The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1904-03-03
OUR RALEIGH LETTER.
Things Seen and Heard at the
State Capital.
GORMAN News BUREAU
D., r-rru N - LNoh Doth 1904 (

RALEIGH, n. e.. Feb. Doth, 1904.
| The sensation" of the week is the ap-
| pointment of receiver for the Atlantic
| & n. C. Railroad by Judge Purnell of the
| United State District Court, upon the APP
| plication of a Mr. K S. Finch. OF New
York, who is said to have recently &C
| quired a small amount OF the private
stock of the road. Being nonresident
and a citizen OF another State, his appli-
cation was made through the Federal
| court Mr. V. E. McBee, who is named
as temporary receiver, is the representa-
tive of one of the several ''syndicates"
that has lately been trying to lease this
road. The hearing on the question OF
making the receivership permanent is set
for April 4th.
In the meantime the State (Which owns
1866 shares out of total Of II, 972
shares of the stock is fighting the action
of Judge Purnell, and on Saturday
Attorney General Gilmer, assisted by spe-
cial counsel, accompanied President
Bryan to Charleston, for the purpose OF
asking Judge Simonton, OF the United
States Circuit Court, to over-rule Judge
Purnell and set aside his order A lively
fight in the courts looms up as the result
of all this. No one here, from the Cover
nor down, had any intimation that a re-
ceiver was to be asked for until he was
appointed. Many think that the final
outcome viii be the leasing Of the road
on good terms to some syndicate at an
early date, and some insist that these
proceedings are part OF a plan to bring
about such g result. Much curiosity as
to who Finch is has been manifested.
Two or three years ago he lived in Char
Lott 70 ho n fpaio orb Of no
SeabOard Air Line, at the time Mr. Nc
Bee was with that road.
The fact having been announced that
there are 100 empty beds in the female
department of the latest addition to the
hospital for the insane at Morganton,
while several hundred demented white
women of this State are confined in jails
and poOr-hOuses of the various counties
without proper care or medical treat
ment, has aroused renewed criticism and
Indignation, but not as much denuncia-
ton from the press of the State as those
responsible for such a state of affairs de-
serve, to wit, the Legislature of 1903.
The superintendent OF the asylum says
the beds are ''empty' because the amount
appropriated by the Legislature for
maintenance is inadequate, and that he
has not a dollar available to feed and
clOthe and otherwise care for the addi-
tiOnal number of patients for whom
there is room. 1t is a shame and dis
grace to the State-and all the more 80
because ample provision could have been
made. [ say this couH have been done,
and if any one questions the statement
let him examine into the present good
financial condition of the Statee affairs
and get the proof.
The truth is, too many small calibre
men and shyster politicians utterly de-
void OF patriotism and charitable i'm
pulses. and without any breadth of
craftsmanship, are chosen for our law
makers We need better and broader
minded men in the Legislature-both
branches OF it-and it is to be hoped that
we will select more men of that character
for thr next General Assembly.
The selection. by the College Of Bishops
of the Methodist Episcopal church, of
Rev DR.. j. c. kilgo to be Fraternal Mes
senger from the church South, to the
general conference of the Northern Metho-
dist church, which meets in May at Los
Angeles California, is very pleasing to
his churchmen. This is one of the highest
honors the church can bestow, and the
address OF the Fraternal Messenger, al
ways one of the principal events of the
general conference, will this year be an
especially interesting and eloquent one.
Raleigh is en- Toying the unusual distinc-
ton of listening to the preaching of a
Hebrew-a converted Jew"-from the
pulpits of the leading hristian churches
here, Methodist, Baptist, PRESBYTERIAN,
and Episcopalian. His name is Mark
Levy, and he has been here a week al
ready, his work being under the direc-
ton OF a religious organization. He
halls from Richmond, and (canyou realize
IT'D he does not take up collections!
There is some talk among the Demo-
Gratis OF the Sth District of sending Hon.
j ohm ). Henderson, of Salisbury, to Con- |
gress, ii he can be induced to serve again. |
There is not a man in North Carolina |
that could better and more advan-
tageously serve the State at this time. |
Mr. Henderson represented this district |
10 or II years in Congress. This writer
resided In Washington five years, during |
three OF Mr.. Henderson's terms, and nv
nutles as newspaper correspondent for
the News and Observer, Norfolk Vnginian
and a half dozen other papers, kept me
In close touch with our Congressman in
the 'elghties." | remember very dis
tinctly that Mr. Henderson was then the
acknowledged leader of the North Caro-
ina delegation; that his ability and
prominent committee assignments made
llm also the most useful and influential
81 all our congressman If he could be
induced to go back again, he would at
once become an important factor in ma
-lonal legislation, and would again be
given important committee assignments.
IN account OF his past experience ''They
say, that R. Don Laws, the editor, Of
ne famous Yellow Jacket, printed at
Noravian Falls, is to be an independent
republican candidate for Congress in the
'th, and that ex-Congressmen Linney
ind blackburn and J. W. McNeilI will