The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-01-10
Messenger Bureau

Messenger Bureau
Raleigh, N. c., january Z.
Today Claud Dockery. cha fman OF
the board of directors of the Reniten-
tiary, delivered to Governor Russeh tne
report of the retiring superintendent
Mewborne, for 1898. Dockery said the
board met to receive Mewborne's re-
port. He went on to say: "Our board
has not conferred on the matter Of con-
firming the appointments of officials
made by w. H. Day, the new superin-
tendent We will not cross the bridge
until we come to it. We will wait and
see what the policy Of Days admins
tration will be. Until then we cannot
decide. The board will do what 1t
thinks best for the penitentiary first
and for our party next" A. Y. Sigmon,
one of the board, tells me that the pen
00Oborrowed money and that there are
some $4,000 of other debts. AS to the
confirmation of Days appointments,
Sigmon says it is the view of the board
that the old officers must first fight for
their positions, and then the board will
see what It ought to do. 1t is the opin-
ion of the leading democrats here that
the legislature will make a clean sweep
of all the penitentiary officials, includ-
ing Day. Even Days personal friends
say that if this is not done it will be
severe blow at the democratic party
Persons from Greensboro tell me that
while the disposition of the defunct
bank of Guilford will be paid in full, the
stockholders will lose heavily, not get
ting over so per cent. The banks f.
nances, they say, were carelessly manag-
ed, one man being permitted to over
draw $1,000.
In the course of conversation with
a democratic member of the house to-
day he said that there was decided op-
position to the bill introduced Thurs
day, giving white peoples taxes to
white schools, and negro taxes to negro
schools, the argument being that this
would cause the presence of an utterly
uneducated race, which would be worse
than menace. He said, further, that
sary three-fifths could be obtained on
this measure, which is proposed as a
constitutional amendment, as the men
/. he heard opposing it were some of the
Headers in the senate and house.
The bill to restore the old charter to
Wilmington has been introduced, with
new features of primary elections.
! There are always two factions in Will
mington and as a result it appears that
the bill does not suit one of them. 1t
is pointed out here that Wilmington,
of all places in the state, ought now to
sink such differences. Rountree intro
duced the-bill and kilograms and let
ters finding fault with it are coming
to him. He and his colleague are not
agreed on it.
Fred. Moore, democrat, who was
elected judge of the superior court for
the Twelfth or Asheville district, is
here. He applied to the attorney gen.
eral for leave to begin quo warranto
proceedings to determine the right to
the judgeship. The attorney general
today granted leave. Moore seeks to
oust Judge Norwood, republican, and
contends that Norwood's resignation
was valid and that Governor Russell
: had right to accept it. It will be re-
| membered that Norwood was drunk,
was about to be impeached, gave his
resignation to friend to be given to
the governor in case there was any
more drunkenesses; that Norwood did
| get drunk; that the resignation was sent
| in by the friend; that the governor ac-
cepted it and appointed E. D. Carter;
{ that the courts held the tender of the
! resignation not a valid one, and that
! Norwood holds on as judge, and that
at the late election a. judge was voted
for, irrespective of Norwood, Moore
5, getting majority of the votes. 1t is
| queer situation.