Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-01-09

RAILWAY COMMISSION CALLS IT.
SELF A COURT.
A Remarkable BHIl--A blanket opin-
Ion-Thc Frcc-Pass Question Again.
Post-oGicc Robhcries-rersonal and
Political Mention.
Political Mention.

agent OF inc Soutncin railway and X. T..
Potts. local agent. and asked Aiunson
whether last year tho Southern gave s.
Ohio Wilson or his mother special freight
rates between Raleigh and Round Knob.
M0nson declined TO answer. saying that
ho did SO upon The ground that a witness
was not compelled 20 give evidence which
mieht be used in a criminal indictment
against him. Chairman Caldwell ruled
that Munson must answer or be attached
FOR contempt and committed until the
matter was settled DR.. Abbott. OF the
commission. dissentod from the view Of
Caldwell and Pearson IN this matter. II
was Caldwell who asked questions. There
was set smile on his face all the while
II. II. Bushce was present as counsel for
Munson. and asked IL the commission
would put the latter in his custody. as
usual. until there was a conference. It
was observable that the chairman al
ways spoke OF the commission as "the
court"
DIR. Isaac y. Ramsey. OF the Soaboard
asks the commission whether he can have
pass on the Seaboard Airline. He
gave tho right Of way on his land IN
return Tor an annual pass for life.
The commission orders the denoc st
Lumbcrton 10 be completed in accordance
with a past order IL issued.
Chairman Caldwell said to-day from
the bench" that the commission intended
20 reduce passenger rates.
A REMARKABLE BALL.
At the insane asylum last night there
was a New-Year's bali, in mask and cos
tune. iu which 100 of the inmates and
attendants took part. Not a few Of the
costumes were remarkable for their
cleverness. 1t Is said 10 have been the
first masked ball ever given at an asylum
in this state. To will be repeated The
patients were enthusiastic IN regard TO 10.
Professor n. c. Noble. Of Wilmington.
y appointed Superintendent OF the state
University Summer School for the next
session. He IS one OF the educational
veterans. and has made the Wilmington
schools among the best in the South.
Unusual efforts will be made to gather
az excellent faculty Of experts at the
next session, for the instruction OF the
teachers OF the State. The growth Of
the summer school has been remarkable.
u IS the opinion OF the majority of the
Po0ulist State Committee that Senator
Butler is losing ground IN the State. Such
IS the declaration OF r. A Cobb. Of that
Committee.
Or. Abbott. OF the Railway Commission,
says there Is no possible excuse for Gov
ernor Russen's statement that 'if Abbott
bothers me viii jump (meaning suspend
him" DIT Abbott says ne has always
notified the Governor frankly Of his views
and purposes.
The returns.of this naval reserves were
made up to-day. There are now five
divisions. at Wilmington. New Berne, Kin
ston. Elizabeth City. and Smithfeld. The
strength IS "a commissioned officers, II
petty officers and 223 enlisted men.
Mitchell Byrd. aged 50. IS the last ar
rival al the penitentiary 10 serve ten years
Tor murder.
Good progress IS being made on the
hospital 40 the Agricultural and Mechani-
cal College here.
A BLANKET OPINION.
judge Purnell is writing some opinions
for the United States Circuit Court of
Appeals. i'm one Of these. which he has
sent TO Judge Gon ne holds that the
mails are closed against any and all lot
terios. although the act Of Congress is
not specific. 1t is what Is known as a
blanket opinion that is, sweeping
one.
The State to-day chartered the Wash
ington County Telephone Company, 10
operate line between Plymouth and
Creswell
Before the Railway Commission to-day
Attorney i. II. Busbee made a sharp hit
a. that august tribunal and az the State
Supreme Court. He said the United
States Supreme Court was yet, he thank
Cd God. "the guardian and protector Of
the liberties OF the citizens of North
Carolina"
Ii is the comment Of a director OF the
North Carolina railway that Governor
fnrrr la Nn
and prove fraud has. to use a mining
phrase. about "petered out"
The Railway Commission has issued a
summons 20 Colonel A. b. Andrews. Of
the Southern railway, and H. W. Miller
l.s clerk. TO produce the stubs OF the hee-
pass books in order 10 see the passes IS
sued last year. The papers were served
on Miller, but Colonel Andrews was out
o. town.
There Is positively no smallpox in this
State, despite sensational rumors.
NOTES.
Governor Russens supporters say re-
garding this lease suit: 1.-The Governor is
running it through or by means Of the
Board OF Directors Of the North Carolina
railway"
The Mooresville post-ofice has been
robbed by the daring gang Of thieves
which is operating in North Carolina.
IL ls me elBhih once IODDeu ih lAleo
months.
Interest IS general as to what the new
Railway Commissioners propose to do
regarding reductions Of freight and pas
senger rates. They declare they have
not made up their minds. The ideas OF
the Governor on the subject are well
known.
a company is endeavoring to buy land
iu Raleighs suburbs for u cotton-mill
site.
Tho Seaboard Airline has bought
twenty acres Of land half a mile north of
Raleigh. and on its line, for railway shops.
Most Of the land was bought from the
North Carolina Car Company.
During the past year only siXty-two
miles Of new railway were constructed
ST. this state.
IL is expected that within the next few
DAYS there will be some new develop
menis in the case Of John Evans, the
Kocklneham negro IN jail here under sem
fence Of death for outrageous assault.
Ills counsel are keeping very quiet.
10 is learned that the Agricultural De
partmnt has quite extensive plans Tor
holding farmers Institutes this year. be-
ginning early ln the summer.
Pearson says the bill for 800 which was
rendered the State by Caldwell and hiner
eaf was for railway fares from Septem-
Dor Pa 70 end Of the year.
Hy special agreement between the Ag-
rcltural Department and the EXperl-
frart uf.tfou fra publication OF the ana