The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-02-18
THE BALL OPENED UP NICELY
Pearson and Abbott Leading ut ;
Furious Pace.


Furious Pace.
As was predicted in the News and OBJ
server, the ball opened at Il furious pace.
The opening number on the pro-
gramme was selection from the Pear
son-AbbOtt subpoena controversy.
1t. will be remembered that immediate
ly after the last meeting some three
weeks ago, DR.. Abbott ordered Mr..
Brown, the clerk, to issue subpoenas
summoning certain hotel men TO APP
pear before the Commission and give
testimony in regard to special freight
rates for hotel men on the aSeabOard
Air Line system and the Atlantic
Coast Line. This order, Mr.. Pearson,
while here i'll DIR. Abbott's absence,
conntermanded. 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 in a card and DR.. Abbott retorted
in another interview.
Wednesday Mr.. Pearson reached
here and later in the day both he and
DIR. Abbott said the dispute was IA
closed incident" But it was not, as yes
terday's events proved.
When the Commission met at 10
o'clock, the hotel men summoned by
DR.. Abbott were present. This Mr..
Pearson seemed to consider declara-
ton of war on the Doctors part, and
he introduced the following resolution:
THAT the following witnesses, Char
les ST John, W. FL. Day, ]. VI. jamie
son, S. l.. Dill, c. S. Allen, VIM. Mon
cure, III. S. Leard, J. Il. Mas>enburgn,
j. L. 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:
MIR. Chairman: / desire TO say a
few words upon that resolution. 1t il
needless for me to say that | am 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 "a 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
a 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 ard
railroad eating u-ouses. The inyestiga-
ton was commenced along the line of
the Southern Railway. | understood and
supposed that it would be continued
upon all the lines. The matter was talked
over by the Commission and 1T was decl-
ded that 1T was proper and just and
necessary TO continue it on these other
lines. / introduced Il resolution at Oul
last meeting looking to that end, which
was unanimously adopted. There were
some witnesses mentioned in that res0lu.
ton. After the meeting adjourned, II
occurred TO me that IL these witnesses
were confined to railroad officials that we
were liable to be left just as much in
the dark as we were in the investigation
commenced upon the outhern Railway
that the railroad officials of the other
roads had the same right and would
probably take advantage of it, in de-
Ginning to answer questions along that
line, and if we desired information the
proper way TO be certain TO get it was
TO summons some hOtel-keepers along
the line.
II consulted with our clerk Mr.
Brown, and he said he thought that hC
could get them and said he would.
left here with the understanding thai
me would obtain these names, fill out the
papers and send to me to sign. / under
stood it had been the custom for an!
one of the Railroad Commissioners II
issue subpoenas to bring certain wit
ncsses here and | went away feeling
that / was right and that it was my
duty TO do it. came back on Saturday
Mr.. Brown came to the hotel and | asked
il they had been sent out; he stated tina
they had not, that they were held M
by request OF Mr.. Pearson. ] investiga
ted the matter and had those subpoena