The people. (Camden, S.C.) 1904-1911, January 16, 1908, Image 1
, JANUARY 16, 1908.
S1.0OPer Yea
THE GOVERNOR'S MESSAGE
The Legislature Receives Advice From
Stale's Executive On . Many Subjects
STATE NOW PROSPEROUS
Oml Wisdom Should Characterise
the Deliberations of the People '?
Representatives ? Some Chang ee
Suggested In Existing Laws.
T?tkih?i Hon?rabl?? *bc Member, of
the General Assembly:
The Constitution of this State
.1 o0,y ?f ,he Governor to
EI." J* ,'.he Oencnl Awemhly from
tinie to time information of tho con
ation of the State and to recommend
^ hi V.?.n8; ati0n- 8uch me?sures
? nf snail deem neccssary or exped
ient. In obcdience to the duty thus
required of me, I beg to submit, for
moJageT rftt,?n' ,he. ,oll??*
wJhJSTT me p.len8ure to **y that
rre bmve been signally blessed the
past year, at the hands of the Al
=?*? W/th health? with pesce and
people I,avc been
spared from famine and pestilence
S*?? storm and cyclone; and,
th?l'l. thC PaSt feW
l^Jr T 80,1,6 8carcit-v of mon
ey, yet our barns and cribs are full
and no panic is theatening
The highest of ?H bono'? is to
? , e? ^vern the people. This
honor has been conferred upon you
by your constituents, and I beg, thai
?our b?r/V? ^ duty a88iRned yo?
your best knowledge and judgment.
State 'a Finances,
u 18 no ^UC8ti?n with which vou
Will have to deal that will require
more careful attention than this. We
^?nny?r behJnd in th< ?ssessment
and collection of our taxes, or rather I
we collect the tuxes at the end of
he year for the expenses of the
btate government for tho year pcs|,
hanrf\7V JUK? baVC the iaxcs in
hand at tho beginning of the year to
pay the obligations of the State as
??? inature-1 Tho condition of
things frequently makes it necessarv
for the State to borrow money be
fore the taxes are collected to pay
the running expenses of the State
government and the appropriations
made by the General Assembly. Dur
ing this year the Governor, State
L?, an^ Comptroller-General
1 borrow threo hundred
fifty thousand dollars for these
purposes, the authority for borrow
ing the money having been granted
at your last session.
These conditions are likely to con
tinue year after year unless provision
is made to catch up. v I therefore,
recommend that at leas an cxra two
: J,-X for S1?'e purpoces be pro
vided for r.t this session of the Leg
wist ure, the same to be done for tho
next two years, when we. will have in
, h,nte treasury money sufficient to
place us where we will not have
borrow, but "can pay as we go "
Another matter which I desire to
call to your attention is that the ap
propriations of last year exceeded
the estimated revenue, on a 4 1-2-mill
levy by several thousand dollars (see
report of Comptroller-General). It
|i very evident to every thinking
business man that if an appropria
tion is made the tax levy should be
sufficient to meet tho same Our State
Constitution, Article 10, Section 2
provides as follows: "The General
Assembly shall provide for an annual
tax sufficient to defray the estimated
expenses of tho State for each year
and whenever it shall happen that
the ordinary expenses of the State
for any year shall exceed the incomc
of tho Stato for such year, the Gen
oral Assembly shall provido for levy
ing a tax for the ensuing year suffi
cient with other sources of income
to pay tho deficiency of tho preceding
year , together with the estimated ex
penses of the ensuing year." This ib
the organic law of our State, and T
remind you of its provisions in order
that you may follow its commands.
Sinking Fond.
It was a wise provision of the law
that established a Sinking Fund. It
has been managed with ability and
fidelity, and many of the eounties are
borrowing money from this fund un
der special Acts of tho Legislature.
The assets of these several funds, on
December 31, 1907, are as follows:
Cumulative Sinking Fund (for re
demption and payment of South Car
olina Brown 4 1-2 per cent bonds),
six hundred and thirty thousand four
hundred and one dollars and ninety
four cents ($030,401.04.)
