The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1901-03-21
from Our Regular Correspondent

Many New kd1IfOdO \ndTteIS-StdtS
Treasury Robbed-Bilis That Failed.
(From Our Regular Correspondent
RALEIGH. n G., March Is, 1901.
memory, final adjournment having been
reached at 80 O'Clock Friday morning
last.
AS the dying notes OF the swan are
always the sweetest. so were the closing
scenes of this General Assembly the most
pleasant and enjoyable.
President OF the Senate Turner and
Speaker of the House Moore were each
presented with a magnificent silver ser
vice, and Sergeant-at-Arms Smith OF the
Senate land no man ever holding that
office has had more friends) and Door
keeper Bennett OF the House were pre-
scented with handsome gOld-headed
canes.
';Father' Justice, of the Senate, and
Father" jenkins, Of the House, made
feeling farewell addresses-that OF the
latter having been one of the most elo
quent and emotional ever heard within
the walls of the House, of which he was
first member 40 years ago.
Indeed, this venerable minister OF the
Gospel OF Christ on more than one pre-
vious occasion during the session proved
himself to be by far the most eloquent
member of the General Assembly, when
it came to appealing to the hearts and
emotions of men, and his superior any
where is not known to this writer.
RADICAL AND PERNICIoUs LEGISLATION DE-
FEATED.
The general verdict is that this Legisa
ture is not only above the average, but
the best-the brainiest and most conser-
vative and iudiciOus-that has gathered
in many years in North Carolina.
Some radical legislation was attempted.
and other features were incorporated in
bills NOTABLY the revenue billy which
would not only have operated harshy
and unjustly in their effects upon certain
classes and interests, but which would
have seriously jeOpardized the continued
success and supremacy OF the Democratic
party in North Carolina. But the good
Judgment and conservatism of the major
ity-especially in the Senate land of which
element that venerable wise, and exper
fenced Legislator ex-Congressman John S.
Henderson was a LEADER, prevailed and
succeeded in having most Of these obiec
tionable and dangerous features OF legis-
timely amendments.
GOOD RECORD.
So that. on the whole. the record will
show that the work of the General AS
sembly was wise aud able IS well as
vOluminOIs.
This writer expects to call attention,
in future letters, to some of the more I'M
portant results accomplished. At this
writing he is too much the worse for
wear to attempt it-having been present,
in a repOrtorial capacity. during every
hour of the sessions of the Senate since
the day it was called to order (the ses-
sions for the last three days lasting from
8 a. m. till midnight) without break,
to say nothing of the Court of Impeach-
ment now in progress he feels sure
the editor and the reader will pardon a
short letter this week, while he catches
his breath.
THEFT OF PENlTENTIAKY FUNDS.
The sensation of the week came on the
day preceding adjournment when the
Governor announced in message to the
General Assembly that the State treasury
had been robbed.
The loss occurs through the defalcation
of Major W. H. Martin, clerk under
Treasurer Worth fusionist) and in
charge of the State Prison funds-who
admits taking SO 1000 of the $4,000
shortage SO far discovered. Those who
know the man were astOunded by the
revelation. and the defaulter voluntarily
delivered himself up to the authorities
and confessed his crime, as soon as he
learned that it had been discovered max
ing no effort to escape.
A woman is said to be the cause of his
downfall-a young and pretty woman.
not residing here if reports are correct
Major Martin is so years of age. He is
Northern man by birth. was an officer in
the Union army during the Civil War, but
has resided in Raleigh for 35 years and.
leading an honest and upright life, had
drawn many friends to him during that
time. But he is now in Jail and legisla-
tivecommittee is investigating the books
OF the State treasurer-having begun
their work today (Monday) and it is
feared that even a larger deficit may be
discovered.
LOT OF NEW RAILROAD CHARTERS
One of the things this Legislature was
remarkable for is the large number of
charters granted for the construction of
new railroads. Here is list, but it is
not known Just how many of them will
be built and when: Washington & Plym-
outh; Southport, Wilmington 4 Western;
Atlantic & Northwestern: Santee. French
Broad 4 Southern; Elkin & Allegheny;
White Oak River & Onslow; Raleigh &
Virginia; South & WESTERN Hilton; South
port 4 Northwestern; Blue Ridge &
Atlantic; Greenvile & Vanceboro; Scot
land Neck 4 Roanoke; Dublin & Onslow;
Trent River 4 Cape Fear: authorization.
Marion 4 Northwestern; J Jackson Springs:
New River Valley; Charlotte. Monroe &
Columbia; Thomasvile & Eldorado;
Ashevile 4 Weaverville; Rutherfordton.
Hickory. Nut Gap 4 Asheville; Atlantic &
Northwestern; kenansville Air Line.