The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-02-17
The Georgia observation-disclosures OF
the Investigating Committee on the
Charges against Governor Bullock.


Charges against Governor bullock.
ATLANTA, Ga, February l6.-The report
of the Finance Committee, to whom was re-
ferred for investigation the charges made
against Governor Bullock by the State Urea
surer, WAS yesterday presented to the
House, and, without being read, was or
dered to be printed. The report opens
thus:
"We do not say that Governor Bull
lock is guilty of anything criminal, or bad
faith, but, on the contrary, believe his in
tentions were pure, and what he did was in
good faith, believing at the time it was for
the best interests Of the State yet think he
acted without authority of law. Hence we
propose to examine his acts, and try them
by the same test that the highest and low
est citizen is tried--law and evidence"
The report then cites evidence showing
that former Governors of Georgia frequent
ly exercised the same power rs that exer-
cised by Governor Bullock, and goes on to
say, that " for the purpose of getting g.
clearer and fuller development of the facts
growing out of the drawing and use Of
$4,000 your subcommittee addressed to
the Governor few interrogatories, and
also enclosed to the Treasurer the Governor
communication to the committee, and found
ed thereon o few interrogatories to him.
They responded Immediately to the inqui-
ries Of the committee, and the Governor
| gave much more satisfactory account OF
the affair than we had before received.
We learned that Messrs. Kimball had been
| advanced $3l 900 for the purpose Of light
ing, heating, and furnishing the capitol
and that the balance, $4,000, is in cash
and cash items, authorized by law to be
cancelled by warrants whenever the Urea
surer is placed in the proper relation to
the Department. The Treasurer's reply
gave no other information about the matter,
| but contained on intimation that the SIT,
600 charged to the State in the money CO.
lumn had been improperly used by the
Governor, This suspicion, we find on ex-
animation, to be perfectly groundless. We
do not intend to be guilty of captious fault
findings, but satisfied Of the integrity of the
Governor, we are still willing to repose in
him q generous confidence"
In conclusion, the committee refuses to
make any recommendation whether the
State shall assume the payment or the
lily VI AllbulI SAdIl w uSAu ~
sporsble but recommend, to prevent
similar occurrences hereafter, that the Ju-
dietary Committee be instructed to prepare
bill to define more clearly the duties Of
the Governor and Treasurer, and give the
Treasurer the exclusive power of negotia-
ting the sale of State bonds, by and with
the consent of the Governor.
"We apprehend that the Treasurer, when
q warrant is properly drawn by the Gov
ernor, approved and entered by the Comp.
trollcr- General, has nc right to go behind
the warrant TO look into its legality. The
warrant, if within the amount appropriated
is his security. The contingent fund is
placed in the Governors hands to be used
as he thinks proper, and the Treasurer has
no right to question his use or application
Of the fund.-
The committee is composed of twenty,
seven members, including twenty Demo,
Gratis, four Republicans, and three Con
servatives, and very thorough and impair
,ial investigation seems to have been made