Ordinary Sinking Fund, sixty
seven thousand three hundred and
eifbty-three dollars and thirty cents
(#67,383.30).
Sinking Fund for insurance of
publio buildings, thirty-six thousand,
hundred and sovouty-five dollar*
and ninety -three cents ($36,075.93).
Assessment of Property.
This is tho most difficult of all the
Suestiona with which you will have to
eal. The Constitution of the State
provides the correct rule, and if all
property were assessed according to
Its provisions ibo tax levy would be
law, And all property would b? con
tributing its just proportion to the
taxes of the State. By the Constitu
ion, it is made your duty to provide
/'for a uniform and equsl rate of as
sessment and taxation, and shall pre
scribe regulations to secure a just
valuation for taxation of *11 proper
ty, real, personal and possessory, ex
cept mines and mining claims the pro
ducts of which alone shall be taxed."
All property should bear its just
proportion of the taxes. Xta. ques
tion arises, How is the Auditor to
Hnd out what personal property the
taxpayer hast I suggest the inquisi
torial plan. Require the County Au
ditor to publicly administer to the
taxpayer on oath requiring him~ to
truly answer concerning all his prop
erty of whatsoever kind, and record
it on his tax return with the valu
ation he places on same which is to
be aferwards equalized by the Town
ship and County Boards of Equali
zation. By this means the value of
all the visible property, as well- as ali
stocks, notes, bonds and money, can
be arrived at, and much personal
property which now escapes assess
ment would be brought to light
Labor Contracts.
Since the United States Court lias
held that the Act of the Legislature
of this State entitled: "An Act to
amend Section 357 of the Criminal
Code of Laws, 1902, volume 2, relat
ing to violation of labor contracts,
approved February 25, 1904," ana
now known as Section 357 of the
Criminal Code of South Carolina, is
unconstitutional ami void, much
trouble and litigation have resulted
between landlords and laborrt-s. It
is, therefore, necessary for you to
give special attention to the en
actment of such law as will be con
stitutional, and at the same time jtut
to both landlord and laborer. I rec
ommend that you pass a stringent Act
which will punish both landlord ami
laborer for a violation of a labor con
tract, and make it a misdemeanor for
one person to employ a laborer who
is under contract with another.
Tho Lien Law.
Thi "lien law" has been a source
of much discussion in and out of (he
Legislature for many years. It was
much discussed when I was a mem
ber of the General Assembly move
than twenty years ago. I think it
has long since accomplished the pur
poses of its enactment, and I recom
mend its repeal. Too often the lien
is "taken up" before the crop is
planted, and often but little work is
done after the lien is "taken up." I
think it better for landlord and ten
ant that it be repealed.
Dispensary Law.
After the enactment of the Carey
Cothran Act, regulating the sale of
liquor in this State, and in obedience
to its provisions, I appointed County
Dispensary Boards in all those coun
ties that had not voted out the sale of
liquor under the Brice Act For &
short while, and until the county dis
pensaries wero opened up, we had
State phohibition, and I am informed
that many converts were made to this
plan during that time. Under that
Act county dispensaries wore started
in the said counies, and have been
running ever since. I appoined an
auditor, W. B. West, as provided for
in said Act, who has performed his
duties with fidelity and ability, and
who has been diligent in seeing thai
the law is strictly enforced by the
County Dispensary Boards and by
the dispensers.
It is recommended that tho law
should provide for prohibition where
an election is held and a majority of
the voters seem to favor "no dis
pensary,' until tho matter is flanally
determined.
Registration Books.
My attention hns been called sev
eral times during the past year to the
condition of the registration books in
the several counties of the State and
to the careless manner in which many
of tho Boards of Registration have
discharged their duties in revising
the books as the law requires.
Education.
I am happy to report that great
interest is being taken by tho people
in all parts of the State upon the im
portant subject of the education of
their children. It is not necessary
for me to speak of the very gre.it
benefits that, flow to an educated peo
ple. It is, however, gratifying to all
to know that the common schools,
the high schools, and the colleges of
our State are constantly on the
minds and hearts of all our people,
and year after year ways and means
are being devised for their better
equipment and service. The average
attendance in the common school*
this year is greater than ever bafore.
