The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-05-16

is h sole basis for the charge that /
prepared h papers for the Wilson
trial before Governor Russell.
The following are the six letters OF
memoranda which constitute thai
much-talked-of.
THE CLARK RUSSELL CORRE-
SPONDENCE-
LETTER NO. 1.
My Dea Governor:
i enclose Ed. stating on Mr.. Pages
authority that mis- road cost $3.50. 900 and
has been "a good paying road from the
beginning"
On D. . r. r. Com. Report, 1896. YOU
viii see that this road costing $3.50, 900
and paying well is rated for taxation at
Sis, 900 only. On p. 323 of same you will
find that the general officers" are Page
and his three sons, but they attend to
saw mill, etc.. so that in fact Henry
Page is practically sole officer. On next
page C324) the debt is put at Sc, 600. On
page 326 gross earnings s51, 059 which is
nearly so per cent on tax valuation. This
Is reduced you will zee on d 327 by
charging UP new cars, buildings, etc,
operating expenses and Salaries gen.
eral officers IS, 500 (p 32sl, on a 40 miles
road and an unexplained, add. item
general expenses ss,s37. On page 3e9,
~ FAA ~ N1AN NNSG vi EClltI dl
officers" (the family is one-third total
salaries You will see on same page
low rates paid his men i. e. engineers
81. so, etc.
In News and Observer July Is, you
will see H. A. Pages speech that his
tax value was high enough and in two
other numbers are letters OF his attack
ing you n me for meddling with tax
valuation and rates.
These Nos. are in st. Library, but I
a give you reference to dates, if you
wish to re-read them.
L enclose you letter showing ]. H.
Pearson is willing. 1 also am in receipt
dorsing the suspension of two Railroad
Commissioners. Return me Pearson's
letter. Yours. w. c.
Governor Russell had then recently in
some proceeding before Railroad Com
missioners complained that Tic railroads
were not paying their fair share Of
taxes, thus throwing the burdens of a
heavier taxation On other
Mr.. Page had replied in newspaper ar
ticles assailing the governors position
and Juggling me in because Of my views
On the same subject as stated probably
in some magTzlne article or speech.
The above is an undated memorandum
to Governor Russell. referring to the
JOlllI dlldCh oi uS, dliu giving udld
MI. Pages own returns i'll the Rail-
oad Commission report.
The point that struck Page n still
strikes him yet is that his railroad
property was grossly undervalued for
taxation and that he was paying his
employees much less h other rail-
roads. Hence his pamphlet. Had he
saved the money he hes spent on them
and what he invested in the Mckinley
campaign fund and put the same into
reasonable wages for his employees and
the purchase Of proper appliances for
his trains he would not now be so press
ed to pick out judges, who shall relieve
him from paying damages wien pas
sengers or employees nay be killed or
injured by negligence in operating his
road.
The reference to Pearson's letter is
to a letter (Which L still nave) from
Colonel w. S. Pearson, a lawyer whom
I we'll knew (and who was a candidate
for Auditor before the Democratic Con
v%ention. and a Bryan and Stevenson
elector from the Eighth district in 1900
saying, if a Democrat was appointed he
would like for his brother, John II.
Pearson to be named. I knew John H.
Pearson very slightly and as he states
in his recent card, 1 2m sure l had no
correspondence with him before his ap-
pointment. On the above slight ref
erence, the whole allegation that l a
him appointed is based, though it would
have been a credit to me il l had. for
he made a most excellent commissioner.
We have had none better.