The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-03-06
Messenger Bureau.

SAlNoo
Raleigh, N. c., March T.
Early this morning Representatives
Graham and Kicks, Of the house ,:om-
mittee, to consider the question of util-
izing the immense penitentiary bui ding
here, as a TART Of the hospital fer til-
insane, visited the pcnItentiary ana
looked carefully at the blu .lding from
that view point. Your CORRESPONDENCE.
interviewed them upon their return and
they said they found that the building
could he easily and economically ar
for by the Male
insane, so as to accommodate 800; that
this could be done at an expense OF
S25. 600 to S35, 900 by fitting up the West
and what is known as the administrl~
ton building. The east wing is fitted
with cells. but these can be removed
that wing fix d SO as t. make [
disable: and by these means at least 500
to 600 insane can be accommodated.
Representatives Graham and Kicks
added that the work of alteration can
be very largely done by convicts, and
hus a considerable saving be effected.
There is a resolution calling for SIch
an examination of the penitec tiary AMI
a report which may produce a hill COW
ering the matter will it :s understood be
made tomorrow.
The states literary fund N control of
the board of education is TO be l5nI %
the counties for school building. The
FUND is $500. 900. but it is figured that
not more than 500, 900 OF it cad be lent
during the coming 2 years. The other
500, 600 is to be lent to the state and &
bono bearing 3 per cent interest given
the literary fund for it, this bond tall
ing due January 1St. 1906. State Super
intendent Joyner says that this step
of lending money to building and I'M
proving school houses is one of the
most progressive measures yet taken.
For the first time in & months, Judge
PurneH of the United States d str ct
court has completely cleared ~his>docket.
He is a hard worker and really trans
acts all the circuit court business.
The class Of legislation during this
session of the legislature has been such
as to attract a more continuous crowd
than ever before. There has hardy
been a day when the hotels and board
ing houses have not been filled to the
limit.
AOAAAN ASoA NoAAAR nv hAoS
the new chool law which passed last
night would work. an injustice to city
schools, and would be partial towards
the country schools. The superinten-
dent of this county says this IS not true,
and that the hill does not benefit tire
rural schools SO much as the present
law does. State Superintendent Joyner
aid that this was true; and that the
c ty schools had wanted to be gwen their
per capita from the county fund and
also utilize all their own fu~ds, and
yet bear no part of the expenses of the
county system including salary of SUI
perintendent, etc.
This legislature is taking pairs to
force the agriculture department, which
already has many burdens, to build all
sorts of institutions; for example t.
build a $780, O0 agricultural building at
the Agricultural and Mechanical coll
lege here, and then to pay $1,000 a year
for the maintenance of that collega. 1t
vas remarked today that it was a Won
der the legislature which has been con-
sidering a resolution looking to the eX-
tension of the capitol did not pass a bill
directing the agricultural department
to pay "out of any surplus
the expenses of erecting such addition
To the building. The agricultural de-
partment has been maintaining 10)
students at an expense of some 50 90
and has expended as much to pay for
work done by agricultural students.
The report of the legislative joint
committee to investigate charges of
cruelty to convicts near Marion, finds
that the charges are not sustained, and
entirely exonerates Superintendent
Mann and Supervisor Lashley.
The search for witnesses in the great
murder case here continues with una
bated zeal. 1t is said that there will
be in all some as or so witnesses. There
is no falling off of interest in this no.
table crime. There wa a story a day
or so G about habeas corpus proceed
ings being about to ba instituted, but
attorneys said there was nothing in this
statement. that they had not authorized
it. and that no conclusion had been ar
rived at.