The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-02-10
Especial to The Messenger.)

Raleigh, N. c., February 7.-Your
correspondent interviewed Senator
London. chairman of the sub-commit-
tee Of the joint committee on finance,
this Subcommittee having in charge
the preparation of revenue bill.
He says the bill will be reported next
Monday afternoon to the full commit
tee. he hopes TO have it ready to report
to the house by the end of next week.
The subcommittee gave ample notice
to all persons who might desire to be
heard in the matter of complaints or
suggestion. regarding the bill, but very
few appeared.
Senator London said the committee
has increased the tax on cigarettes TO
one cent a thousand. 1t has increased
license tax on whiskey tax to more than
double, and is preparing machinery to
tax whiskey itself. The merchants Ii
cense tax is abolished. The committee
has changed the schedule. A tax on
gross sales, so as to graduate it and
make it fall more lightly on the small
merchants. This tax has not been
equal.
License taxes have been abolish
ed on a number of vocations such as
dealers in fresh meats. wood and auc-
tioneers. AS to circuSes, we have made
what 1 think an excellent change. Here
tofore, circuses have lodged the tax of
$500 day by claiming they were not
circuSeS, but merel-- exhibitions of
trained animals, and paid only $50. We
say all circuSeS charging more than so
cents admission, including reserved
seats. shall pay 5000 a day. We have
increased the tax rate on express and
telegraph companies.
We say no county or town shall levy
license tax on corporations. There
has been very general demand
throughout the state for such a change
and we thought it but fair to make it,
Part Of the act relating to reports from
corporation Will be put in the machin-
cry act. where it belongs. with some
amendments. The full committee will
of course give hearings to any one who
may desire it, as regards the bill.
Audior Dixon today drafted a bill
which amends the pension act of 1901.
by saying that in section one, after the
words provided said widow was mar
ried to said soldier or sailor before
April 1st. 1865" they shall be added to
the following: "and to sucn widow who
has since married and whose husband
has died, and who is now a widow, pro-
vided she is entitled to pension under
other provisions Of the pension law.
Such widow must apply in her own per-
son, with proper name, but at the same
time state that she Is entitled to the
pension as the widow Of her first hus-
band. giving his name. company and
regiment"
The senate committee on propositions
and grievances, today took up London
regulation bill and appointed a sub
mittee, Messrs. Brown, Warren, and
Vann to take all the bills which have
! been introduced on this subject, draft
a bill. and report it next Thursday to
the full committee. The latter will
that day discuss it, but there will be
| no hearing Of outsiders, the present
agreement being to take a vote that
day in committee on the bill thus draft
ed. Your correspondent is assurred by
some prominent senators that the Lon
don bill cannot pass and has never
stood any chance Of passing
Today w. NJ. Buckman, of YAM
cey county accompanied by C. E. Gard
| ner his attorney appeared and said he
| would contest the seat Of Senator Grif-
| fifth from the Thirty-sixth district
Buckman's contest is on the ground
that Linville township Mitchell county
held the election, but that the returns
did not get to the canvassing board
| and so were not counted, that the re-
| turns from Linville were left in the
office of the clerk OF Mitchell county,
| who failed to give them to the can
vassing board; that if counted they
would give Buckman three majority in
| the district.
!; Bill passed the senate chartering the
Southern Life Insurance Company, OF
| Raleigh, with Walter w. Mills, Robert
c. Strong and others as insorporators.