The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-08-14
FRIDAY. AUGUST ID.
A FEW BROKEN REMARKS.

messenger coos OH SuIllclcLlIS VIC Va
be pleased to submit a few broken re-
marks concerning the proposed addi-
ton to the state capitol which we
trust will meet with his good 5udg-
ment. We will just throw out now by
way Of a feeler that 3 or 4 cents tax
per veal on each one thousand dollars
worth of property for a few a
would certainly not break the Gamers
back, nor the back of that
North Carolinian of the Cape Fear.
No one who has served in any of the
offices or as a member or officer of
the legislature but knows of the pres
ent congested condition of affairs. the
painful lack of room and he want of
actual facilities, not to say comfort,
for the proper discharge of public bus
mess. Remember the old state, my
friend, and your own pride of the COM
monwealth.-Raleigh Post.
Brother Furman had better begin
right now with his few broken re-
marks concerning the proposed add
ton to the state capitol" If he wants
to get them in in time to do any good
he will have to put them in before mis-
friend of The Messenger "cools off,
for we do not intend to 'cool off, until
we know that this proposition for an
unnecessary and foolish expenditure Of
the peoples none has been repudiat-
ed by the people.
1t may be true that the people can
pay an additional tax of three or
four cents on the thousand dollars
without becoming bankrupt. but the
people have no guarantee that that
will be the full amount of the burden
put upon them if this scheme is car
ried out. Even if it is no more than
this, why put this uselessly additional
burden on the people? They are taxed
now beyond Endurance almost.
Were the proposed additional tax for
some necessary purpose we would not
in the name of the people object; but
there is no reason or plausible excuse
that can be brought forward for the
expenditure of $780, 900 or $4,000 in the
enlargement of the capitol
The Post says: NO one who has serv-
ed in any OF the offices or as a member
or officer of the legislature but knows
of the cOngested condition of affairs"
etc. We notice hat no persons nOmi-
mated to state offices or as candidates
to the legislature ever decline be-
cause of the cramped space provided
for exhibition of their executive or leg
islative qualifications. Every two and
four years there is a scramble all over
the state from Cherokee to Currituck
among the men who are willing-anX-
ious to be allowed to spend the next
term in the "cramped quarters now
nrnUiHaH for ct1ta officials and lpOiS-
lators. Oh No. The present quarters
are good enough SO long as the people
cannot be fooled into placing an ad-
ditional burden on themselves for the
purpose of providing more luxurious
ones. Should the people ~repudiate the
idea of enlargement of the capitol how
many of the present state officers do
you p Brother Furman, would
decline denomination next year be-
aus they had been too ncomfOrtably
quartered during the present term? The
proposition was made the other day
in the state press that as Governor
AycOck was barred by the constitution
from a reelection it would be a grace
full thing for all the other state off,
NCLS IN III Will I'LL ~
decline denomination. they not being
barred from reelection by any con-
stitutiOnal provision as is the govern
or. 1t was met with a perfect howl of
dissent through the press of the state
frsm the friends of these officehold
ers. You AM put the demand for
enlargement of the capitol on the
-1,,, 49, 1900 -~- ---
to accept office under the present on
ditionS in the state capitol. You might
duplicate. aye. QuadrupIe the offices
without providing for any additional
office room. and you would find no
diminutiOn in the number of good
men who were willing TO serve their
people. for the prescribed
ton. in the "over-crowded Offices" You
can't put it on the ground that we
are in danger OF finding a dearth of
OficehOIders if the office building is
not made more comfortable. That
proposition is too thin to catch the
most iSnOrant man in North Carolina.
There is one fact connected with tn $
proposition which should and we be-
lieve will defeat it. That is that upon
the heels of 4 large bond issue made
by the last LEGISLATURE in order to
secure funds TO defray the current ex-
penses of the state another such issue
of from $4,000 to $500. coo. and perhaps
larger. will have to be made before we
can add the desired ~luxuries to the
offices of our state officials.
We have NOT cooled off VET Rrathar
FTman. and we expect to continue TO
be hot under the collar until we see re-
moved the danger of this unnecessary
burden on the people.