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it f I. I vv tin VOL. XXXIX No 91. WILMINGTON. N. C. NOVEMBER 2, 1906 $1.00 PER YEAR f '' : S: i. f I J 17 ; s. - V - J M ir i. Li f ft- . i - i THE ORDER ST ids; ! Negro Enlisted Tioops Vill bei Discharged. FULL HISTORY OF CfSE 'nvestigation Conducted bv Army Officers Made Public. Statement Issued From the War De partment Concerning the Suspension of tho President's Order by Secre tary Taft and Later the Directions to Proceed With the Dismissal His tory of the Investigation Conducted by Army Officers Made Public in a Pamphlet Called "The Affray at Brownsville." Washington November 21. The war department issued the tollowing state ment today concerning the negro troops ordered dismissed at Fort Reno: "In the matter of the order discharg ing the enlisted men of three com panies of the 25th infantry, issued by the president, application was pre sented to the secretary of war by a number of persons on which the action was taken. The secretary telegraphed the president of the application, and delayed the proceedings of the dis charge until the president could indi cate his wishes. The secretary was meantime called out oi town. No an swer was received from the president. The secretary on his return did not feel justified further delaying the exe cution of the order of discharge, espe cially in view of the fact that the sec retary then learned that the president had fully and exhaustively considered the argument against the order of the persons who now app'ufcd for a rehear ing. Accordingly the secretary direct ed yesterday. Tuesday, that the pro ceedings for discharge be continued without delay." The investigation of the conduct, of negro troops of companies E. C. and D. 25th infantry, as reported upon by Major Blocksom, inspector general de partment, Lieutenant Colcnel Lever ing, fourth inlantry, acting inspector general, and Brigadier General Gar lington, inspector general of the army, was made public at the war. department today in a volume entitled "The affray at Brownsville, Texas.- Major Blcckscm declare, that the affair was preconcerted, and both he and General Garlington exonerate the officers from blame. General Garling ton says it was evident from the first that the three companies had entered into a compact to give no information about the affair. Secetary Taft said to day that no steps will be taken to make a further investigation of il.e conduct of the officers. Ji his summary of tne reports made by the other officers and of his own ef forts to discover the guilty soldiers, Brigadier eGneral Garlington declares that every means of getting evidence concerning the shooting was exhaust ed. All the men or the three com panies were talked with individually on different occasions, ne says, and the lire consequences og their failure to give up the guilty soldiers were point ed out. All the soldiers avoided ques tions, and even refused to discuss the events at Brownsville which were lenown to have enraged the negroes be fore the riot. "The secretive nature of the race, whf,re crimes re cra'l to members of their color, is well Known," General Garlington said. "Under such circumstances self-protection or self-interest is the only leter by which the casket of their can ne nnen onen ACtins: nnon rni. principle, the history and record of the regiment to which the belong, the part played by these old soldiers in this record were poitnd out and en larged upon. The odium and disgrace to the battalion, and Its , individual members by this critae were indicated. The future effect upon the individuals and upon the battalion as a whole was referred to; and finally the concern of the president of the United States in the matter, his desira and the desire of the war department to separate the in nocent from the guilty were explained; but without effect. ' Continuing General Garlington's re port says: No absolutely accurate veri fication of the rifles and men of the battalion was made on the night of August 13, In time to account for the rifles and men at the beginning of the 'firing or immediately upon its conclu sion. The failure is explained as fel lows: "The commanding officer and his as sociates, when the alarm was sounded, and they heard the firing, assumed that it came from the city of Browns- CELEBRATE S1LVEB WEDDIRG-j I Mr. and Mrs. G. W. Under Had Many Friends With Them( i The Occasion was one of Great Enjoy ment -Delicious Refreshments Were Served and Fine 3Iusic was Render- ed by the Kneisel Orchestra. Many and also a Number of Congratula tory Telegrams. Yesterday was a happy occasion in the life