? The various institutions receiving
State aid aro mentioned, and each
one is commended for the excellent
work being doue by it.
The Deaf, Dumb and Blind Institute
This institution, under the wiae
j administration of President Walker
and the Board of Trustees, is one
that appeals to all the people of the
State. When we consider the many
unfortunate children who are taught
there, ud the gnat good reoolting
from nek instruction, o?r doty is
plain to do whatever tenOoeaaary to
maintain and footer this school. I
recommend all needed appropriations
for thia inetitution.
The Oolr-^d Vonal OoQago aft One*
Hrg.
Thia institution has been, and is,
doing an important work for the col
ored youths of the State. Ita indus
trial and normal work is showing
good results, and I respectfully call
your attention to the report of the
President made to the Board of Trus
tees, as well as the report of the
Bosrd as to the work done and its
needs for the coming year.
The Department of Agriculture, Com
merce I? igtatiOB
Much has been said and written of
this department of t|ie State govern
ment, but for a full history of what
has been done by this department,
I respeefully refer you to the re
port of the Commissioner, Mr. E. J.
Watson. I call your special attention
to the handbook that he has publish
ed, giving a full history of the State
and her resources. We are primar
ily an agricultural people, and yet
we have made great strides in com
merce and manufacturing.
Beautifying the State House Grounds
In obedience to the provisions of
the Act passed at the last session of
your honorable bodies, I appointed a
Commission on State House Grounds,
consisting of Messrs. A. E. Gonzales,
Edward Ehrlich and B. F. Taylor.
These gentlemen have been diligent
in the work assigned them, and are
improving and beautifying the
grounds. The work being done is of
a j>ermanent nature, and when com
pleted our state house grounds will
be a source of pride to both city
and state. This is a labor of love by
these gentlemen, as they receive no
compensation for their services oth
er than the "well done" of the peo
ple.
Statue of John 0. Calhoun. . .
The commission appointed by your
honorable bodies at their last session
to provide a statue of South Caro
lina's great statesman, John C. Cal
houn, and have same placed in sta
tuary hall in the Capitol at Washing
ton, D. C., have had several meetings
during' the past year and have en
tered into a contract with Mr. P. W.
Uuchstuhl, of New Tork City, to do
Hi is work. He is now engaged in
nmking this statue, and the hope of
the commission is that it may be com
pleted during the present year. The
price we have agreed on for the mak
ing of the statue and placing it in
statutory hall is nine thousand dol
lars.
Supreme Court.
I desire again to call your atten
tion to the necessity of better ac
commodations for the Supreme Court.
A neat and commodious brick build
ing could be erected on the state
house grounds near the. corner of As
sembly and Senate streets, of suf
ficient size to accommodate the Su
preme Court and the Supreme Court
Library. -
Confederate Veterans.
South Carolina is justly proud of
the valor and heroism of her Con
federate veterans. She has provid
ed by appropriations annually for
the needy ones, and I hope the day
may never come when her Legislature
will decline to remember them in a
substantial way.
Report of the Adjutant and Inspec
tor-General.
I beg your careful consideration of
the report of the Adjutant and In
spector-General for the past year."
The National Guard and tho Naval
Militia of the State are an important
arm of the government and their
value to the commonwealth cannot
ho over-estimated.
State Hospital for the Insane.
It is tho duty of every State to
provide and care for those unfortu
nate ones whose minds havo become
weak and who can be cared for and
successfully treated only in an insti
tution of this kind. This State ha*
always discharged her duty in this
regard, and I hope the day may never
come when we shall fail, in tho least
particular, to do our wholo duty to
these unfortunate people.
Penitentiary.
The penitentiary, under the wi*c
administration of the Board of Direc
tors and tho Superintendent, con
tinues to he self-sustaining. The pris
oners are humanely treated and are
well cared for. The whole number
of convicts now within the walls and
at the State farms is 653. The State
farms and the farm at tho reforma
tory have paid well, and all tho veg
etables needed have been grown.
There are eighty convicts under the
ago of sixteen years at the reforma
tory on the Tjcxington County ?'arm.
