The commonwealth., 1901-01-10
OUR RALEIGH LETTER.
LEGISLATURE ASSEMBLING WITH Hon
WALTER MOORE AS SPEAKER OF
The HOUSE.
orrespondenc to The.Commonwealth.

Correspondent to oThe.Commonwea1th.
Raleigh, Jan. 7.-As these lines are
written prepar atiors are being made
for the opening of the session of the
new General Assembly, session that
will be fraught with much interest to
the people OF the State.
As heretofore indicated in these let
ters Hon. Walter Moore will be the
new presiding officer of the House,
while Lieutenant-Goyerno Reynolds
will preside over the Senate until the
qualification OF his successor, Lieut..
Governor-elect Turner, one week alter
the assembling of the Legislature.
Each branch of the new General AS
sembly will have most admirable and
we'll equipped presiding officers. Mr..
Turner Is veteran in the Senate. He is
one of the best parliamentarians In the
State, of ripe judgement and valuable
experience. Mr.. Moore is one OF the
brightest and ablest men in North
Carolina, and as a member of the last
Legislature was recognized as such,
soon making his way to the very front
rank of it's leaders. On several occas-
ions he was called to preside over the
House, and the fine manner in which
he performed that duty was marked.
Even then-two years ago-the writer
(in reporting the proceedings of the
House, heard it remarked by num-
Der of legislators that "Walter Moore
is the man for Speaker next time. :"
The suggestion met with such gener-
al and hearty reception that the writer
has ever since been anticipating his
selection by practically unanimous de-
mand from the party.
| Mr.. Moore Is regarded by those who
know him we'll and are familiar with
his worth and ability as one of the "com
ing men" of North Carolina, and the
demands upon him by his party are
not likely to end with his selection as
Speaker.
I was talking with one OF longest
headed politicians In the State to-day
"a man who has served in Congress
and held number of high Offices
and he volunteered this suggestion:
If was today forced to pick the
probable winner of the Democratic
caucus nominee for U. S. Senator two
years hence, I should select Walter
Moore as the man having probably the
best chance of any Democrat in Wes-
tern North Carolina-lf he measures
up to his opportunities, I will add"
The suggestion struck me SO forci.
bly,, especially the qualified portion oi
the sentence, that my "nose for news
prevents me from suppressing so good
thing. Mr.. Moore's friends will
doubtless all tell you that he will
measure up to his opportunities" II
by that Is meant the faithful and bril-
liant discharge of his public duties. Al
the very least it may be said that If he
enters the race, he will set great pace
for any man who hopes to distance
him.
The long drawn out railroad proper
ty case which has been having "hear.
ing" Tor several months before stand
ing master Shepherd of the U. s
Court, has been settled by a compro-
mise.
The Southern, Seaboard and Atlantic
Coast Line agree to pay the assessmen,
Of the Corporation Commission of $42
OOO, 900 an increase of ten millions fol
1899 and 1900, and the Corporation
Commission agrees to assess railroad
property only. once every four years
This is virtually victory for the Cor
poration Commission, and.will add $50
600 TO the State treasury at once ant
about 500 600 to the treasures of tn,
various counties collectively which
these roads penetrate.
Much interest is felt by our people
all over the State at this time In tn.
financial condition of the Common
, wealth. The statements furnished b,
the Treasurer and Auditor within thu
/ last few days, therefore, have a peculla
interest now.
The figures OF the Treasurer, show
ing the expenditures for the last Q
years, for each six-year period are rath
er surprising so great has been the in
I crease. From 1877 to 1882 the ex
, penditures averaged annually, 1904,
442 from 1883 to 1883, $917, ,419
from 1889 to 1894, $1,243,672; fror
1895 to 1901, 81, 1865. The increas
: during each period is such as to attrac
attention the difference between tn
j, first and the last-'77 to '82 and '95 t
: 19O1-is two and one-third times grea
: er in the latter than in the former pei
!. iod. Expenses of the government hav
therefore increased two and one-thir