Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-11-24
THE OLD NORTH STATE.
RAEEiGTs NEWsY BUDGET.


derson Davis, were 10 have been hanged
At Charlotte Wednesday for the bur-
elary of Captain S. G. Strickland's
residence, in Mecklenburg county. Gov
ernor Scales has respited them until
Wednesday, December 9th. Conside-
rable indignation is expressed at the
respite. Out Of the many capital crimi-
nails at Charlotte only one has been ex-
ecuted, and many persons claim that
the leniency shown has produced bad
effects. Another noticeable fact is the
indisposition Of many judges and OF
both Governors Jarvis and Scales to set
executions for Friday. There appears
10 be quite a deep-seated feeling against
the choice of that day for the purpose.
Somewhat over two million i've hun
bred thousand dollars in construction
bonds of the North Carolina railroads
have been thus far sent to the State
Treasury for exchange. Not a great
amount now remains outstanding.
Reports made Of the convict work on
the Clinton and Warsaw and Pittsboro'
railroads show very good progress. Be-
sides the4e roads there are three others
now under construction by convict la
Dor. These are the Ducktown part of
the Western North Carolina, the Spar
tsnburg and Asheville, aud the Cape
Fear and Yadkin Valley. On the West
ern North Carolina road there are over
four hundred conyicts at work.
The Spartanburg and Asheville road
is now completed thirteen miles from
Asheyille. 1t is within seven miles Of
Hendersonyille, and will be completed
in sixty days, its contractors assert.
Charleston expects to get much freight
over this line, which will be through
one from that city to Asheyille.
The Supreme Court to-day took up
cases from the Eighth district. A large
number Of attorneys from that district.
which embraces much Of the Piedmont
section, are attending court.
The decision in the school-tax cas-
from Sampson county is awaited with
great eagerness. Ii is Of special i'm
portance Just now. when all friends Of
education from Major Finger to the
Youngest teacher are laboring so
7ealously to develop the public school
system Of the State. The law is ex-
picit in its provision that the public
schools shall be kept open four months
in the year. For years that law has
been violated, in fact hasbeen unnoticed.
Many counties have supplemented
the State school-tax with special
schOol-tax so as 10 keep the
schools epen the required length
Of time. \ test case came up from
Sampson county last week, the late
Judge McKoy having ruled that the
special tax was unconstitutional. 1t is
the opinion Of many weli-infOrmed law
years that the Supreme Court will
override that decision. The Attorney
General has made a strong argument IN
favor of the States side of the case.
Major Finger, the State Superintendent
of Public Instruction, says the case Is
Of vital importance. Other counties
were preparing to follow tbs example
set Of increasing the effectiveness Of the
public schools. Most of the opposition
TO the public schools comes from the
negro district, ofcourse. Many white per-
sons declare that they tindit burdensome
to pay nearly all the taxes to maintain
schools for the children of both races.
Senator Dortch, of Wayne, intro
duced q bill providing that the taxes
paid by the whites should be used in
maintaining white schools and those
paid by the negroes in maintaining ne
gro schools. The Supreme Court was
some months ago asked to give spe.
cial opinion as TO the legality Of Mr..
Dortch's measure. Many persons claim
that it is a clear violation Of the Con-
stitution, while others say it is Just and
proper. 1t is hardly probable that the
court will decide that taxes thus i'm
posed can be divided upon a race basis.
II is a novel question, and has never
before arisen here.
An important meeting Of railway
men will be held here in few days to
consider matters relative TO freights.
This matter Of freights has for two
years or more past been source OF
great annoyance to many places, par
ticularly the distributing points. The
matter is difficult of solution. There
are many suits, hundreds in fact, for
alleged discrimination in rates.
Governor Scales, Bishop John c.
Keener. and State Treasurer Balm dined
to-day with Rev. Frank l.. Reid, editor
Of the Christian AdroeGie, at his home
here. Tomorrow the Bishop, Mr..
Balm, and a number Of other prominent
Methodists of this city, leave for Char
lotte to attend the Methodist Confer
ence, over which Bishop Keener pre-
sides. On all trains to-day delegates
have been passing here on their way to
Charlotte. twill be the most interest
ing session Conference ever held, as the
question of dividing into two Conferences
comes up. Arguments will be lengthy
anu NdiM. lHSiS - NA1S val AohNS VI
opinion on the matter. The Conference
now covers all Of the State save the
counties west Of the Blue Ridge. An
other important matter before the Con-
ference is the trial Of the Rev. DR.. Hen
dren for unchristian conduct. He re-
Gently figured in most unpleasant
scandal, and was dismissed from his
charge as presiding elder Of a district
in the western part Of the State. lie
will appear in person before the Con-
ference for final trial.
1t is stated that the appropriation
made for the work on the Governor S
mansion is almost exhausted, and that
the Legislature will be asked to make
a supplemental appropriation. Certain
alterations in the building increased the
cost. il is stated, considerably above
the first estimates. Although work
has been resumed, it goes on slowly.
Great haste is made in the work on the
new State building for the Library and
Supreme Court so as to secure its en-
tire completion by next summer.
Auditor Roberts is making great
haste in the preparation of the pension
warrants. Each pensioner, it has been
decided, gets fifteen dollars and fifty
cents. This is more than was expected
this year.