of Mr. and Mrs. G. W. Linder, it be.ng thei- silver wedding, and last night a large number of their friends gathered at their hospitable home on South Seve;:ili street where they were entertained in a most delightful man ner. The house was tastefully decorated by Mr. Will Rehder and all presented a scene of festivity. Between the par lors in letters of silver were the lates ".VS1" and "Vj'; -, over each suo pended a wedding bell. Excellent music was furnished by the Kneisel orchestra. During the evening Rev. C. W. Keg ley, pastor of St Matthew's Lutheran church, made a talk which was much enjoyed Talks were also made by other friends who had gathered to helo Mr. and Mrs. Linder celebrate the hap py event. In the dining hall the tables were laden with all manner of refreshments and the guests enjoyed themselves to the fullest extent. On the second floor the presents were displayed and they were numerous and very handsome. Gifts were received from several other states. A large num ber of congratulatory telegrams were also received and several of these were iuAio. friends in the iiui'ibem citls. A feature that made the evening an es pecially enjoyable one was the fact that all cf heir children were present. Mrs. Linder wore a becoming dress of silver gray taffeta and as young looking as she is one would not have believed it her silver wedding did they not know such to be the case. Mr. and Mrs. Linder were felicitated on the happy event last night and there was many a hope expressed by those pres ent that they might help to celebrate with Mr. and Mrs. Linder their golden wedding. Before her marriage Mr.s Linder was Miss Annie E. Magarity. They were married on the 21st of November, 1881. the ceremony having been performed by the late Rev-. Page Ricaud, pastor at that time of the Fifth street M. E. church. STILL AFTER THE VAGRANTS. l ew Days Pass Witliout Several Facing- tlie Mayor Two Women Given Terms on I lie County Farm Yes terday. Slowly but surely the vagrants are being roped in and the men sent to the roads and the women to the county farm. It is a hard lot to break from their lazy way of living for a term of thirty days seems to do but little good toward making them useful citizens. When they are on the road though the community is free from such worthless characters and they are made to put in some good work for the county. It is no child's play ou the county roads. It is work from early morn until dewey in a manner that causes some work to be done and not in the listless way they do work when allowed to go their way. MavorWaddell has sent a long of offenders to the county roads already and he is by no means through jvith them. It is not the easiest thing in the world to gather in the vagrants, a fact that Chief of Police Williams has become clearly cognizant of during the past few months. Many of those roped in find some way to get free. . Yesterday two women faced His Honor. Henrietta Jones and Kate Brooks, both charged with vagrancy and each of them got thirty days at the county farm. The superintendent of the county farm has all the laborers he needs these days. Last day of Polvogt's Hed tag sale, of Red tag sale. iriiick otiA thnt thf piins wprp in the If ll'V U1.1V. " 3 ' ,o carrier, was hPiTip- tired into from the outside. It does not appear to have lA-l fc).A VU w CJ occurred to any of them that certain enlisted men of the 25th infantry had possession of their arms and were com mitting the crime of firing into the houses and upon the citizens of Brownsville, until the mayor of the city came to the garrison and inform ed the commanding officer, Major Pen rose, that onctnan had been killed and another wounded by his soldiers Majos Blocksom regartfs it particularly mended that if satisfactory evidence concerning the identity of the crimi nals who "shot up" Brownsville, Mid not come from members of the bat talion all enlisted men of the three companies present on the night of August 13 be discharged from the ser vice and debarred from re-enlistmtnt in the army, navy or marine corns. Major Blocksom regards is particularly unfortunate for the reputation of the battalion that the officers did not dis cover a single clue to the 'terrible pre concerted crime," in the investigation that was conducted by the commanders jof the colored force. CONGRESS WILE TIME TO ROUTINE WORK Not Much Important New Legislation Will be Accomplished. The Tariff and Currency Will Probably be Brought Up for Consideration Longer Sessions Seem Necessary, (Special to The Messenger.) Washington, Nov. ri. If any opti mistic American citizen looks forward to the doing of