The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-03-03
The Wilson's Reinstated
Continued from Second Page


and the people.
Senator Bryan sailed in with the
declaration that much of the evidence
against the Wilson's was false and he
thought il shame that the Legs
inre should hesitate. while the character
OF such a man as j. w. Wilson WAS IN
the balance
lie had read the evidence and he
found naught against him. II argued
that il was not the bare abstract com
initial of the oifense that ought 10 hc
considered. but that the intent must he
considered
He plead that Mai. Wilson : character
ought to he considered, hut he didn't
think the character of Ohio Wilson
ought 10 have any hearing on the case
At this point Isaac Smith tcol). want
ID to know if it was true, rs intimated.
that the Reinstatement Of the Wilson's
meant paving out $4,000
The Chair understood that they would
get their salary
Smith: We'll if we reinstato won't
he Governor be guilty of something?"
Senator Osborne said not.
Senator Eaves reviewed all the trans
actions of the Wilson's with Col An
drews and the railroads. and he couldn't
see any culpability in any of them.
Senator Mcintyre wanted to call at
tention to certain point in this case
hat no one had referred to:
This seems to have been Il financial
grave yard for years-this Round Knob
Hotel. Yet. we find Ohio Wilson -four
ishing here. Then we see him at the
Glen Rock Hotel, Asheville. offering to
sell the proprietor of that hotel the
Round Knob lease. lie tells him he can
make it pay: that he can close up the
one and make the other pay; that he can
have the trains stop ut either as he
likes.
'Now. how did Ohio Wilson know
this? Where did he get authority for
these statomentSI"
The Senator paid high tribute to
Maj. Wilson, but despite it all he didn't
think he could be Il fair and impartial
Juror between the railroads and the poo
pie.
The very DAY the report was made
here there was an attempt to rush it
through this House. The gentleman
from Durham tried to have this evidence
published, but il was refused and we
did not get il printed till the caucus
forced it,
This caused some squrming and ask
ing of questions.
when that report comes in here they
FELL us that Maj. Wilson ought to be
yindicatcd: that Ohio Wilson ought to
DC indicated. But when we come in
here what do we find? That there Is an
effort to separate them and Major Will
son must he vindicated at all cost, and
poor Ohio Wilson must go down. And
The Lord knows that / haven't got good
word Ia say for him.
"'Then they come here and are afraid
for the matter TO go to Il vote. They
turn their tactics, and resort to the
hitherto unheard of trick of having coun-
sci argue the case on the floor,
This caused more sqiirming and some
angry questions. But Senator Mcintyre
went on. at
"In that committee | understand Mr..
Osborne ruled that Governor RUSSELL
was not the prosecutor, but yesterday it
suited their purpose better to place him
II that attitude and it was done.
And then this House and this Senate
has to he dashed into line to vindicate
Mai. Wilson.
There was more sauirming and qucs-
TONS
They talk about special rates I've
never heard of such thing rs one Conn
missioner securing special rates for
another. or of one Commissioned being
Il go.hetwccn in deal between one
Commissioners and a railroad president
Such Il thing was never before known
IN this State The statute has been so
construed here this evening that, it
means nothing. About the only thing
that would disqualify a Commissioners,
according to their construction. is for
him TO own a railroad or railroad bonds.
AS soon as he's discovered in it he can
sell his bonds and nothing can be done
with him. Then he can buy another
railroad and 90 on until its found ont
again
THE intent doesn't enter into this
matter. The question is: Did they do
It? The Railroad Commission has
proved failure and it will be failure
so long AZ this is allowed.
Mr. Patterson of Caldwell. said that
The position of the committee seemed TO
still he misunderstood. He explained at
length how the report on the Wilson case
came TO he presented at the first meet
ing of the joint session. He denied that
any attempt had been made 10 bring
about delay.
Judge Conner said that while the word
of Mr. Patterson needed no corrobora-
ton. he could say that the facts We're as
stated.
Senator Travis regretted that there
should have been criticism of the com
mittee. He hopcd that every member
would try the case on its merits. Much
had been said about jurors: he found
nothing in the statute about jurors.
Whether he wonld have accepted Il man
in the case of Major Wilson as juror
would have depended on the character
of the man.
He had not reached his conclusion on
the ease by technicalites.
He believed that Major Wilson was
Of too high Il character to be influenced
by the small courtesics he received from
the railroads.
Senator Lindsay: Was Col. Andrews
and Major Wilson SO intimate before
the latter became Railroad Commissions
ar hat NTainr Wilson world have asked