The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-08-01
Especial TO the Messenger.)


Raleigh, n. c., July 29.-The legis-
lative investigating committee today
put John R. Smith, ex-commissioner
of agriculture, ON the witness stand.
His testimony was taken at length.
Among the listeners was James NJ.
Mewboorne, also an ex-commissioner,
who yesterday testified that Governor
Russell said Smith was not competent
to manage the penitentiary. This was
the reason Governor Russell gave for
transferring Mewboorne and Smith, so
that the former took charge of the pen
itentiary and the latter of the agricul-
ture department.
Smith was on the witness stand three
hours. He said he had been requested
by a member of the board of agricul-
ture last December to put more fertili-
zer inspectors on duty, on the ground
of frauds, suggestions coming from
members of the board. He put on six.
Then he was urged to put on three
more, the latter to be members of the
board He put them on According
to his ideas this was done to give some
of the board jobs.
He has no control of money except
$3.50 for farmers institutes. There
was also about $3.50 drawn from the
treasury by persons who held insti-
tutes.
He was asked to show his itemized
account of expenditures for institutes.
He said he had one, but did not know
where. Secretary Bruner said he had
searched for it, but could not find it,
Smith said Loge Harris took a great
deal Of interest in the department, but
he thought Harris was pretty we'll
paid for his interest.
Smith said rumors of extravaganza
had come to him, but he had nothing
to do with them. He expressed the
belief that the agricultural department
could be run much more cheaply than
luc luSlOllSlS udu IL.
He was asked why he had changed
! office Of penitentiary superintendent to
that of commissioner of agriculture.
In reply he told a very interesting
story-that Loge Harris went to the
penitentiary to see him and suggested
that he make the change; that his sal
ary would be increased to 81 500, so he
| would lose nothing by the deal; that
he had never had any direct converse
| tion with the governor; that the gov
ernor and himself were not on good
terms then. Judge Robinson had seen
| him at Goldsboro and insisted that he
| make the change; William H. Chad
| bourn, also a friend of the governor,
| he'd telegraphed Smith to go to Will
| mington and see him. Smith went.
Chadbourn assured him the change
! would be better for him and the gov
ernor desired it. Smith finally decided
! to make the change, and he placed the
p! resignation as superintendent OF the
/; penitentiary in Robinson's hands, but
| his salary was never increased He
! assured the committee, that he did not
. say any thing about it except to sug-
| gest TO the board of agriculture that the
! latter ought to fix it. He then talked
with a lawyer about it. The lawyer
| talked with Loge Harris and the latter
told smith he thought it would be
: best for him at that juncture not to
press the matter. So Smith was bun
coed out of his money.
When Harris had this talk 1t was
J after last falls election and things
looked mighty bilious.
: Today State Auditor Aver received
I the following letter from Clerk Brown,
Of the corporation commission:
81 hand you herewith a statement
OF the valuation Of railways, telegraph,
telephone, steamboat and sleeping car
companies by the corporation commits
sion for 1899. The valuation OF rail-
ways mentioned on sheet 1, to which
no value is placed, is withheld for rea-
son that the commission is en1oined by
the federal court from certifying the
same to you. The valuation for the
Western Union Is withheld Tor the
same reason. For your information I
hand you valuation for 1888 Of those