great things at the coming session of congress, he has naught but disappointment in store for him. Congress will be too busy to tackle any new and novel schemes of legislation. If it gets through ' with routine business and such matters as were left over from the first session by March 4 without working overtime, it will be doing very well indeed. Some aspiring statesmen, no doubt, will persist in talking tariff, despiie the tacit agreement that there shall be i no tariff ifi;lqtfnn iiTtil t. r. i next presidential election; and it is certain a strenuous effort will be made to secure currency legislation, but the chances of these efforts being success ful are very remote. The currency commission -of the American Bankers' association has a plan framed up for reforming the monetary system, and a sub-commit tee has been appointed to draft a bill for introduction into congress. If con gress were only willing now to allrv the bankers to do its legislating, every body would be happy, and the currency would be reformed by Christmas Unit. But congress is not willing. By some stubborn sort of reasonings or unrea soning, if you are inclined to think that way the opinion prevails on capitol hill that it is the business of congress to construct and pass the nation's laws, and there never has been maifested a disposition to farm out the job. And so, there wiirbe nothing rever ential in the attitude of congress to- j he bankers' currency project. It j ward the will be handled without gloves, knock ed and kicked about and battered out of all semblance to its original shape. The fact that it has tne imposing en dorsement cf the country's financial brains will carry no more weight in senate and house than If the endorse ment were that of the allied hod-barriers or amalgamated grave-diggers of the country. In fact, the handling of the currency bill is likely to be just a little more ungentle because it has the endorsement of the bankers. Congress always has resented out side attempts to dictate legislation. Witness the fate of the reciprocity treaties, which were nothing more nor less than legislation by the executive; and of the repeatedly urged but always rejected scheme to have a commission of experts regulate the tariff schedules. Senators and representatives will ad mit in private conversation that the THE CONGESTION OF FREIGHT Subject That was Principally Discuss ed at the Meeting of the Chamber of Commerce Held Yesterday 3Iorn int;. A meeting of the chamber of com merce was held yesterday morning and quite a number of the members were in attendance. The principal matter to be taken up w as that of transporta tion, a subject which interests the members of the chamber more than any otner one thing tor nearly an or them are merchants and see each day the conditions as they actually exist. Several other matters were taken up but to the congested condition of freight was devoted most of the dis- cussion. Several officials of the At lantic Coast Line were present and ex pressed themselves as only too glad to remedy the troubles complained of but sometimes it was practically an impos sibility to do so. They stated that the defects were being remedied as fast as possible. President Taylor stated that there was often needless delay in getting freight delivered even after it is placed in the warehouse and he said it ap peared to him like th-e force was inad- ! equate. He also declared that incom ment; that often admitted claims are held up for many months and in some instances for a longer period than a year. It was practically decided to use what is known as the card system in receiving freight. Mr. P. R. Albright assistant to th-e geenral manager, stat ed that he knew personally of large places where it had worked to great advantage. Mr. Walter Connelly, agent of the Seaboard here, stated that his company would also be glad to adopt the system as it would great ly facilitate the handling of the freight. Nothing definite was done in regard to tne proposed visit to Fort Caswell and nothing will be for the next few days. It was decided to wait to see what time Congressman Small and the other members of the inland Water way association are going to be here. It is known that they are going to meet here next week but the chamber wants to wait until it can be told what day will be best to make arrangements for carrying them to the fort. Several other matters were taken up but nons of general . importance. Come today Polvogt's Red Tag sale last day Big millinery sale, 10 to GIVE expert commission plan would be a happy solution of the tariff problem, but you couldn't get one of