A new brick building has boon erect
ed for tho safe keeping of these boys,
and Also to make the building fire
proof. They are well cared for, are
made to work, and are also taught in
Sunday school work by the efficient
and capable chaplain with volunteer
assistance.
State Board of Health.
This very important Board has
labored wisely and well during the
past year in looking after and per
forming the various duties required
of them by tho laws of the ptate.
Their report made to mo will bo
printed and placed on your desks.
You will find many valuable sugges
tions and recommendations in this
report, and they have my most hear
ty approval. The health of our peo
ple is of the utmost importance.
The JiMtm Brpoeitfon.
Every South Carolinian who wtal
to the Jamestown Exposition fell
justly proud of the msgniflsMl ex
hibit from this State theve display
ed. It was second to none, sod to
my mind was the bsst of alL Too
mneh praise eannot be given to the
gentlemen composing the commission
from this State who providsd this ex
hibit, and the thanks of the people
of South Carolina are doe them for
the superb work done. Their report
will "be made to you at this session,
when I shall hare something more
to ssy with reference to the same.
Sooth Carolina Industrial School.
Nothing haa been done einee the
last session of the Legislature to*
wards the erection of the buildings
for the Industrial School except the
purchase of material. Recently the
Board of Trustees has hsd a meeting
and hss passed a resolution asking
your honorable bodies to give to the
trustees sn appropriation sufficient
to begin this work on a comparative
ly small scale. To provide at first
for the care and maintenance of from
twenty to forty children, as we de
sire to demonstrate to the people the
value and importance of this work.
Salaries.
Some years ago when the purchas
ing value of a dollar was more than
it is at this time, the salaries of the
State officers and of the Judges of
the Supreme and Circuit Courts were
reduced. I desire to ask if the time
has not come when these salaries
should be raised again and your of
ficers paid a salary commensurate
with the work they are required to
doTI have no hesitancy in saying that
the salaries of all should be raised
to at least what they formerly were.
My accounts will show that it costs
mc more than one thousand dollars
a year over and above my salary to
pay the expenses of living and of pro
viding for such entertainments and
receptions as arc necessary to the
dignity of the position of Governor
of this State.
Governor's Mansion.
The present mansion was erected
more than fifty years ago, and has
served the purposes for which it was
built. Since 1880, it has been used
as a home for the Governor. While
jt is comfortable, yet it is deteriorat
ing and will soon require many re
pairs. The lot pn which this build
ing stands is one of the best in the
City of Columbia. A new mansion
built in the center of the lot, front
ing on Richland street with side en
trances from Gadsden and Lincoln
streets, would be an ornament to the
capital city of the State and an ideal
home for your governor. I recom
mend that a commission be appoint
ed to look into the matter and report
to the next session of the General
Assembly the probable cost and the
feasibility of erecting same.
Railroad Commission and Railroads.
While other States have had much
litigation with reference to railroad
passenger rates during the past year,
South Carolina has been free from
this character of litigation, and I
am glad to report to you that in a
conference had with the President
and other representatives of the
Southern Railway, they stated to me
that on or about the first of April,
1908, they will put on a flat passen
ger rate of two and one-half cents
per mile, and will sell mileage books
at two and two and one-quarter cents
per mile in this State. I have a let
ter to this effect from President Fin
ley, a copy of which I will place in
your hands, with a special message
~?n the subject, setting forth their
whole plan.
The Commission for Winding Up the
State Dispensary.
As required by the Act of the Gen
eral Assembly passed at yotir last
session providing for tho winding up
of the State Dispensary, I appointed
five "well known business men," to
wit, Dr. W. J. Murray, of Columbia,
and Messrs. John McSween of Tim
raonsville, C. K. Henderson, of Aiken,
Avery Patton, of Greenville and B.
F. Arthur, of Union, as members
of the commission. These gentlemen
immediately entered tip on the im
portant and arduous duties involved
in this work, and it will be my pleas
ure to submit to you, at tho present'
session, their report. I shall at that
time have something more to say
about the work of the commission.
Good Roads.
