The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-05-04
INFRINGEMENT AND REFORM
Superintendent Smith, Of the Peniten.
tIary, Inaugurates the Republican Idea
Thereof, at a Grievous Cost to the Tax
Payers of the State.

Correspondence Of The Messenger.)
Weldon, N. c., April 29.
The new superintendent of the peni-
tertiary, Mr.. o r. Smith, who has
been preaching economy to the new
board OF directors, is not practicing
what he breaches, but from the follow
ing facts it appears that he is carry
ing things at a high handed rate on
the farms on Roanoke river.
DR.. George H. West, a most excellent
gentleman, and a physician of long
standing, has been summarily turned
out, after having been assured by Su-
perintendent Smith, that he (Slnith)
would give him at least thirty days
notice. Now, Mr.. Smith puts DR.. Fer
gusOn in charge of the Northampton
farm at $500 per month and DR.. Per-
sons in charge of the Halifax farm, at
about the same salary; thus putting
two doctors where the former board
only had one. and costing the state
about 5000 extra. This, too, 1 under
stand in the face of objections from
the present board.
Mr.. Smith did not want to keep up
the public ferry at Halifax because of
the cost Of $3.50 to the state, although
the legislature passed an act making
it a free ferry and requiring it to be
kept up by the state, as the state is
compelled to use the ferry in getting
to and from the farms.
Smith is paid we'll for his services.
and still he makes new places, UGH as
the place given j. r. Underwood, at a
cost to the state of another 5000 to
do nothing. There is really nothing
for Underwood to do. He is said to
act as under superintendent, and does
nothing but ride about in a buggy fur
nished by the state. Although the re-
mort Of tho Hnm1Oittpa showed that
more horses were needed, this Under
Woo has taken one of the best work
horses and uses it to ride from place
cost to the state of another 5000. to
tate, and I learn that his Interference
with the hands has caused cOnsidera-
BILE trouble. He, too, the board objects
to, but Smith continues to employ him.
When the new superintendent took
charge the state had a large amount of
cotton on hand. This, I learn, the pres
ent superintendent sold for less than
6 cents, when there was no necessity
for immediate sale. He purchased a
lot of old, broken down horses at $50
per head, when the same horses would
not bring so at auction.
At the e~xtravagant rate he is going
on there is no telling what the end will
be. Mr.. Smith claims that the present
board can only fail to approve his ap-
p~ointments and that in the event that
they do he will reappoint.
/ am informed that he vigorously
objected to having the finance commit
tee pass upon his accounts before they
were paid.
AS the matter now stands there is
no need of a board of directors or
finance committee, as he does not seem
to desire either their advice or assist
ance, putting them at defiance.
He also appears to be a believer in
nepotism, for he appoints his w and
the governors relatives to positions
whenever it is possible to do so. The
governor has a brother as steward at
the Caledonia farm and another as
first warden in the penitentiary build
ing. This is reform with a Ven
geance.