The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1901-02-07
OUR RALEIGH LETTER.
THE PROPOSED IMPEACHMENT OF FUR
CHES AND DOUGLAS.
Legislature Matters of importance
Aid for Confederate Veterans Asked
Railroad Taxation Case settled
Minor Mention
(Frnm Our Regular Correspondent

(Frnm Our Regular Correspondents
RALEIGH. N. C.. Feb 4. 1901.
The resolution OF Representative Craig.
OF Buncome, introduced in the House last
Thursday, looking to the Impeachment OF
Chief Justice Furches and Associate
Justice Douglas of the Supreme Court is
the most sensational development OF the
past week.
Few expected it beyond small circle OF
lawyers, mostly members of the Legisla-
ture, although the subject has been moot
ed for three months past. The principal
charge is that these Judges violated the
Constitution when, overriding the action
of the Legislature, they commanded the
Auditor and Treasurer to pay the claim
of Shellfish Commissioner White.
: The resolution was referred to the
House judiciary committee, and on Thurs
day night that committee placed the mat
ter in the hands OF a subcommittee OF
Conner and Spainhour). These will re-
port it back with recommendation this
week. In the mean time the matter rests
in statu quo, though it may be reported
back today or tomorrow.
II favorable report is made then the
resolution will come Immediately before
| the House. One reading only and a vote
| by majority OF the members of the
House is necessary for the passage OF
the resolution. A committee OF five mott
fies the Senate of the charge for impeach-
ment if preferred by the House. The act
OF impeachment is always the duty OF the
Senate. When the House prefers charges
Of this kind the Senate becomes the high
est court in the State.
FOUR NEW JUDGEs-sHYsTER LAWYERS.
The decision OF the Democratic legisla-
tive caucus to abolish the criminal courts
and increase the number OF superior court
district from II to 16, will meet with
general approval. Oneieature of the dis
cussion developed the fact that it was
the general opinion that too much OF the
time OF the courts is wasted by the law
yers and it was claimed that if a proper
reform was worked in that respect there
would be no need of additional terms OF
courts But the attorneys appear to
have pretty much their own way, with
most judges, and the latitude allowed
some OF them, especially in the merciless
and often cruel and haunting examina-
ton and cross-examinatiOn of witnesses
sensitive and refined wOmen) is one OF
the wonders OF this free country with lay
men-a country where the right OF every
!
in the witness-box while undergoing such
an ordeal at the hands of some shyster Of
the legal profession. OF course this OBJ.
servation does not apply to all lawyers
for many OF them, most of them, are not
guilty OF the charge, though entirely too
many OF them are.
In this connection attention may be
called to the bill of Senator Jones, OF Pitt
which prohibits solicitors from collecting
costs in cases in which Judgment is no,
prayed in open court.
AID FOR CONFEDERATE VETERANS
The State association OF ex- Confederate
soldiers met here last Wednesday night
and Thursday, and took action relative
to securing better Legislative aid TO,
. needy veterans-those in the Soldiers
Home and the pensioners at home. II
/ priation for the Soldiers Home main
:, tenance, and $4,000 for needed repairs
and new buildings; that the pension tai
be increased from 3h to 5 cents ON rea
: and personal property and from 10 to X
cents on the poll; that all honorably dis
+ charged Confederate soldiers over 7(
r years, worth less than $500. be placed OF
, roll as 4th class pensioners; that al
. widows of Confederate soldiers, married
, to them during the war and now g.
years old or more, be made 4th class pen
sioners; that no other pension Legislation
be enacted.
RAILROAD TAXATION CASE SETTLEMENT
I, By the settlement OF the suit between
, the State and the three big railroad sys
TENS over the collection of the assessed
taxes for 1900 ($35, 579,S7O. which
made an increase OF over IS, 0OO, 900 Owe
the assessment of 1893, the State now re
ceives $44, 500 additional, the counties
I $1OO,559 and the school fund $32 900
Governor Aycock last Saturday sent {
, message to the General Assembly recon
= mending approval OF the settlement, ant
, in SO doing used these words:
"There are q good many men l an
p aware who would have preferred to con
p tinue the litigation and to pass other ant
: more stringent tax laws against the rail
h roads, but to do so involves continued
' litigation, which 50 far has cost the Stat,
2 SIS, 273 IS, with considerable sum still
z due for services already rendered. ant
which cannot be continued at less thai
' the cost Of $40, 900 per year to the State
Y The railroads constitute considerable
: and valuable part OF the property o
n North Carolina, and they are of great i'm
On the other hand, no just man can as
;. sent to their having an advantage in tax
e alton. They ought to bear the burden
n OF the State in proportion to their abilit,
Q to meet them, but it is not q violation O
r this rule to actupon the assessment mad
q by our Corporation Commission. wh'
!. have conscientiously and earnestl,