I am glad to report that in some
of the counties of the State the au
thorities arc moving forward on the
good roads question. Machnery has
been bought and much good work of
a permanent nature is being done.
Drainage.
The drainage of our swamps and
low lands is one of more than ordi
nary interest to many of our people.
It is estimated that there are in
South Carotlna 4,780 square miles of
overflown and swnmp lands, much of
which could be reclaimed and made
healthful and arable.
Gentlemen, if South Carolina is to
continue in her great prosperity
much depends up on the laws you en
act and the provisions you make for
the advancement of all her interests.
I beseech you, therefore, that you
bring to the consideration of all mat
ters which shall bo discussed by you,
your best, thought <uad mature delib
eration, and let the results of your
work be those things that make for
the peace and prosperity of all our
people. May God guide and direct
you in all things.
M. F. ANSEL, Governor.
U .
MAKE-UP Of LEGISLATURE
Fwwml of Oar Uv-Maldif Body
Am Hoot OouUtnkei
Abbeville ? W. N. Gray don, sena
tor, Abbeville ; Frank B. Gary, Ab
beville; P. B. Carwile, Abbeville; J.
Q. Stillwell, McCormick.
Aiken? G. L. Toole, senator, Aik
en; H- E. Gyles, T. G. Croft, R. J.
Wade, Jr., J. Cal Courney, Aiken.
Anderson ? G. W. Sullivan, sena
tor, Williamston; E. M. Rucker, G. P.
Smith, J. A. Hall, Anderson; J. T.
Cox, Belton, L. S. Clinkscales, Starr.
Bamberg? J. B. Black, senator,
Bamberg; C. W. Garris, Denmark; B.
W. Miley, Bamberg.
Barnwell ? George H. Bates, sena
tor, Barnwell; J. Emile Harley, A.
Bethune Patterson, Barnwell; B. F.
Thomas, Fairfax.
Beaufort ? Neills Christensen, sen
ator, Beaufort; J. C. Bailey, O 'Katie ;
W. H. Nevir, Port Royal; R. R. Le
gs re, Beaufort.
Berkley ? Jospeph A. Harvey, sen
ator, Pinopolis; W. L. Parker, Enos
E. Ballentine, Moncks Corner; John
L. Wiggins, Holly Hill.
ChaHeston ? Huger Sinkler, sena
tor, Charleston; James Cosgrove,
Donald McKay Frost, Arnoldus Van
ierHorst, Albert W. Todd, F. N.
Bryant, John E. Wallace, George F.
VonKolnitz.
Cherokee ? J. C. Otts, senator
Gaffney; N. W. Harden, Blaclcsburg;
E. J. Clary, Gaffney.
Chester ? P. L. Hardin, senator,
Bascomville; Paul Hemuhill, A. G.
Brice, Chester; S. T. McKeown,
Corn well.
Chesterfield ? George K. Laney,
senator, Chesterfield; B. J. Douglass,
T. W. Scruggs, Ruby.
Clarendon ? Louis Appelt, senator,
Manning; I. M. Woods, New Zion;
John R. Dingle, O. C. Scarborough,
Sumerton.
Colleton ? J. S. Griffin, senator,
Walterboro; D. L. Smith, Walter
boro; J. C. Goodwin, Smoaks; J. B.
Dodd, Round.
Darlington ? D. T. McKeithan, sen
ator, Lumber; L. E. Carrigan, So
ciety Hill; L. M. Lawson, Darlington;
J. P. Kirvin, Doversville.
Dorchester ? J. D. Bivins, senator,
Ravenel; J. S. Wimberly, St. George.
Edgefield ? T. G. Talbert, senator,
Edgefield ; J. W. DeVore, B. E. Nich
olson, Edgefield.
Fairfield ? W. J. Johnson, senator,
Ridgeway; T. S. Brice, Avon; W. W.
Dixon, Winnsboro; C. H. Leitncr,
Bookman.
Florence ? Nathan S. Gibson, sena
tor, Florence; Z. T. Kershaw, Tiin
monsville; S. W. G. Shipp, Hartwell
M. Ayer, Florence.
Georgetown ? LeGrand G. Walker,
senator, Georgetown; J. W. Doar,
Olin Sawyer, Georgetown.
