The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1910-09-29

\ shall BE- credited To the counties pl
the state upon the tax to be assessed
for the year 1870 in proportion te
the amounts collected from them re-
spectively.
| Sec 8. All laws and clauses Of
laws coming in conflict with this act
are hereby repealed,
Sec. 4 :. This act shall be in force
from and after its ratification.
Ratified the Sth day OF March, A.
d. 1870.
The investigation by the house
committee of the whole had not an
swered the purpose intended. Little
fields influence, dominated its pro-
ceedings. The meetings were post
poned from time to time and wit
nesses refused to attend or declined
to answer or answered eyasively.
Littleiield billl-baited the house and
made his examination passing jest.
He turned the proceeding into ridi-
Guile and bore himself as hero with
CONSCIOUS strength rather than as a
culprit at the bar of Justice, But the
Bragg commission was making in-
yestigations at the same time and a
crisis was being rapidly reached.
On March 4th the house, in COM
mittee of the whole, spurred up by
the proceedings OF the Bragg CONF
mission, resolved that II would pur-
sue the matter with greater diligence
and that the committee should not
adjourn for more, than two days a.
a time.
And on the same day the house
passed resolution directing the
senate commission TO report its pro-
ceedings up TO the 18th of March.
The purpose OF this move was evil
IDENTIFY to interrupt the investigation.
The day following. the Bragg COM
mission had Littlefeld before II on
examination. and the house. at the
instance OF the committee OF the
whole, resolved that Littlefieid
should not be required to testify In
regard TO his dealings with private
parties. but that he might be ex-
amined in regard TO his transactions
with members OF the Legislature.
On Monday. Marcn 9th, however,
the house resolved that LlItleiield
might be excused from appearing be-
fore the committee OF the whole,
Evidently the trail was getting very
warm. The fox was being run 10
cover. Another Maynard had
brought the Blackboard 10 close
quarters. and fears were felt lest
other. witnesses would give away the
whole business.
A supper was given at the hotel,
where many OF the republican lead
ers were present. and oysters, wine
and cigars comforted the faithful.
Speeches were made by Littleheld
and other leading republicans on the
necessity OF repeating the Bragg COM
mission. as 1t was said the democrats
could make political capital out OF
the Investigation. Littlefeld. how
ever, struck the bulls eye when he
said. ''If they knew as much about
that Bragg commission ms he did,
they would vote 20 repeal II the next
day" That was an Irresistible argu.
ment. II was most persuasive. II
was so agreed-and the next day
Saturday, March 18th. when the com
mission made IT'S report under tbs
resolution calling Tor II. a motion
was promptly made to discharge thu
commission. A; once the contest be
gan. Had Littleheld the power Il
dominate the senate as he had domi
mated the house? Did he hold ths
majority in his hand as against th'
fair fame OF the honest people o
North Carolina The vote resulted
In tie. But honest caldw ~ brok'
the tie and voted against the motion
to discharge the commission. With
out avail. however, Col Ham Jone
moved TO continue the commission
but Senator Sweet again moved q
discharge it-and Littlefeld carrie,
the day.
been PASSED appointing come OF tn
| stockholders OF the w. ". c. raj
! road a committee TO settle with Sweu
son and LittleGeld for the funds o
that company. and that commIste
being about 70 assemble here At m
J eigh, Littlefeid seized his carpet-bag
J and as he was coming out OF ID
; hotel. saw Col. Ham Jones. Stoppin
! a moment. he said Colonel Jone.
/ | am about TO leave town. Ny Dc
: parture viii be the subject OF niue
E comment. ! do not wish to leay
5 without telling some one that al
D going. therefore tell you nowlt hi
/ am going" And. jumping into
/. waiting omnibus, he was soon on b
D way to FIorida--a fugitive frol
b justice.
: As All men who dealt with the VI.
s cial tax bonds were required 70 loo
{ TO their legality and constitutioualli
: Of the issue, they had notice OF n
d limitation on the power Of the yei
o eral assembly 10 impose taxes: an
e the taxes imposed By these specii
r tar bonds amounted 20 - cents q
j. the 800 Of property. which VI
d largely In excess OF the power Of q
e general assembly TO lay, 50 the publ
3 had notice that this taxation VI
Il beyond the powers 81 the legIslatnl
; and unconstitutional, and they ha
d notice that the legislature had i
nowar IN laauo any hnnd wlfhont