The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-03-18
Messenger Bureau,
Raleigh, y. c., March IA.

Raleigh, y. c.. March IA.
Railway Commissioners Caldwell and
Pearson arrived yesterday. The former
spent some time with the governor. He
called a meeting of the commission at
noon today. 1t was stated that this
would be entirely for routine business.
Tomorrow the commission will hear the
exceptions Of the three great systems of
railways to the reduced rates of passen-
ger fares. Your correspondent interview
ed Commissioner Pearson about this
matter. He said: 1T all depends upon
the showing the railways make tomor-
row. No outside influences will have any
influence with me. 1 do not know what
sort Of a showing the roads will be able
to make
Tomorrow is also the time set for
hearing the matter Of reducing express
rates on fish. The express officials noti-
fled the commission they could not be
present, but the fish dealers will be on
hand. The express people will be given
Il hearing later.
1t is learned that the new executive
clerk to Governor Russell is named
FoWle. He is a kinsman of the late Gov
ernOr FOWle, and also of Mrs. Fitzhugh
Lee. He is quite a young mar and was
here about d month ago.
a leading republican was my inform
ant that j. G.. L.. Harris made some sug-
g~eStiOnS regarding the call for a confer
ence of pOpuIiStS here day after tOmOr-
row. Auditor Aver is very angry at this
statement and wants to find out who the
Informant is. He declares the latter to
be "a contemplate liar" Aver says he
wrote the address, carried it around and
obtained the signatures at the request of
a conference which was held in his office
two weeks ago. He said further: No
body hut myself and those u-hp cippcT II
ever saw it until it was issued" What
makes him angry is the statement that
republicans are looking after populist
politics.
DR.. j. J. Mott, the well known repub-
lican-pOpulist-free silver politician, who
is one of the sharpest in the state, came
in yesterday and went Immediately to the
governor $ mansion, where he and some
others, whose names he declined to give,
had a conference with Governor Rus
sell. DR.. Mott declined to be interviewed,
but said the mass of the populists are
with Senator Butler; in fact over seven
tenths of them. The negro question he
regards as important, and believes that
what he terms the ''old aristocratic eIe-
ment' could if it would manage the ne
gro voter better than any other. He is a
devoted friend of Governor Russell and
resents bitterly republican criticisms of
the latter.
V. S. Lusk, Of Asheville, passed here
yesterday on his way east to try to pro-
cure more evidence to defeat H. G.. Ew-
arts confirmation as judge.
The Washington Post in it's almanac
for 1898, puts Governor Russell down as
a 'pOpuliSt." That is, of course, correct,
though he was up to eighteen months
ago classed as a republican,. But The
Post almanac ignores Auditor Aver en-
tirely. 1t puts down j. Ruffin Henderson
as auditor. Henderson is the republican
who was nominated for auditor, but who
was paid $500 by the republican state
mi to withdraw in favor of Aver.
T1nro- voc n ~nn rnin Orontlv nnndnG
last night. What amounted to a drought
had begun. So far the year has been
very dry indeed.
Judge Purnell says he hopes Ewart
will soor be confirmed as United States
judge: as otherwise, under the provisions
of section SO3 of the Revised Statutes, 1t
will be his duty to hold the courts in the
Western district. until a judge is APP
pointed and confirmed.
Under the natural order of things the
contempt case against A. b. Andrews,
II. w. Miller and ]. B. Munson, of the
Southern railway, for refusal to answer
comes up tomorrow. 1t is quite broadly
limited that Governor Russell does not at
present desire this matter to be pressed.
The admirable report of the commits
SiOner of labor statistics was sent to the
press of the state today.
The superior court judge here confirms
the sale of the phosphate property at
Castle Haynes to w. II. Chadbourn.
Nv CO.. 'A'NNJ
panies for admission into the state guard.
As soon as a call for troops is made the
necessary number will be made up out
of these applications, each of the present
companies recruiting to 100.
If there is congressional fusion of re-
publicans and populists and the Fourth
and Seventh districts again fall to the
popuIiats. it is declared that Strowd and
Shuford will not be elected. if
ed. as they can't get republican votes.
Republicans simply say they VIII not
vote for either. 1t is no secret THAT Jonn
Nichols desires the republican nominal
ton for congress from this district.
The comment is made on the proposed
lease of the Atlantic and North Caro-
lima railway. at 212 per cent. interest on
stock and bonds. that it is far better
than that to w. J. Best years ago. Inc
latter was for only 2 per cent. interest,
and did not cover the interest on the
bonds. The lease to Best, who was an
irresponsible adventurer, was thought to
be a great thing.