Greenville ? W. L. Maul din, sena
tor, Greenville ; T. P. Cothran, F. F.
Beattie, Greenville; W. A. Neshitt,
Traveler's Rest; John R. Harriosn,
Fountain Inn; John G. Greer, Greer.
Greenwood ? J. H. Broks, senator,
Cambridge; William II. Yeidell, E. L.
Richardson, J. M. Major, Greenwood.
Hampton ? W. S. Smith, senator,
Hampton; G. Geddes Dowling, Ju
lius P. Youmans, Hampton.
Horry ? G. J. Holliday, senator,
Gallivants; R. A. Spivey, Conway;
T. P. Rerham, Green Sea.
Kershaw ? W. R. Hough, senator,
Camden; John G. Richards, Jr., Lib
erty Hill; D. M. Bethunc, Bethune.
Lancaster ? T. Y. Williams, sena
tor, Lancaster; George W. Jones, W.
Pressley Robinson, Lancaster.
Laurens ? F. P. McGowan, senator^
Laurens; J. H. Miller, Cross Hill; R
D. Boyd, John M. Cannon, Laurens.
Lee ? B. F. Kelly, senator, Bishop
ville; C. W. Harris, Thos. II. Tatum,
Bishopville.
Lexington ? D. F. Efird, senator,
Lexington; W. II. Sharpe, Edmund j
J. B. Wingard, Lexington; N. B
Wannamaker, Gaston.
Marion ? James Stackhouse, sena
tor, Marion ; Ben B. Sellers, Sellers,
George R. Reaves, James Norton,
Mullins.
Marlboro ? T. I. Rogers, senator,
Bennettsville; D. D. McColl, Jr., J
Preston Gibson, Benetsville; J. J.
Lane, Clio.
Newberry ? Cole L. Blease, senator,
Newberry; Alan Johnstone, ft H
Aull, Newberry ; C. T. Wyche, Pros
perity.
Oconee ? J. R. Earle, senator, Wal
halla; Coke D. Mann, West Union |
E. E. Verner, Richland.
Orangeburg ? T. M. Ra.vsor, sena
tor, Orangeburg; Thorns F. Brantley,
Andrew J. Hydrick, Jr., Orangeburg;
L. A. Carson, Holly Hill.
Pickens ? C. II. Carpenter, senator,
Easley; James I*. Carey, Pickens; J.
A. Hint on, Easley.
Richland ? F. H. Weston, senator,
Columbia; Porter A. McMaster, F. G.
Tompkins, Fred Harmon, Columbia;
Howell Morrell, Horrell.
Saluda ? B. W. Crouch, senator,
Saluda; G. B. Lester, Silver Street;
J. A. Smith, Saluda.
Spartanburg1 ? H. B. Carlisle, sena
tor, Spartanburg; J. Wright Nash, J.
H. Dodd, S. J. Nichols, Spartanburg,
M W. Walker, Glendale; W. J. Gib
son, Campobello ; H. H. Arnold,
Woodruff.
Sunator-^J. H. Clifton, scnatox
Sumter; George W. Dick. T. B. FY a
ser, W. G. Stubbs, 8umtcr.
Union ? B. F- Townsond. sonator,
Union; H. C. Little, Kelton; J. G
Hughes, Union.
' Williamsburg? W. L. Bass, sena
tor, Lake City; W. D. Bryan, Taft;
W. P. Ganse, Cowards; R. H. Kella
han, Kiugstree.
York ? J. 8. Brice, senator, York
villc; J. H. Saye, Shardon; W. T.
Slaughter, Hickory Grove ; S. H
Eppes, Sr., Fort Mill; J. 8. Glascock
Catawba.
Officers of the Senate.
Thomas G. McLeod, Bishopville
president and lieutenant governor.
Cole L. Blease, Newberry, presi
dent pro tem.
Robert R. Hemphill, Abbeville
clerk.
M. M. Mann, Florence, assistant
ilerlt.
W. H. Stewart, Rock Hill, reading
;lerk.
J. F. Sc hum pert, Newberry, ser
jeant-at-arms.
