Approval Express
ed as to Existing Projects Concern
ed. Vote Was 221 to 131. Bill
Now Goes to Senate. "
Washington. The annual rivers
and harbors appropriation bill, carry
irg $38,000,OCO, Including more than
$10,000,000 for new projects was
passed by the House by a vote of 221
to 131. It now goes to the Senate.
The House Increased the appropria
tion for Norfolk harbor from $270.
000 to $360,000 and retained as a con
tinuing project $1,425,000 for deepen
ing the channels leading to the harbor
at Tampa, Fla., to 27 feet, $300,000 ot
the amount being made available in
this bill.
The President, although opposing
the proposed public buildings bill now
awaiting action in the Senate, has ex
pressed his approval of the river and
harbors measure in so far as appro
priations .for existing projects is con
cerned. The House struck out a provision
to create a commission of Cabinet
officers and members of the Senate
and House committees to investigate
river and harbor improvements, drain
age, reclamation, irrigation and flood
control problems, with a view to rec
ommending to Congress next Decem
ber plaii3 for co-ordinating all such
activities. This plan, favored by the
President, was eliminated on a point
of order after a lively parliamentary
fight, but another flood control bill
is pending in the House.
The vote by which the bill passed
was not along party lines.
PUBLISHING BUSINESS IS
IN HAZARDOUS POSITION
DUE TO COST OF PAPER
Declare Publishers, Who Say Remedy;
Must Be Found at Once.
Chicago. Newspaper publisher
and news print paper manufactur.
at a conference here voted to appn
committees to meet immediately a
delivery to Congress this week of
Federal Trade Commission's report
the print paper situation to see
knowledge gained from the repo
points the way to an adjustment cj
the paper problem.
Publishers, representing the Ami'
ican Newspaper Publishers' Assoc
tion, agreed that the present higu-
price of paper has placed the news
paper publishing business in a posi
tion so hazardous and. menacing that
a remedy must be found without de
lay. On the other hand, representa
tives of the Print Paper Manufac
turers' Association asserted that the
increased cost of production justified
present prices.
Many of the publishers favored an
agreement by both sides to abide by
any price the Federal Trade Commis
sion may 3et. This would have to be
a gentlemen's agreement, as the com
mission has power only to Inevstl
mission has power only to investi
gate. Those active in the meeting includ
ed for the publishers Frank P. Glass,
of Birmingham, chairman of the print
paper committee of the Publishers'
Asociation; E. B. Stahlman, Nash
ville, and Victor Lawson, of Chicago.
Prominent manufacturers present
were P. T. Dodge, president of the
International Paper Company; Alex
ander Smith, managing director of
the Abitibi (Canada) Paper Com
pany, and J. A. Bothwell and F. A.
Sabbattan, Canadian manufacturers.
COMMITTEE APPROVES
FEDERAL RESERVE ACT.
Washington. An amendment to the
Federal reserve act proposed by the
reserve board to make immediately ef
fective the provision requiring all re
serves of member banks to be kept in
Federal reserve banks, was approved
by the House Banking and Currency
Committee.
MODERN ATTIRE OF WOMEN
IS DECRIED BY SOCIETY.
Wilmington, N. C The North Caroj
una omen s iiissionary Bociety ori
ine Memoaisi v ""-hjji ney
aaoptea resoy
modest aU
the lo
shav;
i
f
i
f
K
MORE N. C. LAND FOP
FOREST RESERVE
LARGEST SINGLE PURCHASE
WAS TRACT OF 8,000 ACRES
ON MT. MITCHELL.
SOME IN OTHER COUNTIES
Small Purchases in Burke, Caldwell,
Henderson, Macon, Buncombe
and Jackson Counties.
Washington. Enlargement of the
National Forest Reserves by 23,700
acres acquired through purchases in
the Southern Appalachian and White
Mountain was announced by the re
servation commission. It brings the
total added to the public forests in
the East and South under the Weeks
law up to 1,373,131 acres.
The largest single purchase among
those announced was a tract of 8,000
acres on Mount Mitchell, N. C. In
the White Mountains of New Hamp
shire, 4,500 acres were purchased,
and the other tracts, scattered through
North Carolina, Virginia, Georgia and
Tennsee, follow:
In Burke and Caldwell counties.
North Carolina, on the Boone National
Forest, 4,300 acres. On the Natural
Bridge National Forest in Amherst.
Bedford and Botetourt counties, Vir
ginia, 12 tracts, comprising 3,135. In
Buncombe, Henderson, Macon and
Jackson counties, North Carolina, "ii
acres; in Union, , Fannin, Lumpkin
and Rabun counties, Georgia. 744
acres; in Shenandoah county, Virgin
ia, 741 acres and 320 acres in PoUc
county, Tennessee.
RALEIGH MAN AGAIN
ELECTED SECRETARY.
X
DANIEL T. GRAY.
New Orleans. Daniel T. Gray of
Raleigh was re-elected secretary of
the Association of Southern Agricul
tural Workers at the concluding ses
sion. W. R. Dodson of Louisiana was
elected president and Montgomery
was selected as the 1913 meeting
place.
Announces Muster-put Stations.
San Antonio, Texas. General Fun
ston announced the mustering out
stations to which the National Guards
men designated in a recent war de
partment order to be relieved of bor
der duty, will be sent. The list in
dues: First North Carolina Infantry or
dered to Asheville and from there to
be distributed as follows:
Field and staff headquarters com
pany, supply company and G com
pany to Shelby; machine gun com
pany and D company to Charlotte;
sanitary detachment, Rutherfordton;
A company, Hickory; B company,
Gastonia, C company, Winston-Salem;
E company, Statesville; F and K
companies. Asheville; H company.
Waynesville; I company, Mount Airy;
Li company, Concord; M company.
High Point.
Negro Gets Bickett'a First Pardon.
Raleigh. Governor Blckett has
granted his first rardon. It is for
Nathaniel Bost, of Catawba county, a
-year-old negro, who has served
ice last July on a 12-months sen-
'tece for larceny. The county health
' "-rs reuort that the negro is sick
r
V
Vt his trouble is such that his
Vis handicapped by confine
fixed diet necessary In
"Vjjdge Lane and th
Vfficials of Hickory
N