them to vote to give such a commission the necessary authority. They will tell you that the constitution by providing that congress shall have control of the revenues, stands in the way, but that is merely a happy suDterfuge. The truth is that the legislative branch of the government is jealous of encroach ing executive power, and for the next decade cr two the tendency is going to be to curtail rather than extend the au thority of the co-ordinate branch of the government. The fact that congress this winter will not be able to do much more than pass appropriation bills and attend to wuici maueis ui nweiv luuuut probably will revive agitation for long- J er sessions of congress. No less au thority than Speaker Cannon is on record as having said that time is not far distant when congress will have to sit the year round. So tremendous has been the growth of the nation, with a corresponding growth in the necessary routine work of congress, that not much time is left for the serious con sideration of new legislation. In the days of the fathers, practically every bill was debated and reshaped in open session. Today, on most things, both houses accept the reports of the com mittees almost without question. If they refused to do so-, congress never would get through its work. This has served for tims, but at best it is only a makeshift. Not much additional re lief can be looked for in this direction, because the committees now have all thev can do. The time is close at hand when someother scheme of relief must be devised, and longer sessions is the only thing in sight. As it is now, members of congress of the house, that is are elected for two years, and of the twenty-four months of their terms they spend but nine or ten at the capital. The long session rarely lasts more than six months, though it may run a couple of weeks into the seventh. The short session lasts but three months, and out of this time comes the holiday recess. The advocates of longer ses sions propose that congress shall be in session about nine months each year, giving the lawmakers a vacation through July, August and September, when it is too hot in Washington for comfort. This plan would give con gress time to dispose of its routine business and still hav? a chance to give serious and statesmanlike considera tion to new matters cf legislation. There could be an easing up, then, of gag rules, and the house of represen tativs might regain some of the im portance and prestige it once held in the eouation of government. NEGRO ENTERED STORE. Boy Who Worked in Establishment of Mr. Julius Taylor Went into the Store Through a Window Last Night In the Chase After Him he Jumped Tnto the Cape Fear River He was Pulled out and Carried to the City Hall. Last night shortly before 9 o'clock a young negro by the name of Peter Griffin, letter known as "Boodler," entered the store of Mr. Julius Taylor on Princess street but he was detected and when he left the store was empty handed and would have been only too glad for an opportunity to make his escape but this he was destined not to do although he made a strenuous at tempt to do so. Thi negro worked at the store and he is about 17 years of age. In the en trance to the Smith building there is a small window near the top of the shelves of Mr. Taylor's store and it was through this that the negro effected an entrance. Some one passing along the street heard a slight noise in the store and called the attention of Mr. John ; Pool to the fact. He waited near the door and it was not long before he saw the negro open the store door and slip into the street. Mr. Frank Shepard, who clerks in the store, happened along at this time and Md. Pool point ed the negro out and told what he had seen. The two young men started af ter the boy who was going towards Front street. When he saw Mr. Shepard and" Mr. Pool following him he started to running and they follow ? ed close upon his heels. The cry of 'stop him, stop him" rang out as the negTo dashed down Front street and then down Polvogt's alley towards the river. He could not shake his pur suers and by the time he got to Water street they had gained on him. When he reached the wharf of Stone and Company near the foot of Market street he took to water, having dived Into the river only a few yards from where the steamer Compton was lying:. For a few minutes he managed to keep against the dock and did not call for aid but when Mr. Pool told him to stick out his hand so he could pull him out of the river the negro lost no time in getting his hand as far towards Mr. Pool as possible. With the assist ance of Mr. Sam King