The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-01-23
THE PRINTING INQUIRY.
TWO MEET INGs OF THE SPECIAL
JOINT COMMITTEE ON
TUESDAY.

What the Committee Think and Say Of
the Action of the House In the
Green COntumacy Case.
At IL o'clock Tuesday morning the Special
Joint Committee on the Investigation OF the
State Printers Accounts met in their room at the
State House.
Senator Mitchell in the chair.
Mr.. Hammond said:
Gentlemen of the Joint Con,naRtee-I think Il
my duty. as chairman ON the part of the House
committee Of this Joint committee, to report
the occurrences In the House yesterday.
Mr.. Green was called before the committee on
Monday morning. as you know, and upon again
declining to answer the question propounded
at our meeting last Saturday. the committee
unanimously voted to bring him before the bar
OF the House.. against whose authority he was
declared to be In contempt. and there to purge
himself OF said contempt by answering the
question or be punished. This contumacious
witness was brought before the bar of the
House. In custody of the Sergeant at Arms.
The Speaker. being instructed by a vote of the
House. Dropounded the question the committee
desired 10 have the witness answer. The wit
ness refused, and after cons idsrable discussion
the prisoner was discharged by u tie vote.
This action OF the House. must say. places
this committee In an awkward position, The
committee Is restricted in its labors. The
authority delegated to US By the House has been
virtually annulled. and fail TO see how we can
henceforth compel witne sses to answer legiti-
mate questions II they refuse.
All that Is Left for US to do now Is to investi-
gate the State Printers vouchers for 1878. on file
in the Auditors office. My first impulse yes
terday was that not only myself. but the whole
committee should resign and ask to be relieved,
But this session will BE- very short The inter
cute this investigation and bring In our report
am really anxious to do all possibly can In
he th OF Hnese the pubic % and but be-
equally anxious to do what is right. Yet Imust
say that the action OF the House In releasing
Green without forcing him to answer the Ques-
tion propounded was sore disappointment to
me- for / am satisfied that had Green been con-
demned to jail he would have given the answer.
uoie was being taken BY an outside pa party IT. e to
give me the information II / would release the
prisoner; but as thought would be sustained
ceed, with the Conviction that Green nv would SuH
surely answer II the vote. was for conviction.
Green In my opinion, would never have gone
However, the House has By Its its own action
brought its authority into contempt and has
almost fatally impail ed the efficiency Of our
had made the offer of information disap peared
when Green was released.
think now 1t will be useless to attempt that
have been examined have ali testified in favor
OF the State Printer, except this Mr.. Green. and
l am satisfied that his evidence is worthless in
say, since his evidence Is so conflicting in the
case. that we should strike it out entirely.
Mr.. Ross Gentlemen 1 consider the action of
and s to this asetgs
Mr.. Delahoussaye-I rise to personal ex-
planation. l am. in the DEMocRAT Of Sunday
the proceedings MIR. Delahoussaye made a mo-
ton, which was not seconded. that the opinion
Of the Attorney General as to the committees
ing transactions had between him and the
grand jury be obtained"
wish here to state that such is not the sub
and unprejudiced man. ready to do my
iuty towards the State, as well as to-
ysras Ssss ta the 4as sase Printer and to
nittee Far was 1t from me to attempt to shield |
NJ. Green behind the Attorney General.
meTsy ow G hbye s onnon Of That
lad the power to compel the revelation Of facts |
esrstly g stl e c4nfided = 11 to q grand z jury.
rere to aena tbe Senai asFsd
Senator Mitehell.-My view OF the action |
" the House Yesterday on the Green conta- |
r. sha # y not SO much f a. insult to this
'wn intelligence.
After passing resolutions clothing this COM
vas improper on the part of the House not to l.
indicate Its dignity. and great fault to have |
eleased this witness Green. In my opinion |
here is not a particle Of doubt that this man
vas urged into this prosecution. or persecu-
lon. might say and that his whole Testimony
9 malicious In intent.
'ort on this point. expressing our opinion as |
D the reasons OF Green's refusal to answer our |
uestion. l. for one. believe In the existence
1 a conspiracy.
At this point motion to adjourn until two
CLOCK to. day. prevailed.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
Pursuant to adjournment this morning, the
omm1ttee met In their rooms at two .. NJ, Sem
tor Mitchell In the chair.
Present--1enator Bowden, Representatives
hammond, Ross. Parmelee and Nettles.
Absent.Senator Delahoussaye and Repre-
Mr.. .Ross-This morning I still felt much
hagrined at the thought OF the Houses refusal
} sustain the committee yesterday. / have
70: | feel that our course has been condemned
y the House.
Our object was to get at the true facts, the bot
cen charged with fraud: Green testifles to this
LEGGED fraud. He admits to have been fnsti.
ated In profferine the original charges By
,me 'Is on one who has s not the manhood to stand
In making good these charges. Mr.. Green
,emed to me to be actuated by malice. l.
Is isst,on refusal sa.s to answer our legit@ats
is testimony in my mind. Now, as
Ius T ss fraud is concerned. / do not believe a
OIu U! OFeeuS REPRESENTATIONS to that enect
,s evident that the whole thing was gotten up
n tie purpose. of injuring the Democratic
arty, by damaging both the State Printer and +
10 official organ. 1t Is certain there is some
,rrup1on at The bottom of all this extraordi-
ary series Of prosecutions.
Mr.. Hammond. appealing to Mr. Ross. earnest
requested him to reconsider his determine
on 10 resign from the committee. and at some
myth expressed himself satisfied of the un-
uthfulness of Green. AS acting chairman |
this committee" said he, II will not subp ona Il
~ more witnesses except the expert, with
hom we propose to examine the accounts of t
10 State Printer on file In the Auditors office. In
e report which we shall make to our res pecive J
dies we must take occasion to vindicate our Q
.tton In the contum acy case of that man Green"
senator Mitchell Joined Mr.. Hammond In his J
)peal to Mr.. Ross to remain on the committee
nd finish the investigation.
Mr.. Ross said he could perhaps stand a.
uch 8 the rest OF the committee, and since IL u u
as their desire to go on with the Investigation
ithin the limits fixed by the la'e action OF the
ouse he would agree to remain. a. u
Mr. Netfles moved that sub b-committee OF .
rec, with Mr.. Hammond as chairman, oe ap- ti
,inted to Investigate the State Printers Voucn-
a on file in the Auditors office. q
The chair appointed Messrs. Hammond. Net y
- and Delahoussaye. H.,
a|r1f Tvv NJ