The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-04-07
As-the Corporation Com
mission.
PROTEST OF D. d. ABBOTT
Filed With the New Board by His
Counsel-GOvernor RusAell still in
washington-Confer With Re-
ment Campalgn-The Needed Funds
for the Criminal Insane-Much Dam.
age Done to Fruit by Cold Weather.Il
Messeng ger Bureau,
Raleigh, n. c., April 5

hdlelSH, ~. u, ApTlI D.
A few minutes before 10 o'clock this
morning Frank McNeill, L. L. Rogers
and F. C. Beddingfield were sworn in
by Judge Clark as members. of the new
corporation commission, which has
charge of railway, banking and build
ing and loan business. AT 10 o'clock
D. H. Abbott appeared, accompanied
by James c. MacRae, one of his coun-
sci, and said to Chairman McNeill:
Mr.. Chairman, 1 claim by virtue of
election by the legislature of 1897 to be
a member Of this board, and would re-
spectfully ask to be received as such
in place of Mr.. Beddingfield" To this
Chairman McNeill replied: This is
suppose, a matter of form. We recog-
nize the validity of the act of the leg
islature of 1899, which elected Mr. Bed
dingfeld." DR.. Abbott then said: Il
respectfully protest against your de-
cision, in favor of Mr.. Beddingfield and
ask that this protest be entered on the
minutes. 1 will file a written protest
if desired Chairman McNeill said:
Write it and we will consider the
matter" MacRae said: "I have pre-
to make it a matter of record, which
I hope you will do, trust that you will
enter this: DR.. Abbott appeared before
the commission and claimed to be a
member thereof by virtue of his elec-
tion by the legislature for the term Of
six years from April l, 1897. The claim
is denied and E. G.. Beddingfield is rec
ognized as commissioner. Whereupon,
D. H. Abbott respectfully enters his
protest against this act of the commits
sion.'"
DR.. Abbott then bade the commission
good day, with a handshake. He was
told that they would be glad to see
him at any time as a visitor.
Up to this morning Governor Russell
had not returned from Washington. 1t
is intimated that he saw James E.
Boyd and other republicans there in re-
gard to making fight against the con-
stitutiOnal amendment limiting the
elective franchise.
The board Of directors of the insane
asylum met today. One of the import
ant things considered was the procur-
ing of the $4,000 which the legislature
failed to provide for the criminal in
sane. 1t is suggested that the gov
ernor be asked to call the council of
state to consider this matter and
recommend that the treasurer pay the
money.
The snow fell here exactly twelve
hours yesterday and had the ground
been dry would have attained a depth
| of six inches at least. Last night the
temperature went several degrees be-
low freezing point and the ground was
frozen. UnquestiOnably, much damage
is done to fruit.
Major M. A. Bledsoe said to me to-
day: Il was in the penitentiary di-
| rectorate in 1870 and chairman of the
board, having been elected by the leg
| islature, took possession and held it
two years. Then Governor Caldwell
made a demand for the penitentiary,
and appointed other directors. We re-
| fused to surrender. He brought action
to oust us and won. The supreme
court held that he had the right to
nominate and the senate the right to
confirm or reject his nomination He
then put in his men. 1t is almost ex-
actly like the present Day case, in
volving the control Of the penitentiary,
which is now before the supreme COURT
The commissioner of insurance saws
that applications are pouring in from
| companies, which under the new act
have to re-enter the state as il they
| had never been in it. Each application
has to be carefully examined.