The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-02-18
SATURDAY, February Is, 1899
THE EFFECT OF A yINDICATION
OF S. OHIO WILSON.


If s. Ohio Wilson is renstated as
Railroad Commissioner by this Legisla-
lure, he will be reinstated for IA term
that expires April 1st 1901, and if the
Supreme court should hold that the act
repeating the present Railroad Commits
sion law is void, then for the next two
will control the Railroad Commission
of North Carolina. Is that a CON
summation TO be desired or to be toler-
ated by a body sent to Raleigh to purify
and reform the Commission?
1t has been stated that if S. Ohio
Wilson is reinstated it will be a mere
matter of form, because he has already
written his resignation and put it in 80
hands of the Speaker of the House, He
is a very innocent person wh1/will be
deceived by any resignation 81 that sort
after the experience ofI~fhe Norwood
resignation two yearz ago. Judge Nor
wood resigned escape Impeachment
and put hilresignation in the hands
OF the chairman of the Judiciary Com
mittee 70 send to the Governor. upon
certain contingency. When that con-
tingency arrived, the judge repudiated
the resignation and continued to hold
court whenever the sheriff would recog-
nize him. 1t is, no reflection upon $.
Ohio Wilson to say that he is no better
than Judge Norwood. His resignation,
if it has been written, is not worth the
paper it is written upon. 1t has no legal
or binding effect. because he cannot re-
sign an office he does not hold.
II he is reinstated and indicated, as
will be done if the committees re-
port is adopted, S. Ohio Wilson will be
Railroad Commissioner for two years.
Does anybody believe he will resign?
Why should he resign? If he is innocent
of the charges, if this Legislature gives
him character, who can be heard TO
ties of the office to which he was elect
ed? If anybody should say so. will he
not point to his vindication by a Legis-
lature opposed to him in politics. and
will he not be justified in declining TO
surrender an office and a salary after
having been declared innocent of the
charges against him?
There are railroads in North Carolina
that do not want aCommission COM
posed of three fair and capable men.
Most of the railroads want Commits
sion of that character, but there are
railroad men who prefer Commission
in which S. Ohio, Wilson and DIR. Alb
bolt would compose the majority. If S.
Ohio Wilson is reinstated, the railroad
men who want them to stay in office will
back them in a suitate set at defiance the
three fair and honorable men this Leg
islature will elect, claim the new act is
illegal las Capt. Day did about the new
penitentiary act), and hold on until the
slow process of the courts pass on the
points. If the court, should hold with
Abbott and Wilson, the new act would
be nullity, and these two men, not
representing the aims or desires of the
people who elected this Legislature,
would be able to override the one Com
Il. 1G no lsn-
instated. Abbott alone cannot hold out
against two new men who then admitted
ly will be legally elected and can only
sue for his salary against the third man.
In that ease also Abbott would have to
admit these two men who have legal
titles. They would not recognize him,
and the three men chosen by this Legs
lature would be in control of the most
important commission in the State.
IL is the duty of this Legislature tc
take charge of the Railroad Commission
The majority of the present board
Messrs. Caldwell and Abbott, have
; never done anything but draw their sal
aries and vote rs the railroads wanted
Them to vote. Caldwell, who was ap
nointed to succeed Major Wilson, vii
have only a few weeks to serve If Mayo
Wilson is not reinstated. His power fo
good end evil is about ended Abbot
bos two wears more il Supreme