The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-08-03
THE CAT HAS NOT GOT HIS TONGUE.

4
information. Soon after it's receipt John
II. Smith, the Commissioner, went to the
mountains ostensibly to hold Farmers
Institutes, but really for the purpose of
having the State to pay the expenses
of his junketting tour and to have an
, excuse for not answering the perfectly
proper questions propounded to him. Mr..
Ramsey has no such excuse. In these
dull days he has plenty of time to an
swer all the inquiries, tell how many
new officials have been employed, who
has been chosen to succeed Jim Young.
how many new fertilizer inspectors have
been put to work in this season of the
year when no inspectors are needed.
Until yesterday we feared that the
cat had the tongue of Mr. Ramsey, and
likewise his pen. In the manly letter of
resignation written by Mr.. J. w. Bailey,
as Commissioner of the Department of
Agriculture he plainly gave his reason
for rendering his rcsignation-a reason
which shows the low depth to which the
Department has been brought by the
gang that put Mr. Ramsey in office and
thereby hired an editor to defend their
disgraceful actions. After giving his
reasons, Mr.. Bailey said:
81 have been informed, and | give YOU
the information for what it may be
worth since | will no longer be in po-
stion to watch, that while the salary
of Mr. Smith as superintendent of the
States prison was $1,000. whereas it is
now rs Commissioner only 800, there
exists an understanding that he shall
Illegally and immorally get $500 per
annum from the Board of Agriculture;
that Mr. Smith would not agree upon
the exchange until this understanding
was reached. The padding of some
items of the budget at the June meet
ing of the Board to which | called the
attention of the Board at the time
may throw some light upon the matter
Gas. water and telephones cost 500 the
last six months: for the next six months
5000 is appropriated. Printing and paper
cost S3,611: $1,000 is appropriated
There is special appropriation of S10,-
600; of this amount $1,000 is for the
experiment station work and $500 for
the museum. the balance of 81, 700 is
for labor, fuel. repairs and such special
appropriations as may be ordered. You
see it will be very easy to carry out this
undertaking if it exists"
This was information that Mr.. Ram
sey will do well to look into carefully.
1t had nothing to do with Mr.. BaileE's
resignation. We learn that after send-
ing his letter to the Governor, Mr.
Bailey was assured that if there was
any understanding by which John r.
Smith is to get $500 the Governor did
not know it. Upon such assurance, Mr..
Bailey struck the above out OF the letter
of resignation as published in the News
and Observer. A copy furnished the|
Wilmington Messenger, prior to rcceiF
ing such assurance, contained the above
information. Mr.. Bailey did not vouch
for it. He merely stated that he had
been informed that the salary was to be
81. 800. and gave items showing that it
was possible.
Mr.. Ramsey can write fluently enough
about this matter, but he is merely the
clerk to the board. Let him produce
an affidavit from John II. Smith stating
that there was no understanding that
he was to receive 5000, ana that
neither directly nor indirectly has
he received cent of publlc|
money over and above his salary OF
ST 800. When that is done. Mr.. Ramsey
will satisfy many who, while not ques-
tioning his statements, would Ike TO
take a look at the books and see wheth-
or John r. is satisfied with the s 800.
Now that Mr.. Ramsey has his tongue
and pen at command, let him answer
these questions:
/. Did you endorse the election of John
r. Smith?
2. Do you believe the Governor told
the truth or lie when he said John X.
was unfit and totally irresponsible?
g. Do you think it was decent to put
negro politician. with no pretense Of
knowledge of farming or fertilizers, over
white men as chief fertilizer inspector?
4. Do you approve the employment of
as many inspectors as John Il. and Loge
desire to appoint at Il season when no
fertilizer is being bought?
When Mr. Ramsey has answered these
questions and furnished to Mr.. Simmons
the information to which the public is
entitled, we will ask him some more
questions.
In the meantime he cannot break the
force of Mr. Baley's terrible Indictment
aga inst the gang in charge of the Agri-
cultural Department by trying to scare
up Il rabbit and run off in the bushes.
Mr.. Baiey's letter, the Governors con-
demnation. and the action of the Board
show disgraceful condition of affairs
such as prove the moral turpitude of the
gang now in control of public affairs in