The news & observer., 1897-02-23

THE 99-YEAR LEASE|

North Carolina railway to the Southern
i'm accordance with q memorial by the
Directors asking the same, came togeth-
or at 4:1O yesterday afternoon in the
state Library. There were present:
Senators Grant (chairman), Alexander,
Butler. Whedbee, Abell Mccarthy.
There were quite a number of gentle
men present including Vice-PresIdent
Andrews and the directors, Judge Avery,
Cant. w. II. Day, Col. Henderson, Mr..
Fab. III. Busbee.
Senator Grant announced the object
of the meeting, saying that parties had
been summoned, including Mr.. HOFFMAN,
who replied that he could not he present
Monday. and had summoned also Edltof
Josephus Daniels Git was here mace
JSnown to Senator Grant that Mr.. Daniels
would be back this morning, having Deen
Sunday night called away on urgent
business by telegraml
Judge Avery asked what was the OBJ
iect of the meeting. Senator Grant said
II was in obedience to the memorial OF the
Directors asking for investigation OF
charges of fraud. Judge Avery asked
who was the other side Mr.. Fab Busbee
came to the rescue saying that 1t was the
DaTIX WHO u1tLuC illG S1A"AsSN'
Grant thought the particulars of the
memorial were we'll known, but he read
same in full including Hoffman's offer,
the Governors message and the memor-
ial of the directors.
Senator Grant was willing for each
side to be represented. Capt. Day want
cd TO know who were the two sides. SEN
ator Grant said the Seaboard Airline
and the Southern Railway. Capt. Day
v,rncaaded to crossexanline Senator Grant
Seemingly to his discomforture, and SEN
ator Grant said that the Ron-action
on this investigation before Friday would
preclude any action on the bill that day.
CANT Day insisted that the bill and this
Investigation were two distinct PROPOSE
tions. but Senator Grant said the COM
mittee intended to report ON this matter
before the bill was taken up: Capt Day
still failed to see the interdependence OF
4ha two propositions, and said If the
committee elected to make Mr.. Hoffman
a party to this, he suggested that the
committee would wait until Mr.. Holman
arrived. Capt Day could not conduct
the cross-exa mination until he had seen
Mr.. Hoffman. and Mr. Hoffman had said
Iaa could not be here until after Wednes-
day.
Mr. Manning said that Mr.. Hoffman
having made a charge should be here to
meet It. Capt Day wanted to know
what the charge was Mr. Manning SAID
# was the charge that he had not been
able to bid. son equal terms, said Capt.
Day.
The Hoffman telegram was gone over,
when Senator Grant tapping the desk
renlied rather testify that this commit
4ee had determined to finish this matter
befora Friday. IF the committee can
Stand II God knows / can, answered Capt.
Dav. 1.-The committee can stand It, an
swered Grant. .'Whether you can get the
merits of this question or not you are
datarmined to finish it before Friday.
ssYes," replied Grant.
Judge Avery did not think this was the
nlace for investigation; he Thought the
,oourts the place, and il this investigation
was to have a hearing upon the merits
Of fine bill. 1T should be conducted ac-
cording to the rules of court-inyestlga-
ton.
Cant. Day wanted to know if it was
Hoffman or the Governor whose COM
munication was offensive, and If 1T was
the Governor, why was he not represent
ed. If we had to have it investigated
fullv. then don't say you will close it by
Friday. let it be investigated IN the
broad light of heaven, wait for Mr.. Hoff-
man who can hear the other
side. The interchange continued
spirited between Day and Grant,
CRAM insisting that the investigation
ehould be finished before Friday.
HWhether you get through with it or
not" added Day. yes we will close 1t up
before Friday" said Grant.
A short lull--when Capt. Day said that
of All the men who would not want haste
in this matter were the directors-and
ne would get Mr.. Hoffman here as soon
as possible. Capt Day said that 1T was
the lease bill that was ordered TO be re-
ported Friday and not the investigation.
Mr.. Butler said he introduced the
memorial. and it was fully explained-as
am investigation of the charges made III
the memorial. He asked If this lnvesuga-
tion had anything to do with the bill ana
he was answered in the Senate thaG IL
did not. He failed to see any connec-
ton between this investigation and the
bill. The directors were high-toned nom
orable gentlemen, and le would IKE 10
know if they wanted to hear one size,
without hearing the other.
Senator Grant said that this meeting
was pursuant to a previous one.
Mr.. Manning said one of the Directors
had come from Bridgeport and the other
had had court adjourned in order thaf
he Col Oyerman) could be here.
Capt. Day said he asked until to-day,
and he would then go on whether Mr..
Hoffman was here or not. Col. Over
man said he was here only until Friday
by leave Of the Judge who adjourned
court, Capt. Day said, Col. Overman
could be examined and let off"
At any rate, Col. 0yerman was called
and sworn.
Col Overman said: "In June, 1895, he
was president of the North Carolina rail-
road company and had received letter
from Col Andrews enclosing another
from President Spencer containing prop
osition, saying that the lease of the North
Carolina Railroad expired in 1901, and
they wanted to get this matter on