The news & observer., 1898-01-13
The Commissioner Will Now
Investigate That,
NOTICE TO THE COMPANY
WILL BE CALLED ON TO PRO
DUCE IT'S BOOKS.
CONTEMPT CASE WONT CONE UP TO-DAY
Commissioner Pearson Says lie did Ride on
a Pass While Fie Was Soliciting
Agent for Carolina Central
Railroad

Railroad
Now it's the turn of Governor Russell
and the Southern Express Company.
The Governor has been getting his ex-
press free. This was charged by the
News and Observer during the month
of December, and the dates and figures
were given, too.
This paper charged that during the
ceived no less than half dozen ex-
press packages shipped by the Southern
Express Company, each and every pack
age marked dead head"
On November 2nd, he received a
package from Wilmington, weighing
about nine pounds, duly marked I'D. H."
On November 9th two packages came
one weighing one hundred pounds and
the other twenty-five pounds. On No
vember 9th, still others We're received
from Wilmington marked ID, H." and
on the 18th another twenty-five pound
dead head package came from Will
mington.
On numerous other dates, no doubt,
many other packages came free from
Wilmington, the Brunswick rice farms
and other points-all shipped to His Ex-
cellency or other members of his family
and not penny of charges on any one
of them.
The Governor was called on to rise
and explain, but he didn't do it. Now
the explanation must come, if not from
His Excellency, then from the Express
Company
Eve propose to treat everybody alike"
said Chairman Caldwell, of the Rail-
road Commission yesterday.
I'm not here to do anybody's bidding
or show any partiality," said Commits
sioner Pearson.
In accordance with this motto the
Commission has served notice on the
Southern Express Company to explain
why it has been sending Governor Rus
sells express free of charge.
AS Superintendent Croswell lives in
Wilmington, he will probably not be
able to reach here today, and the hear
ing viii be at a future meeting Of the
Commission. Mr.. Croswell, like the
railroad officials, will also be required to
produce his books to show who has
been getting these favors of free ex-
press.
Whether he, like the railroad men, viii
refuse to testify and produce his books
remains to be seen. If he does he
too, viii be held in contempt and indict-
ed for not testifying.
And just here it may be stated that
the Commission will not today hear the
contempt cases of Col. Andrews and
his three agents, as it stated last Satur-
day would be done. Why it viii not be
heard could not be learned.
1t is understood, however, that the in
dictment now pending in the Superior
court against these witnesses has
caused the postponement.
why have you not served the rule
on the witnesses who refused to testify
to show cause tomorrow why they
should not be held in contempt?' II
asked Chairman Caldwell.
Il can only say we decided to post
pcne it indefinitely" he replied-'and
for reasons can't yet disclose. Another
day will be set for the hearing"
''Haye you served similar notices to
those last Friday served on the South
ern railroad, TO make a showing in re-
gard to the issuance of passes? ?'
I'VE have ordered the same notice
served on all the railroads in the State
not one Of them will be permitted to es-
cape. The reason we served the notice
on Andrews first, was that / was on the
train coming down here and saw a new
annual pass in the hands of a passen-I
ger. This, together with the fact that
he had not acknowledged the receipt Of
our order in regard to passes and indica-
ted his intention to comply herewith,
as some Of the other roads had done,
made us think that he had thrown down
the gauntlet and proposed to ignore us.
Then, besides, in our attempts to break
up the pass nuisance we had to start
with somebody.
''As to the inquiry touching the low
rate on Ohio Wilson'S property, we en-
tered upon it first, because it had been
so often published in the News and OBJ
server and never denied. 1t had BECOME
so notorious that we could do nothing
else but inquire into it,"
Turning to Commissioner Pearson II
asked him if he had heard about the
Seaboard Air Line being presented for
giving him a free pass.
He said he had.
''It is true-that you rode ON a pass
while member of the Legislature?"
1T is not" he replied.
II have never ridden on an annual
b'"0 n9s " SoHCIuuS dSeut IoI
the Carolina Central Railroad. A paid
my fare to Raleigh as a member of the
Legislature and also when l went ta my
home during the session. After th> ad-
journment of the Legislature and before
] was appointed a Railroad Commission
er and before the suggestion of suspend
ing the incumbents was made, / went
from Raleigh to Lincolnton on trip pass
from the Seaboard Airline Company"
THE CAPITOL SQUARE FENCE.
A meeting of the Board of Public
Grounds and Buildings is called for to-
day at II o'clock, IN the Governors
i. ee...o l. nm, rIntn- 4hn nnnntin tsnrrss L.