The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-08-20
AT THE PENITENTIARY
DIRECTORS HAVE DECIDED TO
CALL A HALT.
ONLY ROUTINE BUSINESS YESTERDAY
Chairman Dockery Says He and His Crowd
Are After the SpoiIs-- Denies .Rumors
About the Impeachment Of
Capt. Smith.

III HAS lOnS btth a SubJSSL VI SOAhAAAANAAN
that there is a little world of people
living at the penitentiary- employees ard
their families, with good contingent of
cousins. uncles and aunts-and boarding
at the States expense. So notorious has
this become that even the Board of Dl-
rectors has become ashamed of 1t and
they yesterday made an order requiring
officers of the penitentiary to pay for
the board of their families.
This, it is believed, will have tend
ency to depopuate Capt. Smiths little
domain, as it would require more than
some of the officers get in the way of sal
airy if they were required to pay board
for all the people they now have at the
penitentiary, eating at the States ex-
pense.
With the exception of this order the
Board of Directors had an uninteresting
meeting yesterday so far as results
went, all the devilment having been done
the night before. And yet there was
plenty of squabbling and contention
yesterday, but it amounted to nothing in
the end.
LIE reports anu 1TUUn
supervisors of the different farms were
read, also a statement from a committee
of the directors, who since the last meet
ing have visited these farms. These re-
ports were discussed and such of the
recommendations as met the approval of
the Board were adopted.
Among them was an order to .ovide a
better supply of water for the Arson
70 Inv ri Uinov In wall
half mile away in pipes.
A cotton gin is also to be built on this
farm.
The wood which has been cut from it
{some 10000 cords is to be sold. Some of
it will be brought here and put on the
market this fall
1t was decided not to create the office
of attorney to the Board as proposed by
Director Chadbourn; but Mr.. J. C. l..
Harris was paid $3.50 for legal services
already rendered
The Board then adjourned to meet
again the third Wednesday in October
Chairman Claudius Dockery was seen
yesterday after the meeting and asked
how he was pleased with the action of
the Board in removing all the Democrats
from the penitentiary farms.
nothing but right. / favored it and ia
vored it most heartily. The Republi-
cans and Populists are responsible for
the management of affairs in the peni-
Tertiary and should be allowed to control
it. / ann thorough believer in the old
adage: TO the victors belong the spoils'
And am glad that so far as the peniten-
tiary of North Carolina is concerned no
civil service decision can shield an Off
Ger. But | want to say and say publicly
that against the Democratic supervisors
who have been displaced no charges were
brought. McIyer, Rhem and Bradshaw
are honorable men. They have done well
for the State They deserve commenda-
ton for their faithful services. but they
are Democrats and there are lots of Re
pubhcans and Populists who can do just
as well as they. And | think we have
found them. McCasky, Summerill, Dix
on, Hughes, Wood and Reinhart are
honorable men, competent men, too, and
withal are of the right kind of faith.
That is the difference-and that is G.
neugh. The States interest will not
suffer in the hands of the new super
yisors.'
What was there in the report that
Superintendent Smith was fighting these
new menY'
Nothing. The Superintendent and
the Board thoroughly understand one
another and are working in accord. The
only difference even between these was
as to the time the new supervisors were
to assume control Superintendent Smith
thought the old men should be allowed
to remain until the end of the year. The
Board thought they should walk the
line at once and so they will. Super
intendent Smith has acquiesced in the
decision of the Board and is heartily CO.
operating with it. We are all agreed
upon the two main questions involved:
First, the interests of the people must
be looked after. Second, the Democrats
must go. This is last but not least
'Was there any talk about removing
Superintendent Smith on yesterdayw
'None whatever that | heard. In the
first place the Board has no authority to
remove him. In the second place it has
no cause to remove him. He is making
a faithful and efficient officer and will
be commended when the time comes for
him to render an account of his steward
ship.
Eyes, as you say, the pie brigade have
won. 1t is our deal now and we must
have the cards. The poor devils who
for years have led a forlorn hope at the
ballot box in behalf of those principles
which to them have been very dear
have at last witnessed the triumph of
those principles, and they must have a
fair chance to demonstrate the correct
ness of their position. They certainly
can not do it through a Democratic ad-
ministration."