The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-04-19
THAT SECRET INVESTIGATION

Since Ii has become known that the
committee investigating the affairs OF
the Atlantic and North Carolina rail-
road and the Atlantic hotel was proceed
ing with its work in secret and allow
ing no one TO know what were its pro-
ceedings there has been a good deal Of
adverse comment on this course by the
press # the state, and papers outside
h state also have taken b same po-
sition. We rave yet to see n defense
of this action of the committee by the
editor of a North Carolina paper. II
there has been such it has escaped our
attention and we have been on the
lookout for it.
All those who hav opposed the Sc
cret sessions Of the committee have
based their objection on the ground
that as this was an investigation of the
management OF a piece o. state prop
erty by representatives of state Off
Gals, the owners OF that property-the
people-had the right TO know what vas
being one from day to day by that
committee. This we think a correct
OolNHoh CllA0 z oA4O4Ao O( 4oASC
enough In it to cause the committee to
sit with open doors.
But there is another, and. we think
a more important reason why this
investigation should be public
1t has been said by those in authority
and by those close to theg governor who
has instituted this inquiry that it was
the desire OF the officials that every
thing connected with h management
of the property should be laid before
the committee, All persons having
any information have been requested
to give it to the committee. Now as
the investigation is being conducted,
how is this possible? The committee
We suppose. is taking. or will before it
gets through it's labors take the
the Star Chamber manne of conduct
ing the inquiry will come in to prevent
q full and complete Investigation. 1t
Is this: A certain question is taken
up by the committee. 1t goes as deep
into it as the facilities present permit,
Do~ NO&o ~ - oA4y POl DSyOllO
the closed doors knowing what matter
is under consideration. There may be
important information on his very
point in the possession of some person,
but he oes not know that this partic-
ular matter Is under Investigation and
after the committee has made its re-
port and adjourned he finds that had
he been able to keep up with the pro-
ceedings from day to day he could have
appeared before the committee and
enlightened it on h very important
matter on which it had acted either
entirely in the dark or on informa-
ton solely in the interest of one sid
OF the case. Unless these people who
have information to give know what
the committee is investigating how car
they give it hat information?
If h committee persists in pursuing
the present course it's report is bound
to be defective in it's statement OF
facts and. consequently. biased in its
conclusions no matter how anxious its
members may be to get to the bottom
Of the affairs of the road and hotel.
This determination of the COMMITTEES
10 proceed secretly was a fatal mistake
II it is the desire Of the administration
and the railway authorities to make &
thorough. full n fair investigation and
to lay the matters as they really exis
before the public. And we take i
that is what the committee wants to do
| hi first step of the committee viii
tend to discredit it's findings with tn
public. Some will think it biased
Others will feel that, by reason of tn,
of conducting the inquiry tn.
bottom facts were not reached. Eithe,
conclusion OF the public will nullify an
good results which might arise from
report OF the committee finding tina
there had been no mismanagement o
either hotel or railroad.