The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-02-17

adopted so far as the committees bill
is concerned.
The committee on salaries and fees
reported as a substitute the bill reduc-
ing fees of state and county officers.
The resolution was adopted that the
legislature at noon tomorrow elect di-
rectors of the deaf-mute school a Nor
canton.
Bills passed their third reading as
follows: To amend the charter of Mount
Olive ITO allow the Raleigh and Gas
ton railway and other divisions of the
Seaboard Air Line to consolidate. To
allow Fayetteville to establish and Op-
crate a system of electric lights and
motive power. To re-charter New Bern
the charter of which was repealed two
weeks ago.
The senate and house met in joint
session for the purpose of electing the
state board of internal Improvements as
follows: First district, E. F. Lamb, of
Elizabeth City; Second, j. w. Granger,
of Kinston; Third, w. J. Adams, of
Carthage; Fourth, Armistead Jones, of
Raleigh Fifth, Charles NJ. Parks, of
Hillsboro; Sixth, r. D. Caldwell, of
LincOlntOn; Seventh, a. H. BOyden, Of
Salisbury; Eighth, Clement Manly, of
Winston; Ninth, W. T. Lee, of Waynes-
Vile
Senator Justice made a motion that
the joint session continue in order to
receive the report of the committee in
the case of Major J. w. Wilson, and
his removal as railway commissioner,
which motion prevailed.
At o'clock Senator Osborne came
forward and said: Il desire to file the
report of your special joint committee
in the matter of the removal of the
Wifsons.''
The committee reported it had call
ed on the governor for his evidence
and reasons, and that in response he
had furnished the names of certain wit
nesses; that as a matter of law tho
committee did not sit in review of the
governor, but the only ground for re-
mOval was in two messages of the gov
ernOr which were filed as part Of the
report of the committee. The commit
tee finds that the giving of mortgages
to Colonel Andrews by Major Wilson
is not such as to make disqualificati
as Colonel Andrews is amply protected
by the mortgage and by collateral, and
that it is not in violation of the rail-
way commission act, and is not of a
character to put Major Wilson in Colo
mel Andrews power in any way.
AS to the Round Knob hotel, the
mere owning Of it by Major Wilson is
not of a character to violate the COM
mission act. Letters written in 1886
showed that he declined to enter into
arrangement to make the hotel an eat
ing house, and he did not use influence
to have the hotel opened as an eating
house. He sold all his interest in the
hotel to r. w. Brown, to whom it was
mortgaged for it's full value. The COM
| mittee finds that Major Wilson's family
did not ride on free passes; that he
used pass to save the state expense,
and did not, therefore, take allowance
! for>railway travel. 1t is further found
that he had no express or telegraph
franks, that charge likewise falling
through entirely.
The committee thus finding in favor
of Major Wilson, recommends that by
vote he be reinstated and his past SAL
ary be paid.
AS to Otho Wilson, the report was
similarly exonerative; that the leasing
of a hotel beside a railway was not
, such an interest as is prohibited by the
railway commission act; that he be re-
, instated and be given back salary
Senator Ward moved that 500 copies
of the report be printed, and that the
matter be made a special order at joint
! session of the two houses next Tues
! day.
Senator Justice offered a resolution
that the report of the committee be re-
ceived and adopted; that j. w. Wilson
and S. Otho Wilson be not removed
from office.
ton of the resolution.
| Mr.. Thompson, Of Onslow, wanted
the matter postponed, saying he had
not arrived at the same conclusion as
the committee; that he thought both
the Wilson's ought to go out; that hs
| wanted time to consider; that he
| thought the committee was trying t(
rush this matter; if there was a vote
now he would vote may" that he die
not think the Wilson's were impartia
judges between the railways and tn.
people and that if better men than thos.