Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1895-01-17

Smith, of Wayne, and Duplin.
| Senator Cook said that as it
seemed that the contestants had
received a majority of the votes
cast they should be seated. and
made a motion to that effect,
which was adopted, and Grant
and Padderson were accordingly
sworn in.
The House met at noon,
ISpeaker Walser in the chair, and
the opening prayer was offered
by Mr.. Smith, member from
| cleveland. The attendance of
members was large, but the at
tendance in the lobbies and the
gallery was smaller than on yes
terday. Messrs. Duffy, of On
slow and Mclean Of Richmond
were sworn in as members.
At 11.5O Private Secretary
Telfair appeared with the Gov
ernor's message, lengthy docu-
ment of rs type written pages,
and its reading began at once,
and was finished at 1.30.
It certainly makes very fine
showing for the State. The
Governor gives the Legislators
some excellent advice, naming
in the plainest manner the evils
of partisan Legislation and of the
inadvisability of in any way
changing the system. etc, of
the various public institutions,
which for many years the Demo
Gratis have SO we'll sustained and
developed.
Most of the message is devoted
to a summary of reports. The
finances are shown to be in a
healthful condition, with $113,
531 cash balance on hand, Nov,
80, 1894. The estimated ex-
penses for 1895 are 1850, 400 and
the same for1896, les 1858, 900, the
expenses of the Legislature. The
present tax levy upon the as
sessment Of last year will yield
only $685. 900.
Under the funding act of 1879
So, 382, 800 in 4 per cent bonds
have been issued in exchange for
the old recognized debt of the
State There are still bonds
outstanding which will require a
further issue of S292, $40 Of 4 per
cent bonds, making a total pos
sible debt of So, ,615, 40. The
State owns as an investment
S136, $50 of these bonds, and the
board of education owns S153,
$50. The North Carolina rail
way six per cent construction
bonds, amounting to 50. .72O, 900,
are secured by the States three
fourths interest in th5 road, the
dividends from which are more
than ample to meet the interest.
The Governor pays high trib-
ute to Col. Tate, the retiring
treasurer.
The Governor asks that special
attention be paid the Auditor S
recommendation of equalization
of taxes. The State taxes were
last year 81, ,358, 944; the county
taxes 81, ,058, 941; total, $2,417,
935 or 81. A per capita.
The increase Of the pension
tax to A cents on the 500 is rec
Commended, as this will give the
full quota of pensions allowed by
law. The present levy is 81
cents and it will produce this
year $111, 800.
One half the counties have no
debts. The total Indebtedness of
the people is only 1.25 of the tax
able value of property. The tax
rate is lower than in any other
State Of the union. It shows con-
clusively that the party intrusted
with public affairs has given to
the people such a State govern
ment that the light Of prosperity
from onerous taxation is dawns
ing in North Carolina.
The recommendations of the
attorney general as to SANDER,
trusts and lynchings are en-
dorsed Solicitors ought to be
salaried officers. The treasurer
has collected the State taxes,
save small amount from Madi-
son county. A levy of % instead
of 16 cents, school taxes is hear
tily recommended, as this will
enable the public schools to be
kept open 4 months yearly. An
increase for the three insane
asylums is recommended. The
State white orphan asylum at
| Oxford received during the past
two years $21, 612, ofewhich $40
900 was from the Stale; the col
ored orphan asylum there $5, 367,
of which 81, 500 was from the
Estate
The Atlanta exposition is heat
tily endorsed, and AN appropria-
ton for an exhibit there is spe-
cially recommended. Participa-
tion. in the Baltimore exposition
of 1897 is also recommended.
T Eighty per cent of the convicts
have been employed at farming.
There are 8 900 acres under cult
walton. The utilization CT some of
the convicts in making clothing,
shoes, ETC., for the inmates of
the various institutions is recon-
mended. The cost to the State of
the penitentiary has been only
1912, 500 for each of the past 2
years. This money was expended
by reason of losses by the floods
of 1898, to purchase horses and
mules and to equip the farms.