The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-09-14
Withdraw Charge of No
Reduction in Taxes.
DISPENSARY AFFAIRS
Upchurch Given Till Friday to Gather
Witnesses On His Charges, While
Committee Will Look Into All
Affairs Come cted Nth the
Raleigh Dispensary.
Raleigh Dispensary.

The investigation of the charges
made by Alderman j. S. Upchurch had
second beginning yesterday, but on
application of attorneys for Upchurch
the hearing went over till Friday.
Little was accomplished at the meet
jng in the Mayors office except that
he Upchurch charge that there had
been no reduction in taxes since the
lispenSary began was withdrawn by
he Upchurch attorneys, these being
Mr.. w 3. Jones and Col T. M. Argo.
Who are also the attorneys for the
For Saloons" petitioners.
The charge withdrawn was No. II
If those made by Upchurch and was
II these words: THAT the profits de-
lived from the dispensary OF the city
f Raleigh each years is 40 of the
net proceeds which for some reason
unknown has not reduced taxes in the
ity. as is claimed by the diSpenSary
advocates but that the taxes are high
r now than they were before the es-
abishment of the dispensary.
Other of the Upchurch charges
ere reaS and discussed, but as Mr.,
Tpchurch had no witnesses present his
'equest for d postponement was
granted. Being called on for proof
f certain of these charges his attor-
neys replied that they did not have
his, but it would have to be sought
or in the records of the dispensary.
finally after discussing one feature
md another, with none of the charges
discussed proven but all denied for the
lspensary officials, it was agreed that
ne committee is to itself investigate
III the affairs of the dispensary and
IN such charges as Mr.. Upchurch de-
,ires his witnesses are to be heard.
There were present at the meeting
he committee. consisting Of Mayor
ohnson City Attorney Snow. Messrs.
[. f. Smith and A. T.. Glenn of the
Board of Audit and Finance; Manager
" p. Bachelor. of the dispensary, and
Oispensary Commissioners B. G.. Cow
ler and w n. Snellings. with their
attorney, Mr. +. n. Simms Mr.. j.
:. Upchurch, on whose initiative the
Investigation is being held, and his
,ttorneys, Mr. w. 3. Jones and Col.
:. NJ. Argo. Mr. r. T. GoWan, clerk
f the Board of Audit and Finance.
tctei as secretary.
During the whole meeting there was
10 regularity or continuity of aG~u-
nent on any one charge discussed. y
.ew words and remarks would be
nade and Col ArgO would drive on
0 the next. while Mr.. Snow, of the
ommittee, would endeaVor to reach
n understanding on the charge read.
It was finally out of a cloud of con-
fusion that the matter went over at
he request of Mr.. Upchurch's attor-
leys, the committee in the meantime
o have a free hand to look into al
airs in the diSpensary.
AS agreed at the first meeting. when
Mr.. Upchurch asked postponement so
Is to have witnesses at this, the COM
nittee announced it would take up
,harges one, three, five and seven. and
beginning was had by reading
barge No l as follows:
Under the Watts Law, it is pro-
ided that no, dispensary shall make
yer 80 per cent. profit; whereas, in
ertain instances the Raleigh dispen-
airy has made over 100 per cent.
Jrofit."
Mr. Upchurch was called on for
violence. Col. Argo said I'VE win
AVE to introduce the bills and re-
:ords of the dispensary. We haven't
.ot the evidence. We want an expert
accountant 20 get it. Nobody knows
low it is Here Mayor Johnson in
luired if this did not put it UP TO the
lefense to show the charges are not
rue. Mr.. Snow said that as Colonel
Argo wanted the records there would
lardly be any technical advantage
ought by the dispensary and he could
probably get these. Mr.. Simms said
that the dispensary officials were ready
nd willing to produce all books and
anything wanted, either in the dis
ensary or here; that the gentlemen
who made this charge seemed to
AVE no proof but guess work. Col.
LrgO here talked about an account
mt and Mr.. Snow told him Mr. r. I.
towan was one. The matter was pass
ID over.
Charge No 3. which reads: THAT
he dispensary is not operated in &C.
,ordance with the rules prescribed by
he Board of Aldermen and the Watts
Law: (a) That the said rules provide
hat the manager of the dspensary
hall keep d book in which shall be
gut the brand of Whiskey. the price
,aid for it, and of whom 1T was Dur-
chased, and the amount purchased
zone of which is kept in this instance
(b) That the dispensary manager Is
euuired to make a report to the
Board of Alderman quarterly: that the
'eports made by the said manager are
lnintelligible and incomplete and
nothing can be learned from them.
vas next discussed.
Col. AGGO Sd1Q llldl CIIctl Sc va III
volved an animation of the books
Mr.. Simms stated he would like e
AVE shown him any authority fol
1eeping books as mentioned. though
such books were kept. On this Mr.
snow read the rules adopted by the
Board of Aldermen to govern the DIS
pensary, and no such requirement was
ound. so Mr. Simms announced. here
ne repeated that such books are Kept
md that the careless charges ma dc
ire not based on any fact Mayoi
Johnson announced that the SPECIFIC
barge of violation of the rule, wa!
not proven
Charge "B'' was next taken UP anc
Mr.. Simms said the rules did not re-
luire a report to the Board of Alder
men, but to the Dispensary Com
missioners and this had been made
as had the quarterly statement to tn
Aldermen as required
Here Mr.. w. B. Jones stated as t
(a) and (b) there might be a mistake
in the charges, but that he though
there might be an error in the rule
rs read, as his copy he thought wa
different. At this Mayor Johnson sait