The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1927-01-14
JOSEPHUS' DANIELS
ATTACKS ON MEEKINS
They Are Unfair to The Elizabeth City Man
And They Are Not Making Thinking
Folk Feel Kindlier to Daniels

server continues it's ruthless al
tacks upon Federal Judg
Isaac NJ. Mcckins Of this cit,
harassing the object of ii
venom week after week wit
irritating suggestions that carr
no weight with responsible an
thoughtful citizens, but whic
arc cleverly enough designe
to put the Elizabeth City ma
in a bad light with the averag
reader who does not diScriml
nate between facts and hear
say and conjecture. Here is
specimen from the News I
Observer, issue of Jan. 6, 1927
The detailed information up
on which the Comptroller Cen
eral Of the United States based
his criticism of the activity Of
Federal Judge Isaac VI. Meek
ins and William &. Bramham.
both of North Carolina, in his
report on the office OF the Alien
Property Custodian are being
withheld from the Senate by
President Coolidge.
The general report Of the
Comptroller General. which in
eluded severe criticism Of the
activity of both Meekins. who
was connected with the office as
General Counsel and later as
manager of enemy insurance
companies. and Branfham, who
was attorney i'm several alien
property eases. was made public
before the holidays. The larg-
est part of the report, however
which is made up Of cOmpih-
tions of fact upon which the
general report was based. has
not yet been made public.
These exhibits hack Id, the
charge made in the general re-
port.
That part Of the report which
has been published carries an
index of the exhibits which
the President is withholding
from the Senate. This index
shows that these exhibits will
throw further light on the
charges against Judge Nleekins
to the Comptroller Generals
court.
Indeed. Judge Meekins is
given an entire exhibit to him.
self, according to this index.
which shows among the special
reports not yet made public one
entitled. 81. VI. Meekins-in-
come and SurtaXeS."
That part of the report which
has been made public states
that Judge Meekins received
thousands of dollars in fees,
salary and travelling expenses
during the three and a half
years years he was connected
with the office of Alien Proper
fy Custodian. first as general
counsel and later as manager O1
enemy insurance companies.
The report of the comptroller
general states that Judge Meek
ins did not completely or ae-
eurateiy" report these large
sums on his income tax returns.
One view taken here is that
il is the special report on Judge
Meekins that has prevented the
President from making the ex-
hibits public. Under the Jaw,
income tax returns may not be
made public and it may be that
this report on Judge Meekins
tax returns is the "One item in.
the exhibits which 1 am pro-
hibited from publishing under
the law" as stated in the Presl-
dents message.
Without waiting to ascertain
neither the exhibits in question
resent Judge Mcekins in an I'M
ivorable light. the News " OD'
river assumes that such is the case
nd proceeds to put Mcekins i'll the
orst possible light before the pe0'
lc Of Eastern North Carolina. 1t
only i'm Eastern North Carolina
,at the News & Observer has either
circulation or influ,
nee.
NIeekins Did Make Money
Isaac McckinS made Il lot OF
Ioncy while serving rs Manager OF
le Enemy Insurance Companies IN
CIV York City. He never conceal
I the fact from his friends and
lc fact of some of the biz fees he
,ceived was published in this news
lper years before the News n oD'
river began its attacks. Judge
-eekins himself never concealed the
let of his earnings to his friends
nd it is inconceivable that Il man
his intelligence and experience
ould try to play tricks with an
Continued on page two!