G. E. Moore, Honea Path, reading
clerk.
W. E. Cook, Scranton, secretary to
the president.
N. O. Pyles, Columbia, mail carrier.
Peter Sanders, Centenary ; J. W.
Ward, Spartanburg; James R. Boul
ware, Newberry, doorkeepers.
Officers of the House.
Richard S. Whaley, speaker, Char
leston.
Tom C. Hamer, clerk, Bennetsville.
| J. Wilson Gibbes, assistant clerk,
| Columbia.
John S. Withers, reading clerk,
I Chester.
i J. S. Wilson, sergeant-at-arms,
[ Lancaster.
Rev. R. N. Pratt, chaplain, Colum
bia.
Christie Benet, journal clerk, Col
1 um hi a.
W. H. McCaw, bill elerk, Columbia.
N. O. Pyles, mail carrier, Colum
bia.
James N. Pearman, speaker's sec
retary, Honea Path.
Gordon McLaurin, flag raiser, Dil
lon.
Floyd I). Bat son, J. M. Seay, W.
B. Robinson, doorkeepers.
Parker on the Panic.
Kingston, N. Y., Special. ? Before
an assemblage of 00 associates of his
home county of Ulster, former Chief
Judge Alton B. Parker, of the Court
of Appeals, Democratic candidate for
the presidency in 1904, spoke of the
causes of t ho recent "credit panic'-'
and of what he considered the dan
gers of putting "untutored idealism '
in charge of the nation's affairs. The
occasion was n dinner given by foui
score or more Ulster county Demo
crats, at which Judge Parker was tin
i guest of honor.
Negroes Not A!lwH to Vote in Pro
hibition Election.
Shreaveport, La., Special.? -The no
groes of Shreaveport and Caddo par
ish were notified by both tbo pro
liibitionist? and anti-prohibitiqnists
that they will not be allowed to A-otc
in the election next Tuesday on the
liquor question. Recently several
thousand negroes adopted a resolu
tion pledging to supp.irt prohibition
Oolonel Andrews President of Tal
lul ah Palls Railway.
Raleigh, N. C., Special. ? Corpora
tion Commissioner Rogers, who ar
rived from bis home reports that A
B. Andrews of the Southern Railway,
is made president of the Tallulafc
Falls Railway, from Cornelia, Ga., t(
Franklin, this State. This was Goo
Tj. Preston's road. It will be ope
rated by the Southern Railway.
Artillery Sergeant Shot and Killed.
Pensacola, Fla., Special. ? Sergeant
Oscar Gattling, of the Twentieth
Company, Coast artillery, was shot
and killed at Fort Barnacas by
James- Hart, a negro. Hart made his
escape but was later captured. Ac
cording to reports from the fort,
which is nine miles distant, the negro
had a grudge against tho sergeant.
Sergeant Gattling had been stationed
at the fort for seven years and camc
here from Atlanta, where he haa rela
tives.
Colonel Andrews President of Tal*
lulah Falls Railway.
Raleigh, N. C., Special. ? Corpora
tion Commissioner Rogers, who ar
rived from his homo reports that A.
B. Andrews of the Southern Railway,
is made president of the Tallulah
Falls Railway, from Cornelia, Ga., to
Franklin, this State. This was Geo.
L. Preston's road. It will be opc
lated by the Southern Railway.
News of tho Day.
Japanese in Vancouver seriously
hurt a fireman who fell Against a
storo window.
The Bank of England put its dis
count rate back to 0 per cent.
The Russian police say they have
discovered a plot to assassinate the
Empress Dowager.
Republican leaders are ready to
unite to secure currency legislation,
fearing that tho money stringency
may defeat their candidate for Presi
dent. _____
. Taper clothing is the latest, p?o
founds the Atlanta Const Ration. No*
If the president expects us to be
presentable, kt him eqadeh the p*
jot trust
FLEET REACHES RIO
American Fleet Joyously Re
odved at Southern Port
IRAL1LIANS' WELCOME HEARTY
Wanlipa of the South American Re
public, in Gala Attire, Meet tlie
Sixteen American Battleships at
the Entrance to the Harbor and
Eecorte Them to Safe Anchorage.
