davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-02-24
EAGAN DECLARES BEEF GOOD.
Colonel Western, General Eagan's Sue
cessor. Corroborates His Statement.

Colonel Western, General Eagan's Sue
cessor. Corroborates His Statement.
Washington, Feb. 23.-The testimony
of Colonel j. f. Weston who was at the
outbreak of the war Assistant Com
missary General and who is now the
successor of Commissary General Chas.
p. Eagan. together with the appearance
of General Eagan, was the feature of to-
days proceedings of the court of in
quiry investigating the charges of Gen
eral Miles as to the beef supplied to
the army in Cuba and Porto Rico. Each
contended that the canned roast beef
was a wholesome and nutritious COM
ponent of the army ration which was
furnished the Santiago and Porto Rican
expeditions and took issue with the reg
ular army officers who have criticized 1t.
Regarding the refrigerated beef the tes-
timony of today tended to show that 1t
was satisfactory.
General Eagan entered into clrcum-
stances attending the entry into con-
tracts with the beef concerns and viii
conclude his testimony tomorrow.
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-02-24
LEADS ALL NORTH CAROLINA DAlIES M NEWS AND CIRCULATION

committee. The motion was voted down
20 to 155 The bill was then passed.
Mr.. Hull, chairman of the Military
Committee, gave notice that he would
call up the Army Appropriation Bill
tomorrow. The Senate amendments to
the Military Academy Bill were adopted.
This bill now goes to the President. The
Senate Bill to permit volunteer regi-
pents of the Spanish war to retain their
colors was passed
At $50 p. m, the House adjourned.
PROCEEDINGS IN THE SENATE.
Washington, Feb. 23.-During the en-
tire session to-day, until & O'Clock, the
Senate had under consideration the
River and Harbor Bill. Good progress
was made. 5S pages having been dis
posed of, with the exception of one
amendment. The bills consideration will
be resumed tomorrow at ii o'clock.
Shortly after the opening of the session
Mr.. Faulkner, CIV. Va.), presented the
protest of John T. McCraw against the
seating of \. b. Scott, elected a Senator
from West Virginia 1t was ordered
to lie on the table.
A bill reported from the Committee on
Militay Affairs permitting volunteer reg
iments to retain their colors and to de-
post them in the State capitols was
passed.
At $40 p. m. the River and Harbor
Bill was laid aside, IS pages having been
completed
A bill granting to the Denison, Bon
ham and Gulf Railway Company all
rights, privileges and franchises hereto
fore granted to the Denison, BOnham
and New Orleans Railroad Company.
was passed. also bill authorizing the
Georgia Pine Railway Company of Geor-
gia to construct bridge across the
Flint River in Decatur county, Georgia.
On motion of Mr.. Carter the Senate
at $50 went into executive session.
After brief executive session the
reading of the Alaska code bill was re-
sumed in open session, an agreement be-
ing reached that no other business should
be transacted tonight.
Upon completing the reading of the
bill, the Senate at 7:35 adjourned.
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-02-24
A HOT FIGHT IN THE HOUSE ON
THE QUESTION.
Consumed an Hour Yesterday and Will be
Resumed To day-A Privilege Tax
on All Dispensaries.

creasing the railroad taxes"
Mr.. Judge Allen is right. The
railroads are willing to bear their lust
proportion of the taxes and they are
willing to have the valuation of their
property increased by the Commission"
Mr.. Thompson, of OnSloW-"There
were now thirteen States in the Union
that have adopted this system of tax
ing railroads. They are for the most
part, too, the shrewd, business-like New
England States. 1t cannot. therefore
be charged that this is a Populistic idea.
All the States that have tried it have
found it not only a satisfactory but
proper method Of taxation. Vermont
raises nearly all her taxes for State pur-
poses ON railroads; and Illinois has a
tax of per cent on gross earnings of
railroads"
Mr.. Julian-"That State has many
more railroads than we have. They
are a nuisance there. Does the gentle
man want to tax the railroads
of this State as nuisance and run
them out of the State? I'm opposed to
this tax from principle"
Mr.. Thompson-"Yes, and I'm in fa-
vor of it from principle-and not for
policy. I'm willing for these railroads
to come here. but / want them to bear
their just proportion of the burdens as
well as enjoy the privileges
Mr.. Gattis, of Orange-"I, TOO, want
this thing done fair, and I'd like to ask
the gentleman from Onslow why he
doesn't tax insurance companies as he
does railroad companies:"
Mr.. Thompson-"W have done So
Mr.. Gattis-"Then that's treating all
fair. But still I'm opposed to this tax,
because railroads have property here to
tax and insurance companies have not"
Mr. Willard THE company / rep
resent owns $1GJ000 worth of property
in this State: the company here in Raj
eigh owns S12s,000 of property; one at
Tarboro owns 100000 and several 9TH
ers in the State own as much"
Mr.. Connor-''Isn't this a new princi-
pie in taXatiOnW
Mr.. Thompson-"May be new in North
Carolina. but it's old elsewhere"
Mr.. Connor inquired if it was not the
policy in North Carolina to reduce rail-
road rates. He had so understood and
now this proposition to tax the gross
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-02-24

