The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-02-19
RAILROADS AGREE TO IT
BELL TELEPHONE COMPANY
TAKES AN APPEAL.
MAI. WILSON NOT ALLOWED TO TESTIFY
Aside From His Request to Be Permitted to DO
So There Was No Sensational Occur
rence--Next the Express Rates
Will Probably be Reduced.

Will Probably be Reduced
The wire-edge worn off, the Railroad
Commission yesterday got down to bust
ness and the day passed off without any
of the sensational incidents that char
acterized its session Thursday.
Once. however, it came perilousiy near
To exploung loaded weapon; thai
was when DR.. Abbott, just as the Com
mission was about TO take a recess Tor
dinner. asked that Maj. Wilson ana
Mr. Henry A. Page be put on the stahd.
If was generally understood that their
Testimony would be something quite SEN
sational and for two days people had
been hanging around the Commission Of
fce. anxious to hear what they might
have to say.
Seeing that the session was about to
and without their going on the stand,
I)r. Abbott suggested that they be ex-
nmined and allowed to go home. 10 TINS
the other two Commissioners objected,
and Chairman Caldwell dictated the
following order setting forth their rea'
SONS:
1T is ordered by the Commission that
Mai. J. w Wilson and Mr.. Henry A.
Page be discharged from attendance
1lpon the Commission until further notl-
fed. as there is nothing before the
Commission requiring their attendance
as witnesses.
Mai Wilson: eff you will pardon me,
I'd like to have q word about this mat
fer. | have seen it in print that | was
avoiding n Summon to go on the stand.
THAT is not true / have also seen that
I was quoted as applying for special
rates on hotel property. That hoo is I'M
true and IL. like an opportunity to tes-
tify in regard to these matters.
Caldwell: There is nothing before
the Commission concerning which your
testimony is desired The hotel-frelght-
rate investigation has been discontinued.
You were summoned here to give evil
dence touching that matter. The Com
mission desiring no further information
on that. you can prove your attendance
and be discharged.
1.-THE Commission stands adjourned I'M
til 2:30 o'clock"
After the Commission had adjourned
Major Wilson, was asked by a re-
porter. if he applied for, or obtained re-
daeed rates on Ohio Wilson's furniture
10 Round Knob. He sad: Il have no
recollection whatever Of making such APP
plication, or even of suggesting to any
one that reduced rates should be gwen
to Mr.. Ohio Wilson; in fact, | did not
know until recently that Mr.. Wilson ever
shipped anything to or from Round
Knob AS to Mrs. Wilson's furniture,
I have no recollection of making any
suggestions to any one IN regard to it.
1t is possible l may have done so, being
aware from over forty years experience
and pPmpnf If
has been the invariable custom TO give,
not only special, but even dead-head
rates for parties opening railroad eating
houses. To sustain me in this, | will re-
mind Commissioner Pearson of matter
which he may have, possibly, forgotten.
He was once the recipient of this very
privilege. which was granted to him as
a custom which generally prevailed, and
which has been the custom on all the
roads. certainly in this State, until quite
recently. / will state that Mr.. Pear
son associated with Capt. w d.
Sprague one of the best known and
most respectable citizens of this State.
established and conducted the railroad
hotel built in the vicinity of RounI
Knob. for some years the terminus of
the Western North Carolina Road.
have an affidavit from Capt. Sprague
who makes oath that the first hotel
erected in the vicinity of Round Knob
was built by John III. Pearson and him
self. and run by them as partners, for
about two years. Their furniture was
Transported free of charge over the
Western North Carolina Railroad as
was also all supplies for the same
Neither Mr. Pearson or myself Capt
Spra que says, were ever charged any
car fare for travelling. The hotel was
regarded by the railroad company as an
affair of mutual benefit and the courte-
sizes were extended in recognition of the
fact that we made a reduction of two
thirds Of our prices for meals served
and lodging furnished to the employees
of the railroad company
There are some other things" said
Major Wilson, that ! could and would
have told which might throw light or
the question before the country at this
time, and which the people, doubtless
would have been pleased to hear, and
| regret that after having travelled sc
long a distance that / was so sum
marily cut off in the bloom of my youth
anu beauty"
Mr.. Page was glad the Commission did
not give him an opportunity to tell them
and the public how little he knew about
IHP HdtteIs unutr conslueTdGloH ana Salu
that all he knew was merely a rumor
from where obtained he cannot recall
that Maj. J. w. Wilson had asked foI
half-rates on Ohio or Mrs. Wilson's fur.
niture to Round Knob This was a
mere rumor that came to him, Mr.. Page
says.
This was ALL Mr.. Page said, that he
knew or could tell: that the rumor that
Maj Wilson had asked for the reduced
rates above referred to he had since as.
certained was untrue
THE NEW FERTILIZER RATE.