The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-01-18

wilson Testihes rs to Free Pass Matters
Reduced Rates Given Him by the South
ern Railroad.
Especial to The Messenger.)
Raleigh, n. c., January 13.-When
Ohio Wilson was asked by the railroad
commissioners today whether he had
this year used a pass he aid he would
answer the question, but under protest,
as there was litigation and he denied
right of Caldwell and Pearson to
seats, and then said No" He added
that as a publisher he had
transportation in exchange for adver-
tising and had used some of this on the
Southern. The only transportation ne
has under this arrangement from the
Seaboard Air Line is to be sent him
under contract. He said he never
had a telegraph frank. AS to the ship
ment of furniture to Round Knob, he
said it was for one rate fer the round
trip; that his is done for summer
tourists and that the goods had been
shipped back to Raleigh.
When Wilson was asked if he had a
Pullman pass, he said only since April
ana IHen aO06Q: QecllneQ any
passes except on the Atlantic and
North Carolina railroad until April,
when the additional duties of the board
of equalization were given with $500
appropriation to pay the expenses Of
the board, with a 81, 900 clerk and only
81, 1000 allowed fer expenses. In a on
sultation with Governor Russell l
asked him how we should meet ex-
penses. He advised me to use passes,
saying he used one for himself and all
his family and guests at the Executive
mansion. 1 never used a pass save at
the earnest request of the governor in
order to save expenses. My total ex-
penses charged to the state have been
1906. The governor said he got passes
and got express deadheaded and at his
request / took passes against my
Judgment, to save money"
After this ak with the governor, Will
son said, w. H. Day was asked by
him for a pass, but gave him a 1000
mile book ON the Seaboard Air Line,
saying if he were in Wilson's place he
would not use a pass; that he used this
book until st. John, as requested, sent
an annual. All these passes, Wilson
said, were offered him voluntarily;
that he preferred to use a pass and not
a book.
Governor Russell was put or the
stand this afternoon and swore as fol-
lows: Il want to state to the commits
sion that 1 understand Ohio Wilson has
stated that he consulted be as to TAX
ing passes from railways for himself
and other commissioners and that the
governor advised him to take the
passes. This statement is true; he
stated to me that the railways had been
in the habit of giving passes to COM
sioners and We're willing to do so in
future, and that by their taking passes
the state would save about $4,000, /
told him If the railways were willing to
bear his expense and ave the state
this money it would be Wen for the
commissioners to take the passes and
save the money to the treasury; that is
ALL"
The governor returned later to the
commissions office and said; Since
my first statement was sworn to 1 have
read the evidence of ex-Commissioner
Wilson and 1 see he says he would not
have taken the passes except at my
earnest request. 1 made no earnest re-
quest, but simply told him I thought it
would be as we'll to save the states
money. Again he says 1 said l was
getting passes for guests at the COVER
nor's mansion. This is false, he did
hear me say 1 could get passes any
time for guests and for pretty much
anything else I wanted, and that if l
would take all the railways offered it
would probably be worth 81, 900 yearly
TO me. 1 will d that when 1 advised
him to take passes and took them my
self it was not understood nor indeed
contended by any body SO far as 1
know that our railway law prohibited
free passes.
Ohio Wilson also went again to the
commissions office and made the fol-
lowing statement: The conversation
referred to between Governor Russell
and myself about the use of free passes,
as given today, is in substance correct.
Governor Russell, stated to me he used
passes for himself and family. 1
jocularly remarked that his fam
lily was only himself and wife,
and he said oh, hell! that means
Mrs. Russelrs guests at the mansion
No member of the past two sessions of
the general assembly considered that
the railway commission act prevented
use of passes. Both sessions of the last
two general assemblies tried to pass
anti-free pass bills"
Hart's Emulsion OF Cod Liver Oil
with Creosote and the Hypophosphites,
If faithfully used, is a specific in the
treatment of weak lungs, Consunp-
ition. Erondhlftfs. etc. Leading phySi-