pay tax ON their gross earnings. 1t
was, he argued, simply a franchise tax
and the franchise was given by the State
and was in its very nature monopolistic
"These corporations have the most
valuable of all franchises. and they
ought to be compelled to pay a license
tax on them. All other corporations
and quasi corporations do so. and are
taxed i'll this very bill. Why an ex-
ception should be made of railroads |
can't imagine.
THE committee heard all sides on this
question. 1t considered the argument
carefully and l have no doubt its report
will be upheld"
Mr. Petree-"How much revenue will
be raised by this taxi"
Mr. Willard" Between 100000 and
$4,000"
Mr.. Julian-"Dont you know it will
raise over $100,000T
Mr.. Willard-"I know it will not"
Mr. Carroll, of Alamance, said he
would be the last man in the world to
vote for anything looking toward a war
on corporations. He wanted to do equal
and exact justice by all men and all
interests.
But we make toll gates and bridges
and banks and merchants and insurance
companies and all other corporations
pay this tax and L don't see why the
railroad companies shouldn't pay it, too
Nobody undertook to crack this nut.
Mr.. Allen, of Wayne, argued that the
Supreme Court of North Carolina had
uecided that railroads franchise was
part of its property, and in taxing the
road the franchise could be levied ON as
much as any other species of its be-
longings.
Now the Railroad Commission has
from year to year been fixing the valua-
ton of these roads. If this valuation is
too low, let the commission increase it,
That is the correct way to act about it,
I'm not in favor of this method of in
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-02-24
ARMY REORGANIZATION BILL
Adjustment of the Differences in the
Senate Now Likely.

Washington, Feb. 23.-That there is
to be an adjustment of the differences or
the Army Reorganization Bill in the Sen
ate is the general understanding among
Senators tonight. The Democratic
Senators have contended for little more
than the fixing of time limir for the
continuance of the existence of the en-
larged army being willing. as they say,
to give the Administration all the men
and all the money necessary to its our
pose for the present. Accordingly the
time for the. continuance of the increase
has been fixed at July 1st, 1901.
There is a mutual understanding that
the new army shall not exceed $1,000
men, as provided in the Cockrcll bill
and that the staff provisions of the Hull
Hawley bill shall be retained in substan-
tally the same form as reported from
the Military Committee. OF the troops
authorized $4,000 are to be raised sub
iect to the discretion of the President
and may be natives of the new posses
sons or otherwise as he may determine
The Committee on Military Affairs has
been called to meet tomorrow and the
presumption is that the new bill will
receive attention at this meeting. The
programme is TO continue the truce to-
morrow and not to attempt to take
up the army bill in the Senate before
Saturday. 1t is hoped that the new
measure may then be reported and pass
ed-not without explanation and de-
bate, but after only reasonable delay.
The present understanding Is that the
bill shall be new measure, not sub
stitute for the Hull bill. To make it
substitute would leave the matter open
to conference committee, and the
Democrats are not willing to take their
chances in a conference. Hence after
the bill shall have passed the Senate
it will have to go to the House and be
acted upon as if no army bill had pass
ed that body
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-02-24
SULTAN FORCED TO YIELD.
France Gets No Coaling Station from
His Highness of Muscat..

