The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1898-01-18
BEFORE THE COMMISSION
QTHO TELLS SOME JUICY POLlI-
ICAI SECRETS.
TALK OF INDICTING HIM FOR PERJURY

Eef0 G the Commission.

81 = -C ON'
From News and Observer, Jan. il,
1t is a peach OF a fight, a very rose of
. rovy-the contest now going on be
tween the Governor and the Commits
sioners he Las turned out of office.
It is beginning now to look as if he
didn't have sure evidence on winch to
base his action, but was relying on his
new Commissioners to establish 1t
for him-or perhaps it would be more
proper to say discover it for HIM. IN
their hunt they have been quick to
strike the broad aDI bear-like trail of
the Grand Gideon, 5. Ohio Wilson, the
statesman from Rhamkatte.
This evidence-hunting theory may be
all wrong. but the proceedings OF the
Railroad Commission last Saturday and
yesterday seem 10 bear it out.
And there can be no doubt that the
Governor was terribly in earnest yester-
day 1t is not for fun that a Governor
Goes before a court and takes the wit
ness stand in order to deny or explain
q statement made by a witness
That is what he did yesterday after
Ohio Wilson testified in regard to the
use of free passes. Then Ohio talked
back. and lie Governor replied; Otho
rpnIied again and now the Governor IS
taking about indicting him for perjury.
All of which is mighty big fun. I've
enjoyed nothing so hugely since John
Williamson and Fletcher Harrison had
q fight in the niger convention here
while the band played "Ihereu be a
Hot Time i'm the Old Town Tonight"
It makes q beautiful scrap and to one
who takes q dog-eat-day view of such
contests nothing more entertaining could
be found.
The Ea:-raa1 Commission was not in
session this 4orning.
Every ore expected another sensation
al mezrir- and thought possibly the
Governor and Otho Wilson wanted to
finish the third round of their fight.
In the stead Of sensational develop
meuts. all that is announced from the
Railroad Commissions office IS that the
three railroad companies which own the
Union depot here must provide better
Accommodations for the colored people by
February 1~t. and that failure to do this
on the part Of the roads would not be
overlooked.
This has heen plead fer during a long
time. and now il seems that the colOred
people are 10 -et the kind of waiting
rooms they wish. The present accomo-
dations have been insufficient. and the
railroads had already decided to improve
them. However. they had never been
able 10 agree upon exactly what was
the proper chanGe TO make.
Yesterday afternoon after The Times
went 10 press the Commission met and
had a rip stavin@ good time watching
the tactics Of Ohio Wilson and the
Governor.
Ohio opened the ball yesterday by tell
ing all he knew, duplicating everybody
and then trying to explain why it was
done. He led the Governor such a dance
that His EXceIlency couldn't stand the
pace and last night ne was breathing out
threatenings and slaughter against the
statesman from Rhamkatte.
Last night the Gideon's smile was a
bit wilted. His ancient beaver and
Walter Henry coat didn't wear their
accustomed air of sWagger Indifference.
But all this may be a bluff. Whether
Governor Russell can hold all the rope
he has taken in and add to it remains
to be seen. The 18th is not far away
and the Gideon is looking to that day
and the United States Supreme court
as his salvation.
The Commission meets again this
morning at 10 o'clock and there may
then be some more sensational develop
ments.
When put on the stand, as soon as the
CO1L4AiASo-CA nj y NSNNANoS HOA -
fore answering any questions, the Cid
con said:
Il give evidence on these matters un-
der protest. as there is litigation over the
office of Railroad COMMISSIONS pending
in the courts, and | am denying your
right to the seats you now hold, and
further, the testimony l give might pre-
judice my case now in the courts"
He was assured hat it was not the
,41,+r, - - CDIl,,;cr;oo 70 ,cc -
Of the evidence against him.
Have you used a railroad pass since
the first day of January, over the South
ern or any other line?"
Il have"
"VViu you please designate the lines?'
"The only one / have received up to
date is over the Southern. The Sea-
board Air Lines has not been received.
I have filed application through the local
agent and he has stated that it would
be sent. I only publish two schedules,
the Seaboard and Southern
The pass-a quarterly-was produced
and handed to the chairman.
During 1897 or 1898 nave you had
a frank on a telegraph line?"
81 have nOt.'
"Have any articles been sent or receiv-
ed 'dead-head' by you through the South
ern Express?"
"Christmas Eve there was q small
package, weighing probably four ounces,
sent to me -. H from Richmond and
another. weighing about sixty pounds,
was sent.
did YOU enjoy any favors from the
express company during the summer OF
: while YOU were at Round Knob?'
Not to my knowledge"
During last Summer did you have a car
load of fertilizer or something shipped 20 Round
Knob?"
No, Sir, had one ton offertiIizer sent?"
What rates we're cha~ged2"