the would be thief was pulled out of the Cape Fear and a few minutes later turned over to Officers Mark Jones and Will Harris who carried him to the city hall. Mr i Frank Shepard prefered charges against him. The neero declared that he had not gone into the store for the purpose, of stealing anything. STOCKHOLDER S OF L C. L Hold Annual Meeting in the City of Richmond. Reports Submitted and Directors and Officers Chosen -During tlio Year 231 Industries Such as Factories, etc Were Located Along the Lino of tho Coast Line in the Six States the Road Traverses. The annual meeting of the stockhold ers of the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Company was held in Richmond this week and the reports submitted by the officers were most gratifying. Many new enterprises have been located on the lines during the past year and tho country traversed by the road has been in a most prosperous condition, which fact was apparent by the facts as shown in the reports. The Richmond Times-Dispatch gives the following account of the meeting: The annual meeting of the stock holders of the Atlantic Coast Line Rail road Company was held in this city yesterday. The following directors and officers were chosen: Directors H. Walters, Michael Jen kins, Waldo Newcomer, M. F. Plant, Alexander Hamilton, F. W. Scott, Don ald MacRae, E. B. Borden, H. B. Short, J. J. Lucas, J. H. Lucas, J. H. Estill, Warren Delano, Jr. Officers T. M. Emerson, president; Wilmington, N. C; Alexander Hamil ton, first vice president, Petersburg, Va.; C. S. Gadsden, second vice pres ident, Charleston, S. C; J. R. Kenly, third vice president, Wilmington N. C. These officers were elected by the di rectors: H. Walters, chairman of the board; H. L. Borden, secretary; R. D. Cronly, assistant secretary; W. R. Sul livan, assistant secretary; George B. Elliott, assistant secretary; James F. Post, treasurer; H. L. Borden, assist ant treasurer; J. J. Nelligan, assistant treasurer; Joseph B. Kirby, assistant treasurer; W. R. Jones, assistant treas urer; C. C. Olney, assistant treasurer; J. Moultrie Lee, assistant treasurer; W. N. Royall, general manager; R. A. Brand, freight traffic manager; W. J. Craig, passenger traffic manager; H. C. Prince, comptroller; Alexander Ham ilton, general counsel. The report of President Emerson showed a net income of $4,816,942.13 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 190G; and an increase of $147,229.77 ever the net income of 1905. Quarterly dividends had been declar ed during the year amounting to $2, 718.630, which, subtracted from the net income, leaves a net surplus for the year of$2,098,312.13. Earnings from operations, said tho president in his report, had increased 11.90 per cent.; operating expenses and taxes had increased 19.04 per cent, and the net income from operations had de creased .71 per cent. The reports of the officers contain a great deal of data in detail, relative to operation, equipment and maintenance of equipment, ways and structures. The detailed statement of equipment owned at the close of the year shows a total of 545 locomotives of every type; 525 cars for passenger train equipment, in cluding express and baggage cars, etc.; 18076 standard-gauge freight cars, and 32 narrow gauge cars; 501 cars for use in road serv ice equipment, and 11 ves sels used as tugs or barges. During the year the company expend ed for improvements and additions to property a gran! total of $467,969.72, of which $152,853.34 was for the construc tion and improvements of sidings, and $lll,081 for purcnase of steel rail3 for renewal of tracks. The Coast Line system operates 333.63 miles of road, an increase of 11.35 during the year. The earnings from operations during the year in creased 11.90 per cent., but the opera -ing expenses and taxes increased 19-1 per cent The ehief item in the incro.i. ed expenses of operation wa3 on -en! consumed, which increased 20 per cent, in quantity, and more than 30 per cent, in cost. The increased consumption of fuel alone amounted in value to $160,- 976. In addition to the equipment sum marized, orders have been placed for the following, which have aot yet teen delivered: 47 freight and 20 switch ing engines; 450 wooden under-frame cars; 500 steel under-frame cars; 2,500 steel under-frame box-cars; 129 wood en under-frame box-cars; 500 steel under-frame coal cars; 12 caboose cars; 75 phosphate cars; and 35 log cars; 28 passenger coaches; 6 express care, and 2 postal cars; 60 ballast cars, and 2 plow cars. During the fiscal year 334 industries, such as factories, mills, eta, were lo cated on the line of the road in th