France Gets No Coaling Station from
His Highness of Muscat..
Bombay, Feb. 23.-Important details
regarding the action of the British au-
thorities at Muscat. the capital of the
Sultanate of Oman, have just become
public 1t appears that the news of the
lease by the Sultan of Oman of coal
ing station TO France on the coast of
Oman leaked out while the British po-
litical agent at Muscat, Major Eagan,
was absent. He promptly returned TO
his post. but the Sultan refused to fur
nish him with any information. The
commander of the gunhoat Sphinx there
upon dispatched n lieutenant and armed
party to the Bandar-.Iiosih. But the
Sultan. hoping to receive aid from the
French, continued to be reealcitrant.
The arrival of the second class cruiser
Eclipse. flagship of the East Indies sta
ton, with Rear Admiral Il. c. Drum
mond on board threw the Sultan's sub
jects into a panic, though the Sultan
himself remained obdurate.
During the morning Of February 10th
Admiral Drummend sent word ashore
that unless the Sultan attended durbar
on board the Eclipse at = o'clock that
afternoon he would lombard the forts
at 2:30 p. m.
Notice of the Admiral's intention was
sent to the Foreign Consuls and the
town was speedily in confusion. The
advisers of the Sultan entreated him
to submit, and the Eclipse took up a
position broadside to the town, while
the other British ships cleared for ac-
ton. The Sultan thereupon posted a
notification at the custom house and on
the gates of the town that the agree
ment with the French was cancelled.
At noon the Sultan sent his brother
on board the Eclipse, but the British
Admiral refused to receive him as SUI
bordinate.
Just before 2 o'clock the Sultan of
Oman. almost unattended, arrived on
board the flagship and remained there
for three hours, while the whole popn-
lation lined the beach and anxiously
awaited the outcome.
The Sultan, it appears, completely
acquiesced to the British demands and
handed over TO Admiral Drummond the
treaty with France On the following
day the Admiral went to the palace.
where a great durbar was held, and the
Sultan publicly repudiated his agree
ment with France.
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-02-24

THE r. p. AND G. ROAD.

Richmond. Va, Feb. 23.-The Rich
mond, Petersburg and Carolina Rail
road people today closed some 100000
Of the options they had on property for
right of way and depot site in this city.
Mr.. Dewitt Smith, President of the
company. left for New York tonight. He
said today that as soon as the Rich
mond franchise was secured work on the
road would be commenced at these
points and it would be completed in seven
months. As before stated, there is talk
of the Chesapeake and Ohio uniting
with the r. p. and G.. in building via
ducts and a depot, and it is now said
that the Norfolk and Western may also
come into the union depot scheme, run
ming into Richmond over the tracks of
the new road.
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-02-24
GOMEZ TRIUMPHAL PROGRESS.
Amid Cheering Crowds he Reaches Ma
rianao, and is Welcomed by Lee.

Amid Cheering Crowds he Reaches Ma
rianao. and is Welcomed by Lee
Marianao, Province of Havana, Feb.
23.-General Maxine Gomez left Guines
at half past two this afternoon and is
now at Maranao. This evening he is at
a banquet rendered by the town--the
last, except that TO be given in Havana,
of long series of such entertainments
The special train of FIVE stopped be-
tween Glines and Cienaga for few
minutes each at Palengune, San Felipe
Quivican. Bejucal and Rincon, arriving
at Cifnaga at half past four The peo-
pie had assembled at each of these points
to cheer the Cuban Commander-in-C Chief
while the bands played Cuban airs.
General Gomez shook hands with many
persons at each station.
Mayor LaCoste, of Havana, Senor
Federico Mora, the civil Governor of
the city, and the members of the Havana
council, accompanied Gomez from
Guines to Marianao. AIT Cienaga,
about three miles from Havana, u
crowd of 1000 persons collected, some
while all the trains from Havana were
jammed. These people cheered vocifer-
ously As the train drew into the STA
tion General Gomez appeared upon the
platform. Stops We're made at Puentes
Grandes and Buena Vista. At the lat
ter point Major General Lee went upon
the platform and welcomed General
Gomez informally in few hearty
words The train stopped next at
! Quemados, where crowds of American
soldiers had gathered and finally reached
Marianao where a tumultuous welcome
/ awaited General Gomez.
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-02-24
HALF THE TOWN IN ASHES.
Fire Arms, Cartridges and Oil in the
Houses Exploded Continuously.

Waggoner, Il. T. Feb. GA fire
which started at MuscOgee, l. T., at 9:3o
last night destroyed almost one-half OF
that town entailing a loss aggregating
nearly 100000. The fire began in a
negro shanty near the court house. 1t
destroyed the greater portion OF the
business district and many private resi-
dences. There was no loss of life or
serious casualties.
The presence in many buildings of
loaded fire arms, cartridges, oils, ETC.,
and their continuous explosion interfered
with the work of extinguishing the fire
and endangered life.
About forty per cent of the loss as
covered by insurance.
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-02-24
KIpLING MUCH THE SAME.

