The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-04-28
Programme of the Fusionists to Retain Con.
troll of State Departments.
THE FORGERY OF PUBLIC LAW
Perpetrated to NulGfy the Act of the legislature Reoreanizno te Rail.
way Commission-The Fusionsts of the Agricultural BOARD De.
clare Void an Act of the Legislature and Expupse From
the Records the Proceedings OF the Full Board.
Prepared to Resist Democratic Members
of the BOard.

pCISOiS LudH themselves as leSdI
and lawful commissioners of the agri-
cultural department.
resolved, That the proceedings OF
persons claiming to De the board Of
agriculture, held in this city March
9TH and 10th last, are repudiated as be-
ing null and void, and they are cancel
cd n are ordered expugned from the
records of the department.
Resolved, That the board of COM
missioners of agriculture are moved to
the action expressed by the foregoing
by h fact hat we are
charged as trustees Of public admins
tratlon Of an important department Of
the government, and with duties which
affect the property interests of the
state, and as such, desire only to d.
nc the responsibilities of our ad-
ministratiOn with such as are clearly
entitled to participate therein. 1t is
not with any disposition to make fac
tious opposition that this course is TAX
en-, and We will cheerfully abide the re-
suit of any legal determination that
may be had in consequence of our &C
ton as expressed by the foregoing res
Olutions."
SUPREME COURT DECISIONS.
The supreme court files the follow
ing opinions: Dowdy VS.. Telegraph
Company, from Chatham, affirmed;
Laudie VS.. Telegraph Company, from
Mecklenburg, new trial; State VS..
Nicholson, from Union, affirmed; State
VS.. Kale, from Catawba, affirmed;
Bank VS.. Riggings, from Forsyth, af-
firmed; Hodgin VS.. Bank, from For
syth, new trial; Horner School VS.. Yves
colt, from Granville, new trial.
FORGERY OF A PUBLIC LAW.
of the Abbott-Beddingield case, in
volving title to corporation commits
sionership. This is due to the discov-
cry that the act abOlishing the rail-
way commission has been altered from
March 81" to '6" as to the date of
ratification, the figure IS" being writ
ten over the figure go in a bold hand.
ratified March 4th, SO as to give space
of time between it n the act creating
the corporation commission. The en-
rolling clerks book shows the act was
listed March 4th a. ratified that day.
The journals of the senate and the
house show it was ratified that day.
Speaker COnnOr is here and says he
would not have signed the act with any
such alteration showing. Chief Clerk
Daniels, of the senate, says the figure
, is written over and that there is
forgery. Clerk Hackett, of the house
says that there is some foul play and
also says he finds on the house records
I WIN SAiiC az oooS oo ~
March 4th and below this rubber STAMP
a mark sloped and hastily made saying
it was ratified Marc 9Th. 1t can be
readily seen what important bearing
this has on DR.. Abbott's case.
A member of the democratic state
committee says regarding the action OF
the fusion board of agriculture: 'Al
these men will be impeached June Oh
next year when the legislature meets
for their action is a clear u~surpatiOn 0.
office. The democratic board will or.
ganize and will run the business of tht
agricultural! department."
The corporation commission devoted
today to consideration of passenger an(
freight rates. No decision was arriv
ed at as to any changes. Simmons AM
Pou are added to Battle and MOrdeca
as counse for the democratic board o
agriculture.
Your correspondent tonight inter
viewed Chairman John S.. Cunning
ham, of the board of agriculture, re
garding the fusion boards action to
= day and its results. Cunningham sait
that the democratic board will go t.
the agricultural building at 4 o'clocl
tomorrow afternoon, which is the reg
ular time for meeting and demand dd
mission and that unless the doors ar
opened, they will be broken open. TIL
fact is the democrats all over the stat
are thoroughly aroused and indignan
at the action of the fusion board.
All the members of the board met il
March and Cunningham was electe,
chairman and Bruner secretary. tn
latter to go in office June 18th. Flu
sionists voted for Cunningham. Thei
action now is, therefore, worse thai
foolish. Cunningham says: People ar
excited over this usurpation. 1t is tn
most high handed outrage since tn
Kirk war. The question is whether tn
minority shall govern They met wit
us March 9th and raised no objection
They have nothing to stand upon. Thei
whole idea is to hold on to office unit
next October. They think the suprem
court will adjourn next week and tina
they will hold on six months nor
whether or not, and thus usurp author
ity under V of court
Two of the democratic members c
the board are sick, m of them S. I
Hart, of Tarboro, critically so with tn
third attack of pneumonia. W. 1
Smith, of Cumberland, is sick. Maults
by, one of the fuSionlsts, went HON
this afternoon. It is understood tha
the democratic board will elect job
w. Thompson, of Raleigh, immigratio
commissioner F. r.. Rose, of Fayettt
willie, is also a candidate for that plac
The superior court today decided
favor Of Cherry for keeper of the cal
itol, n against Burns. The latter al
peals to the supreme court.
Work begins this week on a so
spindle cotton mill at Roxboro.
Two hundred men and seventy-fv
mules are at work grading the North
South Carolina railway between tE
Virginia line and the Blue Wing coppt
mines.