The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1898-02-22
THE BALL OPENED Up NICELY
Pearson and Abbott Leading at a
Furious Pace.

1'GtrSOn ana AGDOtC L9aullg AT 4
Furious Pace.
As was predicted in the News and Oh
server, the ball opened at Il furious pace.
The opening number en- the pro-
gramme was q selection from the Pear
son--Abb0tt subpoena controversy.
1t will be remembered that Immediate
~ after the last meeting some three
weeks ago. Dr. Abbott ordered Mr..
Brown. the clerk. to issue ~SubpoeGas
summoning certain hotel lei to ap-
pear before the Commission and give
testimony in regard to special freight
rates for hotel men on the Seaboard
Air Line system and the Atlantic
Coast Line. This order, Mr.. Pearson.
while here III DIR. Abbott's absence.
co~untermanded. The Doctor returned.
found out what Mr.. Pearson had done,
had the subpoenas issued and said some
pretty sharp things, touching the inter
ference with his plans. Mr.. Pearson re-
piled i'll a card and DR.. Abbott retorted
in another interview.
Wednesday Mr.. Pearson reached
here and later in the day Goth he and
Or. Abbott said the dispute was "a
closed inciGent.' But it was not, as yes
tcrday's events proved.
When the Commission met at 10
o'clock, the hotel men summoned by
Dr.. Abbott were present. This Mir.
Pearson seemed to consider a declara-
ton OF war on the Doctors part, and
he introduced the following resolution:
That the following witnesses, Char
les st. John, w. II. Day, j. NJ. Jamie
son, 5. L. Dill, c. S. Allen, VIM. Mon
cure, Il. :. Leard, j. Z. M~asSenburgn,
i. Il. Patrick, are hereby discharged
from attendance upon this Commission,
as there is nothing under investigation
to require their attendance"
Commissioner Abbott then addressed
the Commission, as follows:
Mr.. Chairman: | desire to say Il
few words upon chat resolution. 1t is
needless for me to say that | an very
much surprised to hear it. We have
entered upon an investigation here for
two purposes: One is to OBTAIN infor-
NATION to enable Us to decide whether
we can make u reduction in passenger
rates. Another one is to ascertain
whether the Railroad Commission Act
and the regulations issued by the Rail
road Commission have been violated.
The Investigation was commenced along
Il certain line and one OF those lines
was as to whether special rates, in VIC
lation of the Railroad Commission Act
had been issued to hOtel-keepcrs and
railroad eating -uj>eS. The investiga
ton was commenced along the line OF
the Southern Railway. | understood am
supposed that it would be CONTINUES,
upon ali the lines. The matter was talked
over by the Commission and it was deci
ded that it was proper and just anC
necessary to continue it on these Other
lines. L introduced Il resolution at on
last meeting looking to that end. which
was unanimously adopted. There were
some witnesses mentioned in that resolu
ton. After the meeting adjourned. i
occurred to me that il these witnesse:
were confined to railroad officials that W,
were liable to be left just as much il
the dark rs we were in the Investigation
commenced upon the outhern Railway
that the railroad officials of the othe
roads had the same right and woul,
probably take advantage of it, in de
Ginning to answer questions along tina
line, and If we desired information tn
proper way to be certain to get it wa
to Some ho~tel-keepers alon
the line.
Il consulted with our clerk, NJ,
Brown, and he said he thought that n
could get them and said he would.
left here with the understanding the
he would obtain these names, fill out tt
papers and send to me to sign. | undp
stood it had been the custom for ar
one Of the Railroad Commissioners
issue subpOenas to bring certain Wi
nesses here, and | went away feelil
that | was right and that it was n
duty to do it. / came back on Saturda
Mr.. Brown came TO the hotel and | ask
if they had been sent out: he stated tn