The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-09-23
No Evidence Yesterday in
Dispensary Charges.
UP TO THE COM MITTEE
The Investigating Committee Decides
it Will Examine the Invoices and
Records On Charges of Over 80
Per Cent Profit and This is
Agreed Upon by All.

1t was a march up the hill and
down again yesterday afternoon at the
meeting of the committee investigat-
ing the Upchurch charges against the
dispensary for nothing was done.
There was merely a pow WOW over
what had been done, what was asked,
and what the committee would do
in the matters yet to be considered.
The final determination was as be-
fore, this being that the committee
would itself examine the invoices and
records at the dispensary to see if
a profit exceeding the so per cent al
lowed by law had been charged.
There was something doing in the
way of spicy talk, by the attorneys,
for Mr.. r. n. Simms, attorney for
the dispensary, declared that letter
from Mr.. Upchurch to Manager
Bachelor, of the dispensary, asking
to be furnished originals or copies of
the invoices, or to be allowed to eX-
anime the books himself was simply
a play for effect" In reply Col. Argo,
appearing for the Upchurch charges,
denied that there was any such at
tempt. but that If the information
asked was not given I'VE are at the
end of ourlrow.'
The meeting bega nwith the pre-
sentation of a copy of a letter sent by
Mr.. Upchurch to Manager Batche-
lor, asking for the original or copies
of the invoices on certain brans OF
whiskey and wines named. or if$these
could not be furnished, then to allow
him to come to the dispensary ana
there examine the books and records,
asking also that he be furnished with
a list of the names Of local agents in
Raleigh selling to be di6pensary.
This letter, Mr. r. n. Simms rose
TO say. was "a play for effect and was
directed at a matter already settled,
as the committee had sal dit would
examine the invoices and records 10
see if more than so per cent had been
or was being charged. He stated that
Mr.. Upchurch's letter sent to- Mr..
Bachelor had been turned over to
the Dispensary Commissioners and
that thev were ready to furnish the
matter asked for it required. but that
if was not thought that the books
of the dispensary should be opened to
a miscellaneous search, as no business
house would like to have its affairs
treated thus. nor would houses selling
the dispensary wish competing houses
TO laloW thcir prices. He held that as
the committee had already SAID II
would examine the invoices, costs ana
selling prices, that the request Tor
these by Mr.. Upchurch was simply "a
play for effect"
Col Argo denied this, and said the
remark was out of place and untound-
cd that this was a public business
and not on the same footing as a
private enterprisS as to examination
of books He urged that the RECORDS
and invoices be shown or we are at
the end ofNour row..
Here Mr. w. B. Snow. of the com
mittee. asked if Col Argo did not
think that the committee could inVes-
tigate the matter without the invoices
being produced. TO this Col. Argo
gave assent, saying "Oh, yes, but we
ought to have these to justify our
selves"
Chairman Johnson here stated that
the evidence was open to the com
mittee and that it could make the cal
culations when it examined the rec
ords.
Mr.. w. 3. Jones stated that if nee
essary that in half an hour he could
have witnesses to prove the selling
nrice. and that though on some brands
the price might be right, yet on others
if would be shown that it was not.
Following this there were REMARKS
back and forth, but finally an agree
ment was reached, stated by all 10
he satisfactory, that the committee
would examine the invoices ana prices
itself and that if further evidence was
needed the attorneys for Mr.. Up
church would be given notice.