New York, Feb. 23.-The following
bulletin was issued at 1890 o'clock to-
night bv the physicians attending Rud
yard Kipling:
Mr.. Kipling has had a fairly COM
Portable day, although in the late after
noon and early evening, as usually hap
pens, the symptoms have become about
as they were last evening, but not
worse"
When questioned as to whether both
lungs are now affected DIR. Haneway
said the disease was only IN its fourth
day and intimated that any positive
diagnosis at this time was impossible.
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-02-24
CHARLOTTE CITIZENS HERE.
Over 100 Delegates for Dispensary-A A
Small Delegation of Ants.

Two delegations arrived from Char.
lOtte yesterday to be present at the
hearing of the Mecklenburg dispcnsary.
to be established at Charlotte, which
came up before the Senate committee
yesterday afternoon. The antis ,rriyed
first by the Southern railway There
were only fourteen of these. At 1870
the dispensary delegation arrived via
the Seaboard Air Line. These came
one hundred strong and wore blue
badges, with the Inscription declaring for
the dispensary. 1t was fine body of
men, among them the most prominent
citizens of the Queen City of the State.
They attracted Il great deal of attention
as they marched i'll a body from the
Union depot up Martin, thence up Fay
etteville street to the capitol. They
marched two by two and the line in
length reached from the Citizens Nat
ional Bank to Kings drug store
They were present ait the meeting of
the committee yesterday and manifested
their great interest i'm the question un-
der consideration.
In addition to the delegations which
arrived here yesterday there were al
ready a large number of citizens from
charlotte here who had preceded them
the day before. 1t was a warm time
before the committee.
DISPENSARY DELEG ATES.
The following composed the delega-
ton in favor of the dispensary:
Judge Burwell. c. w. Tillett. Capt.
Bason, DIR. ]. w. Faison, Maj. Harris.
J. Sol Reid, G. w. Caldwell, n. NJ.
Lawrence, S. w. Reid. ]. ]. Blakley.
G. l.. Abernethy. Rev. ]. Il. Allison. r..
II. Brockenborough, w. S. Alexander. ID.
+. Summey, j. NJ Simms, ]. w. Dur
ham, W. NJ. Anderson, Vinton Iyddell.
j. III. Horn, j. III. Ross, ]. a. Helvin.
G. z. McKoy, Rev A. C. Barron. ]. C.
Herring, {. Gresham, Walter Brem
George Stevens, DIR. PRESLEY, Rev. J.
II. Howerton, G.. NJ Carson. Can't. r..
E. Cochran, A. g. Brenizer. j. G. Bur
rough, X. c. Corsen, A. Graham, w.
f. Dowd, w. C. Dowd, Rev. DIR. Critz-
burg, c. p. Wheeler. VIM Barringer,
Rev ID. NJ. Aston, Mr.. Fr9eland, Allen
Craig, j. w. Sheppard, Rev. G. A Page
Hugh w. Harris, L. G. Abbott, Frank
Mahan, J. c. McNeely, Rev. j. F.
Butt. c. w. Johnson, J. S. Withers.
NJ e. Crowell, Capt. III. M. Dickson
Anger HeeCe, vi. Il. IpSFdln, 'if.. JOnn
A. Berryhill, Tom Stuart, w. o. Berry
hill, w. J. NJ. Finger. r. NJ Miller
ST.. A. +. Mostella, f. NJ. Shannenhouse
j. Il. Hawkins. ]. L. Davis, H. w Will
son, G. III. Dudley. J. J. Ezzell. DIR.
w. ]. Martin. Jr., Rev. A. r. Graham,
]. l.. Sloan, J. Il. Boyd, ]. l.. Choate,
John w. Moore, A. l.. Butt. d. NJ Mes
Iver, Rev. l.. r. Pruitt, Rev. s. f..
Conrad, A. Burwell, Jr.. n s. Aexan-
der II. A. Sykes, ]. w. Cross. F. A.
Thomas. James Sledge. Il. NJ. Andrews,
M. i. Kirby, w. n. Mullen. J. NJ. Davis
DR. Kirby, j. Y. Oders, John Farrer
Rev. J. A. Baldwin. ID. S. Yates.
The following is the delegation in OPP
position to the dispensary:
j. NJ. Trott. w. s. Shaffer, j. e.
Traywick. C. NJ. Creswell, r. A. Dun
can. :. w. PETERS. r. ]. Swinson, j.
ID. Ross, J. S. Bigsbee. j. A. Ryan, J.
A. Ryan, j. NJ. Jones. ]. NJ. Woodside.
w. H. Hoover, II L. Lucas.
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-02-24

