The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-04-03
M'NEILL AND ROGERS ENDORSED
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE URGES THEIR
REELECTION AS N. C. CORPORA
TON COMMISSIONERS.
Interests All Over the State
Urged to Unite in the Movement.
Committee on Legislation Asked TO
Recommend Action Against Inves-
tigation by Courts, of Business of
Corporations.

At a special meeting of the Cham
Der of Commerce held at $3.50 yester-
day afternoon a resolution was adopt
ed endorsing Mr.. Franklin Mcneil, of
this city, and Mr.. Samuel L. Rogers,
present members Of the North Caro-
lima corporation commission, for re-
election. a movement was also in
augurated looking to action by the
chamber against the proposed investi-
cation by the courts of the affairs of
private business corporations as is
proposed to be nae in the railroad
tax assessment case hearing now
pending in this city.
The meeting held yesterday was on
only about two hours notice and the
attendance was therefore by no means
what it would otherwise ave been.
Members present were D.. l.. Gore, G..
]. Boney. w. H. Sprunt, j. a. Taylor,
w. A. Whitehead, Jr., j. E. Thomp-
CT. Herbert Smith, T. F. Bagley, Roge
Moore, G. w. Worth and j. z. Crow,
the last named gentleman being pres
ent as a visitor.
Mr.. Marcus w. jacob, vice presi-
dent, presided in the absence of Pres
4uChL II llu NoIOlIC cOIlli IL.
Cantwell was secretary.
The resolution endorsing the record
of Franklin Mcneil and Samuel l..
Rogers as corporation commissioners,
was introduced by Mr.. j. Allen Tay-
Tor and after general discussion was
unanimously adopted. 1t is as fol-
lows:
BE it Resolved, by the Chamber of
Commerce, That Franklin Mcneil and
Samuel l.. Rogers have discharged
the duties of corporation commission
ers with a high intelligence and mark
ed fidelity to the trust reposed in
them, and that it is the sense of this
chamber that the best interests of the
state at large demand their re-elec-
ton, and their c~andidature is hereby
endorsed.
Resolved, That we urge the bust
ness interests of the state to o-ope-
rate in a determined effort to ~re-elect
these commissioners"
The discussion of the resolution was
by Colonel w. l.. DeRosset, M. w.
jacob, J. Allen Taylor, D.. L. Gore,
G. Herbert Smith, G.. ]. Boney and c..
w. Worth.
All the speakers commended in q
high degree Mr.. Mcneil and Mr..
Rogers, declaring that they have been
at all times Jealous in the promotion
of the best interests Of the people. In
SiStance was made that they have in
aug uIdlGu movements LOT eAlSIuluS
the usefulness of the commission and
put various features of the depart
ment into more effective operation,
the affairs of the commission being at
a stage when the reelection of Nc
Neil and Rogers is an imperative ne
cessity. In explanation of the action
or the it will be well to note
that while Messrs. Mcneil and Rogers
were elected by the legislature at it's
last session the same body repealed
the law by which it was provided that
members of the board shall be ap-
pointed by the legislature and made
the office of corporation commissioner
elective by popular vote, so that two
candidates will be nominated at the
regular state convention.
The third member of the board, Mr..
Abbott (republican) by the decision
of the supreme court retains his of
flee for two more years.
PRIVATE CORPORATION RESOLU-
TON.
When the matter of the corporation
commission was concluded Colonel w.
L. DeRosset introduced the following
resolution, which was unanimously
adopted and referred to the commit
tee on legislation, consisting of Mr..
and E. S. Martin, Esq, to-wit:
Resolved, nat the matter of the
laws in ~existance permitting the in
y~estigation by the courts of the pri-
vate business of corporations as now
evidenced by the proposed action Of
sundry railroad companies in their
case VS.. the corporation commission.
be referred to the OF committee
OF this body to recommend action to
be taken by the next meeting of this
chamber"
This action was brought about by
the fact that a number of incorporat-
ed companies have been summoned to
produce their books in the special
masters u to testify to their
gross receipts and operating expenses,
the same to be used as evidence in the
hearing now pending in this city
known as "the tax assessment case
Southern Railroad Company ct al VS..
the North Carolina Corporation Com
mission.
AS Messenger readers are aware, the
companies have declined to produce
their books and a test case, that of
the Acme Manufacturing Company,
has been prepared n certified to
Judge Simonton for a ruling as to the
right of the court to enforce obedi-
ence to the summons OF the special
masters court.
The was in session about
n and a half hours.
naEa Info Won. SI,oa.