Bio Janerio, By Cable. ? The Amer
ican fleet of sixteen battleships en
tered the port of Rio Janero at 3
o'clock Sunday atfernoon, after a
passage from Port-of-Spain, Trini
dad, uiore than 3,000 miles, unmar
red by serious accident, replete with
interesting incidents and ending with
a royal welcome from the thousands
that had gathered to greet tho visit
ors.
The fleet weighed anchor at 4
o'clock on the afternoon of December
24th at Port-of-Spain and exactly at
4 o'clock Sunday the vessels were
swinging at the anchors in this beau
tiful harbor. All of the battleships
are here, but the supply ships, Cul
goa and (3 lacier, are still at sea, not
having been ahle to keep along with
the others. The fleet has now cover
ed about 4, GOO miles, about one
third the distance of the voyage to
San Francisco.
Crowds Welcome Ships.
I Early in the morning tho crowds
began to gather in the streets of Rio
Janeiro, and long before the signal
flags were hoisted announcing the
approach of the American ships of
war thousands of curious spectators
had taken up the points of vantage
on public buildings and the elevated
quays. When the fleet steamed into
the harbor, under the splendid moun
tains that frame the bay, beautiful in
the tropical sun, it was a spectacle
incomparable to the eye.
Word that the licet had passed
Cape Frio, about 45 miles out, was
received at 8:30 o'elock and imme
diately scores of tujrc and other small
craft crowded with spectators set out
to meet the visitors and accompany
them to the anchorage. Outlined
against the horizon the great battle
ships, stretched out in one long line,
came slowly through the passago into
the bay. The Connecticut, Hear Ad
miral Evans' flagship, was in tho lead
with the Brazilian cruisers, dressed
in gala attire on either side. Pass
ing the fortresses, ll.o Connecticut
fired a salute of 21 guns, which was
responded to by the Brazilian war
ships, the German cruiser Bremen
and the shore guns. The yard and
figthing tops were manned and cheers
upon cheers were given for tho splen
did passage of the fjngship and her
sister ships.
Pearl Wight Confirms Report.
New Orleans, Special. ? Pearl
Wight confirmed (lie report that h?
had declined the position of commis
sioner of internal revenue, which wnj
offered to him several months ago by
President Roosevelt. Wight an
nounced at that time that ho would
accpet tho position if ho could ar
range his business affairs in this city.
He said that the financial stringency
which arose made it necessary to give
his cntiro time to his interests in
Louisiana.
Wife Murderer Sent to Penitentiary.
Staunton, Va., Special. ? John F.
Via, charged with (lie murder of his
wife, Cora, at Craigville, October 10,
last, was found guilty and sentenced
to 6 years in (ho peniten'iary. Via,
it is charged, had been drinking when
he committed (lie crime. lie claimed
his wife killed herself. IIo is 40
years old and his wife was 23.
Montgomery Retires Certificated.
Montgomery, Ala., Special ? Presi
dent Baldwin, of the Mou(gomery
clearing house association, issued an
order for tho complete retirement of
tho clearing house certificates which
have been used in Montgomery and
vicinity for the pnst two months.
These certificates will he retired as
rapidly as presented at the different
banks here Monday morning.
Operations of Subway Suspended.
New York, Special. ? Orders were
given by Deputy Commissioner of Po
lice Bugher that in view of the great
danger of falling wails of the Parker
Building that tin- operation of the
subway should be suspended. An or
der was issued by ofiiciiils 'of tho
company that until further notice no
subway trains would be operated be
tween 14th street and Grand Central
station. It is feared by the police
officials that should these big wall.?
crumble the mass of brick and stone
would plunge through the street into
the subway below.
The Brownson-Stokes Matter.
Washington, Special. ? The IXouso
is going to find out all about the
Brownson-Rixey-St(d:cs affair and
adopted a resolution calling upon tho
Sccretac of the Nary for all letters
reports and orders in connection with
the assignment of Surgeon Stokes lo
the command of hospital ship Relief.
The House also asks for correspond
ence in connection with the resigna
tion of Brownson.