The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-02-13

Finance Committees Are Now ut
Work-5O3 Students at the A. and
M.-The Contemplated Bond Issue.
Investigating Charges of Cruelty
to Convicts.
Messenger Bureau,
Raleigh, n. c., February 10.

The Finance Committees of the sem
until midnight last night. The sub
committee to which had been en-
trusted the duty of preparing the reve-
u bill made its report, which the
fill committee regarded as so excel
lent that it is making very few
changes. The only change in fact. Of
any Importance is one imposing a tax
Of $3.50 per mile on express companies.
There are people who hin this tax
is unlawful; hat is will not stan the
test of the court. If it does stanc it
will increase the tax on the Southern
Express Company from So 500 to $10,-
O0. The tax is taken Off dealers in
wood, but is left or dealers in coal.
The tax on dealers in horses is re
duced from s25 to SIS. The tax on oil
tanks is increased from $40 to 500, and
a tax Of S. is levied On each oil wagon
There are LOG sections of the revenue
act, and the committee up to midnight
disposed Of 60 Of these.
Rev. DR.. ]. D. Huffman, who recent
ly retired from the passionate of the
Baptist church of Henderson is here.
IN his way to his Old home in Duplin
county, which he left Al years ago. In
all that time he has paid only one
visit there.
President Winston, o fthe Agricul-
tural and Mechanical College. says
there are now 500 students He tells
an amusing story at the expense of a
very young member Of the Legislature
who yesterday went out to the college
to see the dress parade. AS he walked
into tho i,.lSi,or a-l 1900 - 49,
door OF the registrars office. the lat
ter, firmly convinced that he was a
new student, came out n o him
into the office and actually half way
registered him before the young and
much Hurried member could get his
breath and tell who he was.
1t is the view of numbers OF tn"
finance committees that a $500, 900 issue
Of bonds will be enough. but there are
some who think that the issue should
BE- $500, 600, which is the figure named
by the governor, or rather suggested in
his message to the legislature. There
is certainly an urgent need of funds
WITHIN the next six months. Amone
other things 5000, 900 of money borrow
90 March 1st. of last year from a New
York bank will have to be repaid.
Before Judge Purnell, today in the
federal court. there was continuation
and close of argument in the Durham
right OF way case, which began yes
terday: w. A. Henderson closing for
the Southern railway and J.. G.. Bigge
and W. H. Day for the Durham side
OF the question. which is also the S A.
L. side. Day being it's local counsel.
Gentlemen from Fayetteville say the
general opinion there is hat Edward
l. Utley. the convicted murderer Of
HoHingsWorth, is insane, those who
hold this view say his recent escape
from Jail and flight were acts of an
insane man.
Insurance Commissioners Young is
preparing a bill requiring all public
buildings. schools, theatres, and hotels
TO be furnished with proper fire es-
capes. The bill also requires sufficient
doors for exit in case of fire, etc.
State Auditor Dixon. of the soldiers
home executive committee, when ask
cd today IL it would ask for any aid
for that institution from the legisla
tUre, in excess of the S13. 900 annual
appropriation. said it would not; that
it took into consideration the depleted
t easury and would do the best it
could on the current appropriation.
Among today's arrivals were Thos.
W. Mason, Northampton county,: T. G
Harrison, Weldon; F. A. Sondley,
Julius G.. Martin, Asheville; J. r. Blair
Troy; John r. Webster, Reidsville;
Thos. n. Hill, Halifax; w. E Trench
ard. Northampton; Cyrus 3. Watson.
Winston: Geo. H. Brown, Washing
ton.
The legislative special committee to
investigate charges of cruelty to con-
yicts near Marion, On the recent march
to that point. left yesterday. 1t is un-
herstOod that there will be about 40
witnesses as regards the charges. The
penitentiary officials also have their
witnesses. The committee zoos a stem
ographer to take notes of today's hear
ing. Chairman Warren of the commit
tee yesterday received a letter from
the editor of a republican paper in
Davie county, saying a man named
Wilson,, who he said was a democrat
made charges of cruelty against War
den Fleming of the penitentiary Upon
inquiry, Senator Warren found out
from Senator Travis, late pe%nitentiary
director, that Wilson was a discharged
employe who had refused to make
such changes in writing though Sent
for to come hera and SO do.
THE NEXT STATE FAIR.