County of Clay.
earnings looked like taking off at both
ends.
Nobody called the judges attention TO
the fact that if its rates were reduced
the gross earnings would be cut down
and thereby the roads taxes reduced,
and so he continued:
IF rates are not reduced the people
will lose in that way what they save
in taxes. 1t looks to me like we are
going in at one hole and out at another
and never getting inywhere. 1t IS sin!'
ply uestion of which pocket youll take
the money out of.
Mr.. Thompson suggested that the
same principle applied to every tax; and
later in the argument Mr., Hartsell, Of
Cabarrus, said this was exactly the
principle of tariff taxation.
To this Judge Connor replied that he
was a free trader Certainly he was
opposed to new ideas in taxation, he
said; and what concerned him in this
question was how the people were to
be benefited.
As for this tax being a new idea
in taxation, Mr.. Willard said large
number of States had adopted it. He
read the list.
Judge Connor inquired if these States
had Railroad Commissions like North
Carolina to fix rates and place tax
valuation ON railroad property.
Mr. Willard said most of them had.
In Wisconsin there is just such COM
mission, he said, and there the tax on
gross earnings is per cent.
The committee had fully investigated
the question: they had found that the
railroads were amply able to pay this
tax, Mr.. Willard said, and hence they
had levied it,
I'VE adopted the per centum tax be-
cause we thought it more equitable than
lump sum-. Some States have a
graduated privilege tax. In Tennessee.
for instance, this is $4,000 down. And
there is hardly a State in the Union,
Continued on Second Page.)
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-02-24
D'ALMENAS WON'T FIGHT.
But Will Continue to Shoot Off His Lip
Against the Generals.

Madrid. Feb. 23.-In the Cortes today
the debate on the conduct of the war
with the United States was continued,
but little interest was developed in either
chamber.
Count D'Almenas declines to accept
the challenge to duel sent him by
General Linares, whom he had charged
with cowardice in connection with the
capitulation of Santiago. He declares
that he will not yield to intimidation
but will continue the campaign against
the generals in the Senate, where he will
read a violently provocative letter he
has received from General Linares.
General Pando intends to- speak
against peace with the United States
and will then resign his Scnatorship
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-02-24
KILLED BY THE FREIGHT
Colored Man RunmOver on the Southern
Near WILSON'S Mills.

Selma, n. c., Feb 23.-(Special)-Joe
Rodgers, colored, of Wilson's Mills, was
struck and instantly killed by n freight
ON the Southern road about 11:30 o'clock
yesterday morning.
The scene Of the fatal accident was
about three miles this side of Wilson's
Mills, near the railroad bridge over
Neuse River. At this point the road
makes sharp curve. 1t is believed that
Rodgers was caught by the engine here
when too much under the influence of
liquor to be master of his actions. A
broken bottle of whiskey was found in
his pocket when the body was taken up
later
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-02-24
FIRED BY OUR SHELLS.
Filipinos Claim the Flames at lloilo
Were Started Thus.

Paris, Feb 32.-Agents in this city
of the Filipinos have received news
from Iloilo saying that the outbreak
there of fire was not the work of the
natives, but was started by the Amerl-
can shells. When the attack commenced,
the Filipinos add, the foreign residents
were endeavoring to persuade General
Lopez. the Filipino commander, TO sub
nit. as Iloilo was not fortified and was
therefore not in a position to resist the
American attack.
The whole commercial quarter of Iloilo,
it appears. was destroyed with four-ffths
of the rest of the town
Finally the Filipinos say, the foreign
residents subsequently met, protested
against the bombardment and resolved
TO put in claims for damages
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-02-24
REINFoRCEMENTs FOR OTIS.

Washington, Feb. 23.-The War De-
partment has arranged TO dispatch fur
ther reinforcements to General Otis al
Manila. The regiments selected are the
Ninth infantry now nj New York and the
Sixth infantry at San Antonio, Texas
Both these regiments will go by way OF
San Francisco. 1T is expected that the
transports taking them will be able tc
leave by March 18th.
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-02-24
FALSE DATES ON BEEF CANS

Bucyrus. Ohio, Feb. 22.-Adjutant
Schaber of the Eighth Ohio volunteer
regiment, who, during the Spanish war,
handled large quantities of the canned
beef provided for the soldiers, says that
all the cans bore labels with the figures
1898 printed ON them. BY soaking the
cans these labels could be pulled off,
showing an original wrapper with the
date 1883 or some other equally ancient
period marked on them.
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-02-24

Solitude frequently surrounds the
man who is alone with his thoughts.
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-02-24

It's difficult for men to check their
expenses, unless they have bank bal
ance.