The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-01-27
Will Not Again Become a
Candidate.
so he HIMSELF SAYS
Small and Thomas Speak in the
House on the Urgent Deficiency
Bill. Hearing on Bill to Erect
a Lighthouse on Dia-
mond Shoals.
Especial to News and Observer)


\ Washington, D. c., Jan. 26.-Congress,
man Kluttz today announced that he will
not be a candidate for denomination as
he desires to retire at the end of his pres
ent term to resume the practice OF the
law and to give necessary attendance to
his private interests. 1t is an announce
ment that will be read with sorrow
throughout the State, since Mr.. Kluttz
has during his hree terms in the House
made a most useful and an able represen'
tative.
Speaking of his decision to retire, he
said ii might seem premature to decline
a nomination which has not been tender
ed But" he added, las l have been
three times nominated to Congress, twice
by acclamation, and each time without
personal effort or solicitation on my part,
and as I know of no opposition TO my
denomination. 1 feel that this announce
ment may be made without immodesty,
and that it is only fair to the voters OF
the district as we'll as to gentlemen who
wish to stand for the nomination. The
district. though one in which the oppo-
sition will probably always make strong
fight, is l feel sure, reliably Democratic,
as l carried it in the last election by
1,474 majority over strong opponent,
who was amply provided with the slnews
of war, and who was then in congress
and backed by the most powerful in
f1uences of his party. The district is rich
in material. and every county in it has
more than one citizen who would make
most creditable representative in Con-
AT h1 nIp1C-
ant and | shall always appreciate the
honors which my people have conferred
upon me- l eralize, however, that the
end of almost every protected political
career is disappointment and defeat. And
I think it better for one to quit while
his friends want him to continue than to
continue until his friends want hm to
quit.
Both Representative Small and Repre-
sentative Thomas made speeches in the
House TODAY in opposition to clause in
the Urgent Deficiency Bill, now under
discussion, giving to the President the
power to curtail the number of custom
collection districts, if he should deem 1t
advisable to do so. They argued against
the placing of any such power in the
hands of the executive and showed how
it might work serious hardship. Any
limitation on the number Of districts,
thew contended, should be by act of Con
grecs.
In North Carolina there are four dis
tricts, Elizabeth City with a deputy at
Edenton, New Bern with a deputy at
Washington, Beaufort and Wilmington.
When the bill comes up for amendment
Mr.. Small and Mr.. Thomas will move to
strike out this provision of it. 1t is
new provision, never contained in the bill
heretofore.
The second hearing before the House
Committee On Commerce on the bill ap
propriating 1880 900 to build lighthouse
at Diamond Shoals, was held this morn
ing, but no decision was reached and
there will be another hearing Friday.
Representatives of the lighthouse board
who were present today expressed the
opinion that the plan Of Capt. Fells, who
asks permission to erect the lighthouse,
is not practicable and ought not to be
adopted. The board, however, offers on
plan in place of it. On the other hand
Capt. Fells proposes to build the light
house, maintain it at his own expense
for a year. then turn it over to the light
house board, and only on condition that
four years thereafter it is still standing
and in good condition is to receive pay for
it. Under these conditions it is likely
that the committee will recommend that
the bill become a law.
In favor of the bill Congressman Small !
and representatives of several steamship
lines and seamen's associations appeared
before the committee.
A deelgation from Winston is expected
to be here Friday to go before the House
Committee OH Public Buildings in he in
terest of the bill for public building at
into the Treasury the $6S,000 already an |
propriated and in lieu thereof make new
appropriation of $135 900 for the purchase
of the new county court house, to be used
as a public building and s25. GOO for re-
pairs to it.
Congressman Kluttz is preparing good
roads speech that he expects to deliver
in the House at an early date
The Washington Post of today has the |
following about the handsome member
from the Second North Carolina district
With his wide hat, coat of ample eki,t
and commanding figure, Representative
Claude Kitchin, of North Carolina is y
fine type of Southern Congressman He
bears strong resemblance to anotber
handsome Southerner in public Efe-sen- |
ator Bailey, of Texas
FRED L. MERRITT.