The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-03-06

Have the Lieutenant Governor and
Speaker Indicted-The Populists' Stand
Against the Asylums Grab Bills-Third
Railway Lease Investigation.
Messenger Bureau, Park Hotel,
Raleigh, N. c., March 4.
The majority populists and the bolt
ers have begun a strong struggle in
which there is but one chance for the
bolters-to join the republican party.
h result is expected by the majority
who now regard the minority as mere
republican puppets. =
The boilers promised the republicans
to stand by them in voting for Senator
Grants odious election law, but Gov
ernor Russell stopped it's passage, and
now the chairman Of the boilers sees
the governor is right.
Majority populists served notice on
the governor hat while there was
some doubt of their party again fusing
with the republicans there would be
none at all if his election bill passes.
for that then the populists would new
er again affiliate with the republicans.
The latter know hat without the pop-
ulists they cannot carry North Caro-
lima. They wanted to cut the latter out
of any representation as a party.
1t is an assured fact, with the dem
ocrats and republicans both against
the measure, thai there will be no code
commission. Both caucuses take that
stand. The populist majority caucus
endorsed it. Schulken was put on it by
the republicans who drew it, in order
to catch the populists.
Last night A. L. Swinson, e~x-enroll-
ing clerk of the legislature, told me
that today he expected to have war
rants served on the president of the
senate and the speaker of the house
for breaking into his office; the prose-
cution to be criminal.
The firm action taken by the populist
majority against any bill to grab the
three insane asylums is commended.
There are some republicans who admit
it is bad politics to seize these charita-
bic institutions. Governor Russell is
said not to favor the measure. The pop
ulists say that the directors should be
allowed to complete their terms. Of
course the pOpulist boilers want DOS
session taken of all offices at once.
The third investigation Of the mat
ter of the lease of the North Carolina
railway is now in progress. 1t is very
tame indeed. A great many people ex-
press themselves as very tired Of this
continued attempt to drag his matter
into politics That this is the effort and
plan admits Of n 10 doubt. It is the house
committee which is holding the investi-
cation this time-that committee which
it was charged by republicans on the
hoor of the house was p~rejudiced and
would make a report against the lease,
no matter what happened.
Ed Chambers Smith, a director and
s~tockholder, was examined yesterday.
He did not become a director until af-
ter the lease was made. Vice President
Andrews, of the Southern, Chairman
Wilson of the railway commission,
General r. F. Hoke. one OF the direc-
tors of the North Carolina railway.
and Ex-Governor Carr were other wit
nesses summoned. President Hoffman,
of the Seaboard Air Line, was not
summoned at all. 1t is strange after
all the talk about him in connection
with the lease, hat he has not beer
present at any of the Investigations.
DR.. Matthew Whitaker, of Littleton,
a brother of ex-Judge Spier Whitaker,
died yesterday.
The senate committee reported
against the house bill to allow the peo-
pie of Buncombe to vote on the ques-
ton Of q dispensary at Asheville.