The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-12-05
Messenger Bureau,

DaA@oA
Raleigh, n. c., November %.
Theophilus White. chief shell fish
commissioner, is here. will at
tempt to have the supreme corr pass
at once on the question as to his sal
airy. His friends say the only ques-
ton is whether he will receive the SIS
per month which he was paid formerly,
or h $500 a year which the last legis-
lature nxed as the salary of the entire
board OF seven shell fish commission
ers- 1t would be a great surprise il
the supreme court decided him entitled
to the salary of seven men.
Congressman Atwater. of this dis
trict, was here yesterday. He is a
populist-democrat and says he will 20
in the democratic caucus. He also says
he will object to taking OF the oath
OF Roberts, OF Utah, Ii no M else will
do so. He declares that the virtue and
the decency OF this country oppose the
seating of Roberts.
The register of deeds of his coun-
ty says that the numbe Of crop liens
and mortgages this year is very much
less than in former years. This is a
good sign. The great majority of the
are in good spirits. Eight
cent cotton is now practically in sight.
The equity and law dockets OF the
United States circuit court will be TAX
en- up here next month by Judge Pur-
nell. There are forty cases on the two
dockets.
Revenue officers made a raid in
Moore county last night and captured
an Illicit distillery of 100 gallons ca
pacity.
In the supreme court today the first
case taken up was a free pass case
against the Southern railway. 1t il
from RIrkn county Tho S,nit iS for tho
issue of a free pass to T. n. Hallybur-
ton. The complaint set forth that this
was discrimination, in violation of the
railway commission act of 1891. In the
lower court the indictment was quash-
ed, on the ground that the act of 1899
creating the corporation commission
repealed the act of 1891. Then there
was an appeal. Ex-Justice Avery ap-
peared against the Southern today and
argued that, since the decision by the
supreme court in the Abbott Bedding
field case the act of 1891 has never
lost it validity and force, the case I'M
der argument has equal vitality, and
that the Acknowledgements decision
sustains the bill of indictment.
The state charters the Elizabeth City
Milling Company, capital $4,000, stock
holders George Beveridge and others.
1t will grind rice, corn, oats, etc.
The attorney general today began the
compilation of this years returns of
criminal statistics. 1t is the belief
that it will show a decrease of crimes
as compared with previous years.
Congressman Bellamy says in an in
terview for The New York Herald in
regard to the matter of the admission
of Roberts to congress-: The allega-
ton against Mr.. Roberts should be
investigated by a congressional COM
mittee and report made to the house.
His case shall then receive my con-
scientiOus consideration, being gov
erned by the evidence and the consti-
tuition and laws"
Congressman Joh n. Small, of the
First district says in a similar inter-
view: Il have not yet considered care
fully the question of the expulsion from
congress of Representative Roberts, of
Utah. Considered purely as a moral
question, only n conclusion seems
possible, but it may well be hat Mr..
Roberts has acquired certain tights
guaranteed by the constitution and the
laws which the house canno safely
disregard. The right to expel q, mem
Der conferred by the constitution is
not to be exercised in response to SEN
tlment, prejudice or even on moral
grounds but only within the limitation
mpOSed by law. Utah is a sovereign
state and a majority Of the qualified
electors nave chosen this representa-
tive IN congress-. 1t is no light matter
to override the will of the people and
the people of the south have &, peculiar
interest in maintaining the rights of
representatives bearing the credentials
of their state.'
Grand Mastor of Masons Noble calls
a meeting of the grand lodge at Ashe-
vile tomorrow for attending the fun
eral of the late Genera Robert B.
Vance.