Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1869-12-03


certain railroads and to require accounta-
bility on the part Of their officers.
Mr.. Pou resumed his romarks and fa-
vOred the idea Of an examination by the
House in the Committee of the Whole.
Mr.. Malone said
I call attention to this substitute-the
first section creates n c0namiSSiOn-yes, O
cOmrlission-an office, this is in keeping
with the past conduct OF this Lpgislature,
that is to create Offices. Another section
gives them instructions to report by August,
1870. Will this meet the anxious demand
OF a distressed people, calling for investi-
CATION into the conduct OF our agents p
Those who In good faith ask for an invcsti-
cation wish 1t n01c--we want no delay-we
want to know before we close this session
Another section gives the committee q
clerk at So per day.
There are other objections to this sub
stitute, and l do not think that five men
can be found in this House to vote for the
creation OF II munihccnt oflce-with per-
petual eXlSt0ncG--eqUal at least to the Code
Commission. Mr. Speaker, we want no
more otlicc6-but we want more good faith
III the conduct Of those entrusted with the
destiny OF North Carolina.
After some further debate, Isham Sweat
(col.) arose and said that $1,50O,Oe had
been appropriated TO q road in his section
which he believed would never be built.
Ee was opposed to Harris substitute
and somewhat opposed TO Mr.. Ellis, be-
cause he thought that when matters per-
tanning to the States interest involving
millions Of dollars was being examined
that the entire representation should have
hand in it.
He had at first favored DIr. Ellis propo-
sition but now thought the idea OF Mr..
Pou better one.
He agreed with Mr.. Durham that fair
investigation could hot be had by COM
mittee appointed under the old mode
Mr.. Latin moved to postpone and make
the matter special for Tuesday next.
Mr. Welch said he had offered his reso-
luton in the best spirit and not Influenced
by any partisan motive and the cry of Par
ty! Parry!! was O. most tiimsy pretext to
defeat Investigation. Republicans were
making the matter a party measure, for
they would have O majority in both branch
es Of the proposed committee. They had
q majority in both branches of this Legis-
laturo and they we're responsible for these
appropriations.
The Governor was charged with COM
plicity with the 'Ring," he (Mr. Welch)
did not believe the charge yet it was open
ly charged, and therefore he (the Govern
or) could not with delic2cy appoint the
committee.
Mr. Welch then proceeded to give
sketch of the matters pertaining to the
construction Of the Western Division of
the Western II. G. II. T.. Notwithstanding
the millions appropriated money could NOT
be had to pay the laborers and that unless
money was forthcoming work must stop.
Mr.. Pou wished to know if the Presi-
dent of the road had not visited the road
during the summer months.
Mr.. Welch, I never heard Of him West
of Asheville.
Mr.. Pou, surely ho visited his Road at
some time?
MI. Welch, 7 never heard Ct him. Tho
newly elected President was at Asheville
when he was elected.
Mr.. Pou, what salary does he get?
Mr.. Welch, 81, 500.
Mr.. Welch then concluded his remarks
by saying that this matter was raising O
howl, somebody was getting scared and
hurt and that every man who wished to in
vestigate these frauds would support Mr..
Ellis proposition.
Mr.. Hodnett favored Mr. Ellis PROPOSE
ton and opposed the motion to postpone
in q speech of some length.
Mr.. Vest moved to adjourn. Lost.
The question REQUIRED upon Mr.. Lafin's
motion to postpone until Tuesday.
The yeas and nays being called the mo-
ton was rejected by vote of yeas l, nays
80.
Mr. Durham said that it had been ar
gued that If this substitute was rejected
and Mr.. Ellis proposition was adopted, it
would be an insult to the Governor, Su-
perintendent of Public Works and the pre-
siding officers of the two Houses. Why if
you allow the Governor to appoint, will it
not offend the Superintendent Of Public
Works. If you appoint the Superinten-
dent of Public Works, will it not offend
the Governor and so on with al of them.
Mr.. Sinclair favored the substitute and
opposed Mr.. Ellis measure.
After some further debate DIr. Pou
moved to lay the whole matter on the table
in order that he might have an opportuni-
ty of introducing resolution to make the
investigation, in committee OF the whole.
The motion was rejected by q vote of yeas
81, nays &C. Here innumerable points of
order were discussed, and host of mo-
tons to adjourn made and rejected.)
Mr.. Welch called the previous question.
The call was sustained and the question
required upon the substitute offered by
Harris, of Wake, (colored) the yeas iand
nays being called resulted yeas A, nays 81.
rhe question REQUIRED on the adoption
of Mr.. Ellis proposition. The yeas and
nays being called resulted in the following
vote
YEAs.-Nessrs. Argo, Armstrong, Banner
Barnes, Boddie, Gambler. Clayton, Davis, David
son. Durham, Ellis, Farrow, Ferebee, Gatling
Gibson, Gilbert, Grier Hawkins, Hicks, HiIliard
| High, Hodnett, Horney, Humphries, Jarvis,
| Kelly, OF, Davie, Malone, Ia:heson, Mcmillan
| Mendenhall, Moore, OF Alamance, Painter. Rob
! inson, Shaver, Smith, of Al;eghaney, Smith, OF
Wayne, Stanton, Thompson, Welch, Whitley
| Williams, of Harnett.-41.
| NAYs--Iessrs. AshWOrth, Blair, Carson, Ca
~, tawthorn, Cherry, Crawford, Dixon, Filing
| ton, Forlner, Foster, Gahagan, Graham, Gunter
| Harris, OF Wake, Hendricks, Hinnant, H0dgn
| Hndgings, Justice, OF Rutherford, Kelly, u
Moore, Kinney, Latin, Leary, Long, Of Chatham
Long, OF Richmond, Mayo, McCanless, IIoore, o
ChoWan, Merrill, Morris, Pearson, loch. Iou
Price, Proctor, Ragland, Res, RenfroW, KeyrO!ds
SiegrIst, Sinclair, Simonds, Snipcs, Stevens
Sweat, Sykes, Vestal, Vest, "Lkie, Williams.
Wilson.-55.
Mr.. Pou offered resolution, that the
| House, on and after Tuesday next at 2
O'Clock, will resolve itself into the Commit
tee of the whole, each day, to- examine
these alleged frands.
Pending the consideration OF the reso-
luton the House adjourned.