Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-02-24
TO SQUEEZE RUSSELL.
HEAVY PRESSURE ON NORTH
CAROLIsA's GOVERNOR.
Threats of Republicnns-A Finnncihi
Drag Nef--The Election Inv 10 be
Amended-yey bills Introduced
Warm Discussions.
Warm Discussions.

RALEIGH, N. c., February @.-Cspe-
ciaI.)-The action of Senator d. l.
Clark. of Halifax, in Joining the boit-
ing Populists last night, caused much
talk to-day. His accession gives the
boilers a strength of twenty-five.
The Republicans are bringing to bear
on Governor Russell the powerful pres
sure which Is contained in the declara-
ton that, IL he does not appoint the
men for office whom they and the boilers
have selected, they will put the names
of their appointees in all the bills
taking charge of institutions. The boilers
are using another lever, this being tha'
II the Governor does not put on their
nominees they will vote against his pet
measure. the bill TO annul the lease OF
the North Carolina railway, when II
comes up In the Senate Friday. 30 the
Governor is between two fires.
SETTING DRAG-NETs.
The State Treasurer and the Finance
committees are setting drag-nets ior
every conceivable kind Of revenue. Ihere
was never such a sweeping revenue Dill
as the one just prepared, which comes
under consideration in a few days.
Up to this date 22 bills have been rati-
fed. 1t is asserted by Populist papers
that the cost of the enrolling clerks
Office alone is over $40 n day. 1t IS also
asserted that the Speaker OF the HOUSE
went into the Populist majority caucus
and urged it to appoint some more as,
sistant enrolling clerks, but that
peremptoriIy refused. The boilers caucus
was more compliant. and named there.
THE ELECTION LAW.
The Republicans openly announce that
they propose TO pass important amend
ments TO the election law, the purpose
Of which is to give them control OF
everything OF course, this suits the
Populist boilers, but the regular Popu-
lists are I'D in arms. The organ Oh the
National Farmers Alliance says to-day
(and il is the most influential Popullst
organ in the State) that the Repubh-
cans and the boilers are making up
certain amendments, which are not TO
be tolerated by the people Of the state
BRIEFS.
Judge z. II. simonton, of Charleston,
c.. arrived here to-day, TO hold an
adjourned term Of the United states Cir
omit Court. only two dockets will be
taken up. Mrs. Simonton is with the
Judge. r.
Among to-day's arrivals are James II.
Pou and T.. w. Pou, Of Smithi1eld; u.
NJ. Rose. II. w. Lilly and II. l.. Cook
of Fayetteville; C. e. Borden, p. b. Man
ming. and j. w. st. John, of Whining
ton: T. w Whistnant and J. t. Reed or
Portsmouth.
There are the beginnings OF n
he
There IS little doubt that the present
public printers Stewart Brothers, OF
Winston, expect TO get the contract again.
The regular Populsts and the Democrats
will. no doubt antagonize this and favor
union labor.
The Popuist majority, In caucus last
night, nominated John Graham. Of Ridge
way. for Railway Commissioner The
boiling Populists nominated Theodore
White for State Shell-Fish Commissioner.
NEW BILLS
The principal new bills introduced to-
day were: To create a criminal circuit
court out of Mitchell Yancey, Mcdowell,
Ashe. and Watauga counties; to give
Cleveland county a dispensary; to sub
nit TO the popular vote at the next gene
raj election the question Of State aid
to higher education; TO reduce sheri1S
bonds to 80 per cent. Of assessed taxes.
Bills passed the Senate to give the State
University $500. and the State Normal
and Industrial School $1,000 annually in
addition to the standing appropriations,
and TO prevent the introduction and dis
semination Of dangerous insects.
HEATED DISCUSSION.
There was heated and prolonged dis
cussion i'm the House of a bill to amend
the charter of Wilmington so that each
ward would elect an alderman and the
Governor appoint one for each ward.
This was we'll understood 10 be pet bill
of Governor RusselPs, and the Republic
can caucus last night had decided TO sup
mort it, but a number of Republicans
bolted the caucus and aided in defeating
the measure-the vote being, ayes, IS;
noes, 50.
The House had another warm discus
sion. this time OF a bill forbidding
gold contracts" The Republicans
fought it tooth and nail, and offered an
amendment which negatived it, This was
adopted and then the Republicans turned
in and defeated the bill as amended.