The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-02-24
The Democratic Caucus
Discusses 1t.
Division OF OPINION
As 10 What Course the Party Should
Pursue-The Death Of Rev. Bennett
Smedes-Expected Yield ION the In
come Tax-Charlotte Delegations to
Tackle the D1spensary Question To-
day-Work Resumed on the Cape
Fear aud Northern Railway
Raleigh, n. c., February %.
Messenger Bureau,

Raleigh, n. c., February %.
There was universal sorrow here to-
day at the news of the death of Rev.
DR.. Bennett Smedes. rector Of St.
Mary's female school here. He was a
son of the late Rev. DR.. Albert Smedes,
the former rector, and during most of
his useful life had been associated with
the school as teacher or rector. He was
attacked by pneumonia a week ago
yesterday and his last act was to sign
a check for money in aid of the poor
during the blizzard. He was "a years
of age and was the last of his name, all
of his brothers having died compare
lively young. He was greatly beloved
here and indeed wherever known.
The state treasurer says he expects
the income tax on railways to yield
something like $4,000 a year. This is
the new tax imposed in the revenue
act.
The democratic caucus decides posi-
lively that it will not refuse to allow
any more dispensary bills to be pass
ed. So far the plan to establish two
dispensaries has failed-Youngsville
and Greenville.
The democratic caucus last night was
rather indiSposed to tackle the matter
Of the Wilson's, removed as railway
commissioners by Governor Russell
but finally discussed it for two hours.
Senator Osborne made a very lucid
and forcible explanation of the acton
of the legislative committee in report
ing in favor of completely generating
the Wilson's from Governor RusselTs S
charges. Opposition to the report was
made by Allen, of Wayne, who opposes
its adoption. Thompson, of Onslow,
r also takes that view. The caucus re-
quested Osborne to publish all the evil
dence in the case. This is quite volu-
minous. Some members of the caucus
said that if the matter had been press
ed the committees resolution could
have been voted on today and disposed
Of There is evidently a strong pur-
pose on the part of some members to
separate the Wilson's. One of them said
today that Governor Russell had re-
moved Major Wilson because the lat
ter was a democrat, and had removed
Otho Wilson because he would not do
what the governor wanted done and
that, therefore, the thing for the dem
ocrats to do was to restore Major Will
son and let Otho Wilson and the gov
ernor fight out their matter. But other
members said equal justice must be
done both men; that the legislature is
sitting as jury. In all it's phases the
case is both novel and interesting.
Walter H. Page, editor Of The At
lantic Monthly, will lecture March 10th
at the Normal and Industrial college
at Greensboro on THE Making of Lit
erature.''
Mr.. D. S. Avery, wealthy resident
of Raleigh, died last night. He was a
native of Johnston county and came
here about ten years ago.
Charlotte will send a large delegation
, here tomorrow, to work for or against
the bill to establish a dispensary there
for Mecklenburg county.
This city will make a gift Of a site
for the Methodist orphanage, and will
in addition make a money subscrip-
ton.
! Analysis shows the presence Of a
large quantity Of sulphuric acid in the
drinking water here. The intake pipe
passes under sulphuric acid works and
the acid thus gets in the pipe. The acid
has also had the effect Of making the
water hard"
Work is resumed on the Cape Fear
and Northern railway, seventeen miles
Of which are completed. This is the
road which it is said is to be extended
to Wilmington or Southport, most
probably to the latter point