The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1902-12-25
RALEIGH, y. c.. December %, 90.

| RALEIGH. n c.. December %, 90
There's precious little to write about
out OF the ordinary. this Christmas week
| except Christmas itself-and your paper
| will have enough of that without any eff
| fort on the part of this letter to add to
| it
| THE SPEAKERSHIP.
| Who will be elected Speaker of the
| House two weeks hence? This is an in
| quiry that is being made by many people
| Just now. The two principa! aspirants
| appear to be MesSrs. Gattis, of Orange,
and Morton, of New Hanover. The lat
| ter was here few days ago, and his
| friends have been expressing confidence
| in bis success, but q closer view of the
| outlook appears to be more favorable to
| Mr.. Gattis. Either gentleman would
make an excellent speaker las would sew
eral other members of the new House.
Tor that matter). but unless present
signs fail it will be found that Mr.. CAT
It's is in the lead and likely to be nomi-
mated by the Democratic caucus and
| elected
Talking with one OF the members OF
the House of Representatives from
this (Wake) county today, he said
"There's hardly a doubt of Gattis' cleo
ton. He is from the central portion of
the State, which is entitled to the honor
| this time. -Four years ago the East had
| 1t In Judge Conner, and two years ago
the West secured it through the election
| of Hon. Walter Moore The election of
| Mr. Gattis this time would be entirely
proper, and | am confident he will be
be chosen" Mr.. Gattis was an unsuc-
cessful candidate two years ago. He
has been n member OF the House for
| many years, is fully acquainted with the
| machinery and workings of thatbody
and would make a model Speaker
GOOD NEWS ABOUT GOOD ROADS
There has been received here copy of
| bill now pending before Congress
which, II 1T becomes q law will be hing
short OF a God-send to North Carolina
| and the South generally, and our Repre-
Sentatlves at Washingt on should be ac-
tive in its support. The bill provides for
the creation OF a new bureau, in the L.
5. Department of Agriculture, to be
known as the Bureau of Public Roads"
designed to secure a system of National,
State and local cooperation in building
standard public highways The bill pro
poses the appropriation of $3.50 for
the establishment and expenses of the
bureau, and of $4,000, 900 to be ex-
pended in road-b building in the various
States subject to an admirable system
| OF agriculture. The plan is for any
| township or county that desires to build
| a certain road to get estimates through
experts IN the employ of the bureau as to
the cost, etc, the road to be up to a GER
tain standard, then the bureau will, if
| the road is approved bear half of the
expenses of the road-building. the other
| hall to be borne by the township or by
the county and State. as the case may
| be.
VARIOUS MATTERS OF INTEREST.
| An effort will be made by the people OF
| the hustling manufacturing town of
| High Point (nOw in GuilfOrd county, to
| have the Legislature create a new county
| out of portions of Guilford. Davidson
and Randolph. with High Point, as the
county-seat. 1t is stated that two other
new county schemes are being planned
also.
| A half dozen and more cotton mills
have reduced the hours of labor to &C
per week, an average of ten hours pei
day. This is seeing the Commissioner
OF Labor one hour per day better-he
/ Tie tHdCUIIleuU Oh IL ldN
limiting the hours in mills and factories
to eleven per day, or &C hours per week
The possibility, not to say probability
OF Labor legislation by the new Legis.
lature is engaging the serious attention
OF manufacturers and Others
There is considerable criticism of the
opinion of the Attorney General (given
| at the request of the Justices of the
Supreme Court few days ago., to tn,
effect that the salaries of Judges in this
| State are not subject to the income tax
All the State officers will escape the tan
Also | believe. It's ag'in the law to re
duce the salary of a public official during
his Term OF office, YOU knOw-and the
| looping Oil OF per cent. for income taN
is held to be a ''rednctOn''
The 'cherry-trcc' swindlers who vic
timiZed so many girls and women have
caught it at last Judge Boyd sentenced
them at Charlotte a few days ago the ole
"main guy the Rev. GU T. Bright get
ting four months in jail and to pay 6
fine OF $1,000. The Court had got al
the money ont of them it could 1000
before imposing sentence, and the victims
will be partially reimbursed.
The Harbingpr, OF Raleigh. the leading
labor paper of he State. has been en-
larged-an indication OF prosperity, Oh
which Messrs. Fason 4 McGowan are t,
be ''felicitated.'
Overman stock is rapidly rising in TN
Senatorial market, and some astute pol
iticians tell me they now expect him t.
be the successful candidate for Pritch
ard seat There has been Il little tall
in certain quarters about a ''stampede
to Judge Walter Clark, but there * all
solutely nothing in that sort of nose
1t is predicted very freely here. however
that Judge Clark will be n candidat
four years hence when an Eastern m
to be chosen. Indeed, Senator Simii 80
was told n year ago that Clark wou,,
contest with him for The seat next time
| ILEW\ AM