The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-02-07
Chief Features Given by
Chairman Holman.
The TAX ON RAILROADS
the First Hitch IN Committee
Favorable Report on the Scotland
ment Question Observation-Disclosures
Divided as TO the Right TO Impeach.
Provision for Local Option Elections
Every Two Years.
Especial TO The Messenger

Raleigh, y. C., February 3.-Your
correspondent had an interview this af-
ternoon with Mr.. Holman. of Iredell,
chairman of the house finance commit
tee, regarding the revenue bill Mr.
Holman said:
There have been practically few
changes made in the revenue law until
we get TO the tax on railways. There
we come to a halt. Some Of the COM
mittee desire 10 put an income tax on
the railways like the income tax on
insurance companies-a graduated tax;
but nothing is settled. l do not think
the change which is proposed will so
through. The proposition is if an in
come tax is levied the property OF the
always will not be taxed for state
purposes, but that taxation will be
kept to the counties. 1t is figured hat
if this income tax were levied il and
the license tax On insurance companies
would yield $3.50. 900 a year. L do not
think the income tax now levied on in
surance companies will be changed. 1t
is more than likely that the merchants
purchase tax will be abolished and .
graduated license tax imposed instead.
Opinion is drifting that way. 1t is not
yet definitely settled as to the amour:
of sue license, but opinion appears to
be to start with 81 on $500 or less and So
on upwards. 1 do not think present
rates of general, school and pension
taxes will be changed. We will try to
keep taxes down all we can for the
present and get along with as few de-
partures as possible. We will, in my
opinion, let tax on doctors and law
yefS stand as it is
This afternoon the house committee
took a vote on the bill to create Scot
land county out of the four lower town.
ships of Richmond and decided to re-
port it favorably. Only two votes, Wall
and Leak, were cast against it. The
committee will report unfavorably Pat
terson's bill TO form a county out Oh
parts of Richmond and Robson
The house judiciary committee re-
sumed examination of the Norwood
case this evening. Sub-committeemen
Rountree, Council and Foushee report
ed that after investigation they had
concluded that Norwood was estopped
from declaring that he was not de jure
judge by the fact that he had claimed
and exercised the functions of the Of
flee since his purported resignation and
tina there was no legal impeachment to
his impeachment.
Gilmer and Ferguson appearing for
Norwood argued that impeachment
could not be against him as he a been
removed from office and Moore was de
facto judge.
Speaker Connor suggested that if the
senate proceeded to impeach il would
be an assumption that Norwood had
legally a title to the office.
Referring TO Impeachment, Rountree
said the question involved is the pun
ishment of the individual. 1t is we'll
known that Norwood had disgraced
his office by drunkenness. Impeach-
ment in this case would merely mean
punishment of a man who is not amen
able to ordinary indictment.
Winston spoke strongly against i'm
parchment. He said the resignation
given by Norwood to Lusk was as
valid as if given to Governor Russell.
that the doctrine Of escrow did not ap-
ply in matters where the people Of
North Carolina are concerned. He said
he would be willing to Engage as pros
ecutor against those who disgraced the
state in the last two years and believ-
ed the first selected for impeachment
should not be a man with one weak
ness, but the strong n vicious.
The subcommittee which inspected
the deaf-muIe school at MOrganton re-
ported it in excellent condition and en-
dorsed the proposition to add So, 600 to
the appropriation.
The following have so far been nam
ed by caucuses of respective congress
SIOndl UlSIrlcCS as members OF the
board of internal improvements: E. F.
Lamb, First; w. J. Adams, Third; c..
NJ. Parks, Fifth; E. K. Proctor, Sixth;
Clement Manly, Ninth.
The senate judiciary committee will
report favorably the bill to permit
counties and towns in North Carolina
to hold local option elections once in
two years on petition of one-third of
the qualified voters and not later than
ninety days previous to the general
election or thirty days prior to a mu-
nicpal election.
The Madison county bill to levy a
special tax 10 pay the bond issue will
be unfavorably reported by the com
mittee, though a substitute bill will be
adopted to validate the bono issue.