six states through which it passes." WILL RECETVE MESSAGES. Announcement Made by Chief of the Weather Bureau. Willis L. Moore, chief of the weather bureau, announces that the vessel re porting station at Sand Key, Florida, is prepared to transmit and receive messages to and from passing vessels at night by flash light signals, using the Morse code as found In Part III, International Code of Signals. As this work is new to the station it i will be necessary for vessel masters to sen slowly, using special care in spac- mS and in giving sufficient contrast to the dots and dashes. ' PORTO RICO The President Enthusiastically Received in Ponce. KS TWO ADDRESSES Pledges Every Effort to Secure Citizenship for the Island. lie Addrcsd the lVoplo as Fellow Citizens" and HU Reference to Citi zenship Drought out Enthusiastic Ap plausc Visited the Roosevelt High School, the Corner Stonc of Which was Laid in 1903 by the President's Daughter, Mrs. Longworth A Trip to San Juun Over the Famous Mil itary I toad. Ponce, P. R., Nov. 21. President Roosevelt arrived here this morning from Colon on board the battleship Louisiana. He was visited on board the vessel by Governor Winthrop, who extended a welcome to the island. The president at once came ashore, and was greeted at the pier by Mayor Oppcn helmer, of Ponce, and a delegation of prominent officials and citizens. The town, which was profusely decorated in the president's honor, was crowded with people from the surrounding coun try eager to greet Mr. Roosevelt. As the president stepped ashore tho crowd cheered him, crying: "Viva El Presidente." When the greetings were over, the president, accompanied by Governor Winthrop, was driven to the city hall, Mrs. Winthrop and Mrs. Roosevelt following. Tho president was kept busy acknowledging cheers all along the two mile line of march from the landing place to the principal plaza of the town. At tho entrance to the plaza, a huge arch had been erected from which little girls threw flowers to both the President and Mrs. Roosevelt. At the city hall, an address of wel come was read to tho president. He delivered his reply from the balcony cf the building, addressing tho largest crowd that had ever assembled in Ponce. The president said in part: "I shall continue to use every effort to secure citizenship for Porto Rico. I am confident that this will come in the end and all that I can personally do to hasten the day I will do. My efforts will be unceasing to help you along the path of true self government, which must have for its basis a union of order, liberty, Justice and honor." In conclusion the president said: "I salute you from my heart as fellow citizens." The reference to citlzenshop brought out enthusiastic applause from the peo ple. Before leaving Ponce, the presi dent was driven to the Koosevelt high school. Here several hundred school children had been assembled and sang "America" as the president drove up. The corner stone of this school wae laid in April 1903, by the president's daughter, now Mrs. Longworth. Tb president was greatly- pleased with bk j reception at the school, and made a . hort address. He was showered with Towers by the children as he drove v.ay. The presidential party left Ponce at " rJf past ten for the run to San Juan over the famous military road, eleven automobiles conveying the party. TWO RAILROAD MEETINGS Annual Moeing Gf the Northwestern Railroad and of the Charleston and Western Carolina Officer Elected for the Ensuing Year. Charleston. S. C, November 21. At the annual meeting of the Northwes tern railroad held here today, a divi dend of four per cent. wa declared and the following elected: Thomas Wilson, president. J. F. Post Treasurer. R. D." Cronly, secretary. John Wilson, auditor. Directors; H. Walters. Baltimore: J. F. Rhanie, Manning; T. M. Emerson. J. F. Divine. Wilmington, N. c.. Alex ander Hamilton. Petersburg, Va. The annual meeting of the Charles ton and Western Carolina company followed. All stock was represented. Officers were elected for the ensuing year as follows: H. Walters, Baltimore first vice pres ident. T. M Emeracon Wilmington, second vice president J. F. Post, treasurer. R. D. Cronly, secretary. Directors: J. B. Cleveland. Avery Patton, Greenville; J. O. C. Flemmlng. of Laurens: A. F. McKissick, Green wood; J. A. Brock. Anderson; J. P. Doughty. Augusta; H. Walters, Balti more; Michael Jenkins, Baltimore, Alexander Hamilton, Petersburg The annual meeting of the Charles ton Terminal company was held today and W. E. Huger, was elected presi dent. The Union Station company re elected Fairfax Harrison president. now ifi