The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-02-22
PENSION LEGtsLATIoS.
Propositions For Changes I'm he Law
Before legislative Committees -
Tue Procedure I'm an Impeachment
Trial.


MGSS&ukCE o0&
Raleigh. February Is
The Legislative joint committee on
pensions met today and decided TO let
the present SIC. 900 appropriation 10 the
soldiers home stand. without increase
Chairman Rheinhardt. OF the committee
was interviewed and said: $50 far.
only about 300 pension bills have been
introduced. We viii put all these
names in one bin next wee We want
to get a rate of 5 cents on h $50 for
pension tax. 1t is 4 cents in the new
revenue bill. 1t Is claimed that 4 cents
will raise 500. 900. Auditor Dixon says
it will not raise over $4,000. IL Is not
enough then. and We must fix il at 5
cents and raise 500. 0o0 at least The
pension bill we have proposed Is the
best the state has ever had. 1t enlarges
the powers of the county board. giving
them power to examine pension appli-
cants, and to put on the rolls all
those Who need pensions. no matter
whether they were wounded in n
a Then, too. the boards can purge
n rolls. as there are a number on
them who have no business there. A
number Of them have property. We
want to get the pensions increased to
$12 for first class. $50 for second class,
S4S for third class. and $50 for fourth
class and widows
Auditor Dixon was then interviewed
and said he felt sure the 4 cen tax
would not raise over S150. 900, while at
least $500. 600 was neede He aid he
felt sure that with the increased power
and scope given the u boards the
number of pensioners would be increas-
ed to 1000. There are now something
over 5000 and s11s. 900 was last year paid
to them
If this legislature will make a S.. 600
appropriation and if the one two years
hence VIII supplement this, North Car
DINA cam, through the agricultural de-
partment, make a notably fine exhibit
at the st. Louis exposition. 1t will do
nothing at either the Buffalo or Char
lesion exposition.
The Fayetteville d~ispensary matter
is talked Of a good Zeal among the
legislators. A gentleman from that
place said today that it was claimed
that the ~dispensary advocates objected
to the holding of a primary to settle
the question as to whether the dis
pensary oul remain or be abolished,
because they feared a combination Of
republicans and populists with the
anti-dispenSary forces.
1t is learned that William A. Guth-
RE, of Durham, is to be chief counsel
for the impeachment of Judges Fur
hes and Douglas. Judge Douglas said
today that at least twenty-five lawyers
had volunteered their services for ito
defense n hat ii would be a day -
two before selections were made for
these.
Lieutenant Governor Turner, preSi-
dent of the senate, said this morning
that he could find nothing in the ooo-
stitutiOn about suSpending the judges.
He says they will not be suspended
until the court of Impeachment (the
senate) is duly organized. Then notice
to them viii be signed by him as the
presiding officer and served by the
sergeant-at-arms.. The senate as
court will fix the day when the judges
can come before it and make answer.
When they answer and the issue is
made up, then they are suspended
until the case is disposed Of. They
have ten days time for preparation.
In the impeachment trial of Governor
Holden, as soon as the court was or
ganized and sworn in Lieutenant Cow
ernor Caldwell took the oath as gov
ernOr.