The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-05-08
REFUSES TO GIVE UP
OFFICE,
A. T. MiaI Says Ne Can't be
Displaced as Road
Supervisor.

Mr.. A. T. Mial refuses to give up mis-
office as Road Supervisor of the Raleigh
District.
Yesterday the newly elected Sounty Su-
perintendent of Roads, Mr.. J. c. Filing
ton, and Mr. J. d. Allen, constituting a
committee appointed by the Board of
County Commissioners to formally take
charge of the road work for the coun-
ty, went out to the convict camp about
two miles east of the city, where Mr.
Mial was experimenting the work, and
made the formal request upon him to
turn over the office, together with the
tools and machinery, etc, belonging to
the county.
Mr.. MiaI refused to turn over his office,
saying that he had been elected in the
latter part of February to fill out the
unexpired term of Mr.. Bryant Harrison,
and that this entitled him to the place
until the first of January 1905. He said
further that he had given his bond on
the first of March, abandoned all his 9TH
er business, and made all arrangements
to give his entire time to the county
during the term for which he was elect
cd.
He stated also that he had no idea
the new law would displace him as Su-
pervisor of the Raleigh District, and
that having been regularly elected he
intends to hold on. claiming. that the
election of MIR. Aft Jones as his sue
cessor was illegal and declining to sur
render the office Under the old law, he
says, ne was Supervisor of practically
the same district that is now the Mid
die, or Raleigh district, the only dis
trict in which formerly any road tax was
levied. The only difference practically
he says, is that the district has been
extended two miles in all directions. At
any rate, his bond having been given
and accepted he takes the position that
he cannot be displaced.
The position of the county is that the
new road law, by it's repeal of the old
law, necessarily did away with all offices
and positions held under the latter. that
the object of the new law was proper
one; that is, the Improvement of tho
methods of working the roads, and the
repeal of the old law necessary to accom-
plsh this purpose: that such repeal was
not for The purpose of getting rid of any
officer or set of officers, but was made
in the utmost good faith; that Mr.. Mia
had notice that the old law would be re-
pealed If the new law succeeded in pass
ing the Legislature al the time of his
election in February, and that Mr.. Mia
has no cause to complain not having
made application for any Of the positions
created under the new law.
1t will be remembered that Mr.. Bry-
ant Harrison was elected Road Super
visor in December to succeed Mr.. W. c
McMackin At the February meeting ot
the Board of County Commissioners Mr.
Harrison rendered his resignation. to take
effect on the first of March. The Board
met during the latter part of February
about the 21st. and elected NJ A. 7
Mial to serve Mr.. Harrison's uneXpiTct
| term, that is, until January ist, 1905
Shortly after Mr. Mails election, The
new road law for Wake county wa:
| passed by the Legislature. providing fol
one general county superintendent ant
three supervisors for the three districts
| Raleigh. Northern and Southern.
| IT is understood that Mr.. Mial viii
bring suit against the county. and thai
| he haa retained Mr.. S. F. Mordecai as
! counsel