The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-04-30
CREATING USELESS OFFICES
THE GOVERNOR HAS ONLY TWO
BROTHERS IN SOFT BERTHS.
SELLS COTTON FOR TOO LITTLE
Horses SCusht al Sky Do'lars Heao
When Ten O,l:ars is All That They
Are Worth People Getting
Dose Of Radicalism.

Weldon, y. c., April 29.-(SpeciaQ-
The new superintendent of the penIten-
tiary, Mr.. John r. Smith, who has been
preaching economy to the new Board OF
Directors, is not practicing what he
breaches. but from the following facts 1t
appears that he is carrying things at
high handed rate at the farms on Roam
oke river.
DIR. George II. West, a most excellent
gentleman. and physician Of long stand
ing, has been summarily turned out after
having been assured by Superintendent
Smith, that he Smith would give him
at least thirty days notice. Now, Mr..
Smith puts DR.. Furgerson in charge of
the Northampton farm at $500 per
month and DR.. Persons in charge of the
Halifax farm. at about the same salary;
thus putting two doctors where the for
mer board only had one, and costing the
State about 5000 extra. This, too, l
understand 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
ND by the State, as the State is compell-
ed 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, such as the
place given J. r. Underwood, at cost
to the State of another 5000 to do moth
ing. There is really nothing for Under
+! wood to do. He is said to act as under
| superintendent, and does nothing but
ride about in a buggy furnished by the
| State Although the report of the COM
mittee showed that more horses were
needed, this Underwood has taken one OF
| the best work horses and uses 1T to ride
| from place to place, just as his pleasure
/, may dictate, and / learn that his inter
! ference with the hands has caused con,
| siderable trouble. He, too, the Board
objects to, but Smith continues to EN-
ploy.
When the new superintendent took
! charge the State had large amount OF
cotton on hand. This, l learn, the
| present superintendent sold for less thar
6 cents, when there was no necessity fol-
| immediate sale. He bought corn at 81 q
| per bushel to sow for fodder corn. Ht
| purchased a lot of old, broken dOwr
horses at $50 per head, when the same
horses would not bring $40 at auction.
AT the extravagant rate he is going or
| there is no telling what the end will be
| Mr. Smith claims that the present boart
can only fail to approve his appointments
and that in the event that they do he
will re-appoint.
1 am informed that he vigorously OBJ
jected to having the finance committee
pass upon his accounts before they were
paid.
As the matter now stands there is nt
need of board of directors or finance
committee, as he does not seem to desire
| either their advice or assistance, putin:
them at defiance.
He is also a believer in nepotism, fol
he appoints his own and the Governor
! relatives to positions wherever it is pos
| sible to do so. The Governor has ont
brother as stewart at the Caledonia farm
and another as first warden in the peni
Tertiary building. This is reform will
a vengeance.