The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-03-04

Friends of the Lease Bill in the Senate in
COnference-Report of Joint
on Overwhelmingly Efforts to Settle
the Judgeship Squabble.
Especial to The Messenger.)

toRC1iai " II ~ACooSA5SA'
Raleigh, n. c., February 25.-The
special committee of the senate on the
lease memorial bill met this even
ing and unanimously signed a report
generating the board Of directors of
the North Carolina railway from any
and all charges which were made re-
garding their action in leasing the
road to the Southern. The committee
then took up Senator Grants substi-
tute lease bill. -Four Of the six COM
mitteemen voted to report 1t ~favorably
tomorrow morning, and W others
asked to be allOwed until that time to
make up their minds.
1t is stated tonight that seven pOpu-
list senators will vote for the substi-
tute bill of Senator Grant regarding
the lease Of the North Carolina rail-
way. Governor Russell requested the
pOpulist majority caucus to confer with
him tonight and this was agreed to.
The conference was on the lease mat
ter. Il
The joint committee or education
this evening decided to favorably re-
port a bill giving the seven colored
state normal school $4,000 more an
nually, also a bill to give 500, 900 ad-
ditional to the public schools, this to
go to townships which by local x
ton raise an amount equal to the
amount the state allows. The COM
mittee reports $685. 600 on hand Of the
educational fund, of which 10000 is
cash and $165, 900 bonds.
Governor Russell is reported to be
endeavoring to induce Representative
Sutton of Cumberland to be railway
commissioner, SO he can appoint
Walter Henry judge.
The populist caucus met at 8 o'clock
It was really a senate caucus OF adj
o11<o~ ~ %ko laoco hill onA Cnnofnr
Moye of Pitt, says 1t was attended by
all the boilers, all straight populists,
save Maxwell, who is out of the city,
and by three republicans. Senator'S
Sharp of Iredell. Sharp of Wilson, and
Hyatt. Senator Moye tells me Cover
Judge Avery was and spoke an hour.
He urged that the bill which passed
the house pass the senate, and at
tackled Grants bill, which he read,
saying it was a bad one; that it was
intended to cause delay n confusion,
and contained a bad provision, provid-
ing for ratification by private stock
holders, as the latter might decline to
ratify. Senator Moye tells me twenty
five senators were present. He said
nobody was pledged as to vote tOmor-
row. The plan of fight in the senate
was arranged, and it vas decided to
make it a fight to the finish. He says
if all stick the house bill will pass. 1t
is difficult to guess what the result
will be tomorrow. Senator MOye spoke
as if uncertain. He said they had ex-
pected twenty-seven votes. Hender-
sen, a republican, who is against the
house bill is sick.
The republicans were in caucus until
1915 o'clock. A proposition for re-dis-
tricting the state was submitted. It
was not acted on. but vas referred to
a committee. Nothing is definitely set
tied. A committee from the populist
boilers came over and met a republic
can committee. The matter Of selec-
ton of a railway commissioner was de-
ferred until tomorrow night and, so
was the railway lease matter.
Governor Russell said tonight of
Grants substitute: 'It simply gives
the North Carolina railway to the
Southern on it's own terms. 1t puts
thar it was in before the legislature
met. 1t drives the state out of it's
own courts, confirms and ratiies the
lease for ~thirty-six years, and puts the
people in shackleS SO they are to lie
PROSTATE and gagged without even a
voice of protest against the spoilatiOn
of the state. 1t is an attempt to legal
ize the larceny of the peoples proper
ty and to strike them down so they
cannot be heard to complain. I sup
pose they are expected to be thankful
and duly grateful to the money kings
for allowing them to keep the old city
building with an empty treasury.
Every senator who wants to protect
his state and save the people from thi
monstrous iniquity should vote down
every amendment and pass the bill
which has been prepared by competent
lawyers" sD.As