The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-08-18
GEORGIA'S FACTIONS.
Sweeping Charges Against the
Democratic Administration.
IMPEACHMENTS AFOOT.
A Good Deal of Noise and Little Woo
for the independents"
A SERIOUS PARTY SCIIISM.

ATLANTA. August o. 1879.
The situation here is unchanged since sent you
dispatches announcing the impeachment of Comp
troller Goldsmith and the Investigations ordered for
the Treasury. the Penitentiary and the School and
Agricultural departments. The lines being
drawn closer. the excitement is growing intenser.
but there startling developments. and l take
advantage of the lull before the storm to give the
HERALD history of the events and their that
have led to the remarkable state Of things now
listing.
Georgia was the first Of the Southern States to
throw of the republican administration fastened
upon all the reconstructed States of
war. The overthrow of this administration
crushing that no serious fight has been made since
against the democratic party. It's first Governor
after reconstruction. James NJ. Smith, elected
by about 600 majority. Governor Colquitt rolled
up $4,000 majority. and this too. in poll OF less
than 100000 votes. Under democratic administra-
ton the State has prospered amazingly. Her credit
has become strong that of any State corpora
ton. and she has been held up model of energy.
good sense and enterprise. 1t is remarkable there
fore. to find that there is only department of
government. from tho Governor down. that is not to-
day under suspicion of impeachment or investiga-
ton or course except the judicial and Legislative
branches OF the government
The Governor has just emerged from one investi-
CATION and is now threatened with another. Some
time ago he affixed his signature to issue Of
S26300O Of railroad bonds which there had
been much litigation and of the legality OF which
there has been doubt. He was sustained in
his Endorsement of the bonds by nearly every public
man in Georgia and by almost unbroken public
sentiment. 1t was charged, however. that Me. John
w. Murphy,a clerk in the Treasurers Office had
received fec of $4,000 for work in securing this
He ella he hisf
the bondholders for work done q lawyer. There
were others who insinuated that the fec had been
paid to secure improper interference with the
Executive. Governor Colquitt thereupon demanded
an immediate investigation into his motives and
conduct. This investigation had and
most thorough. There were two reports from the
committee. Both vindicated the Governor in the
fullest terms, denouncng the reports against his
tegrity o OF calumny and SANDER. The
majority report had sentence relieving Mr. Murphy.
This provoked opposition. After discussion that
almost endless. and that went from session to
session. both houses adopted q substitute reso-
luton, vindicating the Governors character in
emphatic terms. It had become evident by this
time however. that there was great deal of bad
feeling. and that there to be general fight all
along the line.
THE coArpTRoILKRs TROUBLE.
The impeachment of the Comptroller General was
the excitement Of the early part Of the present
sion. There vast bodies Of wild lands in Georgia.
These arc lands not in cultivation use. and Of
course bringing revenue to their They
scattered throughout the State and the
scarcely over paid on them. The law provides that
they shall be sold in default Of taxes Hundreds of
thousands of acres have been sold within the past
year two, bringing only about enough to pay the
taxes. 1t found that tho f-fas for these lands
had been transferred by the Comptroller to four
men. who. spectators, bought in this probably
10000 Of land tor little than the taxes,
less than one per cent of their assessed value
Tho speculation was gigantic one, and an investi-
CATION ordered. The Comptroller claimed that
he had made the transfers under the written opinion
of the Attorney General. which true. During
the investigation of this matter several alleged ir
Irregularities wero found. 1t claimed that tho
Comptroller had withheld money belonging to the
State; that he had used temporarily other State
funds. and that there evidences of corruption
in his administration. At length OF his friends
offered member of the House $3.50 and a suit of
clothes to sign paper correcting certain parts OF the
report OF the committee. This attempt to bride
brought to the attention OF the House. Mr.. Gold
smith declared that he knew nothing OF the attempt
Mr.. Wright. the friend. swore that he had acted
purely on his own responsibility. and the member
swore that Mr.. Wright told him at the time or tho
attempt. On these combined points, however, the
impeachment OF the Comptroller was ordered.
CHARGES AGAINST THE TREASURER.
The alleged trouble with the principal keeper Of
the Penicntiary that he used his Office to Cypress
the lessees OF the convicts The facts appear to
be that tho lcssees being forced by law to bear
the expense of carrying the convicts from the
county jails to the various camps. have found
it best to make contract with the keeper
to deliver the convicts at much per
head. This practice has prevailed for many years.
The price charged by Captain Hcms sl2 per
head, losing contract for him ~ IL has proved.
Of ssees 0t to Oh the 81
Helms charged them. and the charge made by them.
that he used his powers ms principal keeper to exort
the money from them.
RuMons ABOUT OTHER DEPARTMENTS.
The charges against tho Treasurer based
rumor and are to the elect that lac has loaned out
the money of the State Tor his benefit and that
he has drawn interest the deposit OF the States
money in the banks with which he did business.
These and other ruinors of rregularity constitute
the charges against Treasurer Rontroe, although
his prosecutors declare that there Is much more be-
hind. What the points are against the Agricultural
aud School bureaus cannot be OWNED. as the per-
sons having them in charge are very reticent Tho
in these departments therefore DO 1t resolved, &C.
A proposition is now being loosely made to
investigate the Governor directly. which means
to overlook his contingent accounts &c and to
investigate especially the payment or two large fees
Messrs. Goriington Aston received $4,000 tor
the recovery OF large sum OF money, about 100000
net, out OF an old claim against the general govern
although 1t is claimed the contract made before
he came into Office He also paid Mr.. W. y. Tugglo
a of 5000 tor recovering about $4,000 out OF the
general government ON an old claim. These pay
meuts contingent and made out Of tho
fund recovered. Tho Tugglc claim lis being in
ycstigated Besides these. the mon in charge OF tho
investigation tor the legislature is already dividing
into factions over the nght declare that they have
moro to come.
GOVERNOR coLQUIrrs POSITION.
went through the State House to-day To what
the mon under hre had to say for themselves. 1
called first upon Governor Coiquitt. The Governor
is thoroughly indignant at the assaults that have
been made upon him. and says that lac shall push
every charge or insnuation to tho bottom. Iio
says:-"I went into this office pledged to economy
and retronchment. That pledge have scrupulously
kept. Tho expenses have been cut down in every
department and the expenditures in the contingent
fund. The public printing, public buildings ana all
have been less than ever before. / not only chal
enge but court the fullest investigation into my
every official act perceive clearly the object of
assaults that have been made, but nothing shall pre-
vent my offering every inducement to an investiga-
ton OF all my acts. Investigation kills slaEderl
close friend of the Governors said to me as
wasleaving the Office :-''Tno Governor is determined
not to submit to this persecution aud insult lie is