The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-03-30
THE DIRECTORS MEET
AND AGREE TO STOP THE FIGHT
AGAINST THE LEASE.
JUDGE sIMoNToN TO DECIDE IT
And no Appeal to be Taken From His Decision
The Southern to Pay the Cost At
torney's, and Special Mas
ter's Fees.

1T was just about such a night as the
famous, rainy, dreary night at Burling-
ton. The angry clouds indeed seemed
even more angry and the rain drops
colder and perhaps more unmerciful than
on that eventual night at Burlington.
lit was at about the same hour of the
night: the play was the same, the plot
the same and the same star actor
headed the cast
AT about 10 o'clock in a room ut tht-
April IL. 1895, at Burlington, in a
room with the windows closed and the
doors closed 99-year lease of the n. G..
II. r. was contaminated to the Southern
Railroad Company.
AT about 10 O'Clock on the night Of
Marlborough house in this city with
the windows and doors closed, that
same 99-year lease was rejuyenated. re-
established and fully re-instated by Gov
ernor Russell's Board of North Carolina
Railroad Directors.
At Burlington
ssThe night was cold and dark and
1t rained, and the winds were never
dreary.
At Raleigh
The night was cold and dark and
1t slined. and the winds were never
ireary.
At Burlington Col. Andrews was the
star actor. He was in his private car
which was side tracked along beside the
building in which the meeting was held.
& At Raleigh last night he appeared
iii tihe same role, and he was sitting in
his office directly across the hall from
a, rana,a ,hfnh tho nfhar Yraan{ino a
held and the same deal was confirmed.
Governor Russell, when he came into
the office, declared that the Burlington
deal was disgraceful and fraudulent
and. with great gusto, removed the
Board of Directors that consummated it.
Last night at his bidding the men he
put in the place of those removed, -.
affirmed and re-established the deal.
Before a special master appointed by a
Federal judge, he sought to establish
the fact that the old board of directors
had been guilty Of legal fraud in leasing
the road--a change instituted by him
alone.
Last night he, through his board, did
practically the very thing that he said
was fraudulent, and this is the story.
lit all refers to 4he 99-year lease of the
North Carolina Railroad.
Tt DIS not a compromise, the men whom.
he had charged With fraud wou' moi
submit to a compromises nonsult Or
other estopel that left that stain upon
the record 1t is a back down, surren-
der by Russell, and a complete abandon
ment of the grand stand declarations
that he has been making. Few people
believed that he was sincere, still fewer
believe now that he ever was sincere.
And his board did his bidding.
The board met last night in room Nc.
2 at the Marlborough house. DIR. Nor
ment, the president of the North Caro-
lima Railroad Company. presided. Gen.
Hoke, Col Bennehan Cameron and Mr..
Henry Fries, the directors representing
the private stockholders were present.
Messrs. Gilchrist. Armstrong, Smith,
Avery, Graham, of the State directors.
were here. Col. Andrews and his at
torney, Mr.. IT. H. Busbee. We're in close
proximity. Capt. Day and Capt. Cook.
attorneys for the Governor and the
Board, We're also in the meeting.
There was but one question for con
sheraton stopping of the fight i'm
the courts against the 99-year lease. The
question came up in the shape of two
resolutions one submitted by Mr.. Gil
christ, another submitted by Gen'l Hoke.
The first contained clap trap clause,
about leaving theissue to the people
another providing that the Southern
Railroad should pay all the cost in the
injunction suit brought by the Southern
Railroad before Judge Simonton. in
consideration of which the suit should
be stopped where it was.
Gen. H0ke's was short, it threw out no
cheap political clap-trap, provided for the
payment of all costs by the Southern
and that when Judge Simonton should
render his on the issue now
pending, there should be no appeal
John Graham wanted the peoples
clause" included and the old directors
Judgment insisted that the question Of
fraud should proceed to Judgment by
the court, and then there was extended
discussion as to the naming of specified
amount that the Southern should pay
in the shape of cost, the original resolu-
ton did not specify any amount. 1T was
finally agreed upon that the Southern
should pay $500 of costs and attorneys
fees, together with the cost in special
master Craige's proceedings.
This would not seem to leave very
much for attorneys fees as the costs
!.
but there was not a maa around the
hotel lobby Tno id not believe that
the attorneys tai n2en well nrovi.lad fer
in the arrangement
The resolution finally passeG admits
the improbability of gaining ANYTHING
by Federal court adjudication.
III provides that the case shall no do
cided by Judge Simonton without aren.
ment and that there shall be no apneal
1T provides that the Southern Railwav
Company shall pay $500 of cost. -.
gether with the cost incurred in tho
special master proceedings. 1t contains
the clause for such men as John Gra-
ham, Russell and the others to hood
wink the people with. proposing to leave
any further action on the lease question
to the people.
1t appears, or rather in the years gone