The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-12-17
GOBER'S ENUMERATION.
A LIVELY DEBATE OVER THE MAT.
TER IN TIE HOUSE.

OlAy 4WSlVS Ah6LuD9rs NOJeQ Against
the Resolutions-They Objected Be
cause the Evidence Was Not Sub
mitted to the House-Messrs. Doolan
and Hodges Among the Minority.
ATLANTA. GA, Dec. 16.-Judge George
Gober has been officially exonerated from
charges of corruption by the Georgia leGis-
lature. but the investigating committee
took pains, through its leader. Maj. Bacon,
to state that at the same time no reflection
or intended wrong doing is laid at the doors
of Messrs. Glenn aud Maddox for bringing
the charges against the man who
Is power in North Georgia
politics. The vote was I42 ayes
and IL nays. Mr.. DooIan was one of those
who voted In the negative. From the re-
marks made by several of those who voted
Ia the affirmative after the matte or was dis
posed Of politics seems to have played q
more important part in the balloting than
right or justice. The fight lasted three
hours.
THE RESOLUTIONS
The discussion was preoipitated by the
introduction of the following resolutions
and motions, which formed the basis of the
disputation, which took a very wide range;
WHEREAS, Messrs. w. 9 Glenn and c. d.
Maddox submitted memorial to the general
assembly at the present session containing
charges which seriously reflected upon the
honesty, uprghtness and official character of
Hon. George Gober. Judge Of the Blue Ridge
circuit: and
WHEREAS. At Judge Gobers instance and re-
quest the joint committee of the Senate and
House we're appointed 60 investigate the truth
of said charges; and
WHEREAS, After patient and laborious In
vestigation said committee have found In favor
Of Judge Gober; therefore, be 1t
Resolved, By the House, that said report be.
and the same is hereby adopted, and Hon,
George F. Gober, Judge OF the Blue Ridge cir
cult, be and he is hereby fully and completely
exonerated from said charges.
| The resolutions are almost an exact copy
Of those adopted by the Senate yesterday.
THE DEBATE BEGINS.
Mr.. Smith Of a Gwlnnett, Offered a resolu-
tion that before voting on the pending reso-
luton or any amendments thereto Messrs
Gober and Glenns attorneys be invited to
appear before the House tonight and argue
the evidence In the case. each side being en-
titled TO two hours and half. Mr.. West
offered resolution that the evidence taker
In the investigation OF Judge Gober be
printed for the use of the House.
Judge Mershon moved that the report and
resolution be laid on the table, and that 400
copies of the transcript Of the evidence in
the case be printed.
HODGES oBJECTs.
Mr.. Hodges of Bibb, the young repre-
sentative who has made name for himself
at this session as being a man of nerve and
not afraid to express his convictions, made
an impassioned speech. "The charges
against Judge Gober J" said he, "are too i'm
portanp to be rushed. | favor postpone
ment of consideration Of the report and
printing the evidence in order that the
members may be able TO vote intelligenty
on the question. / want TO be distinctly
undergtood as not casting any reflections
upon the investigating committee or tnsin-
uating dishonor to Judge Gober but as
the members OF this House are sup
posed to be tho Judge in this case they
should be given all the evidence in order to
judge impartlally. II the evidence Is not
printed will have to vote against the ex-
oneratinG resolution in order to stamp my
disapproval of rushing the case without
giving everybody a fair showing. / have
no interest either in the prosecutors or the
defendant, but as l am representing the
people of Georgia l want to do right.
Mark me. gentlemen, am voting no be-
cause the evidence has not been submitted
TO me. and not with an intention of charg-
ing Judge Gober with corruption"
OTHERS TAKE THE SAME GROUND.
Mr.. johnson of Fulton and Judge Mer.
bLAOu bOOh bho bhLA0 pObAsAJu auu SPOKE
against rushing the resolution at this ses>
sion.
Mr.. Ragan of Henry said things smacked
of voting in the dark, TO which he was ops
posed.
Mr.. Battle, member of the committee,
cordially supported the resolutions to ex-
onerate and thought the report ought TO be
adopted. The committee, he said, had dis
charged its duty, and it was due to the dig
nifty of Judge Gober's office to adopt this
report, for II left standing over him he
would be hampered in the discharge Of his
duties.
THE FRIENDS OF THE RESOLUTIONS.
Mr.. Hill of Meriwether, also a member
of the committee, made some telling points
for the passage Of the resolutions.
Mr.. Bacon of Bibb, another member Of
the committee made the most elaborate
speech of the discussion. He reviewed the
case at great length discussing the charges
against Judge Gober in detail and arguing
that there was no reason for post
poning action on the resolutions, or
printing the evidence because, as he claimed,
the report of the committee embodied
every point Of law andevery important fact
bearing upon tho case The speech OF Mr..
Bacon was a most exhaustive and effective
presentation of the committee's view of the
question and closed the debate.
Mr.. Thomson, upon its conclusion,
moved the previous question and the mo-
tion was sustained.
FLEMING SPEAKS.
Mr.. Howard Of Baldwin, who, as chair
man Of the committee on the part of the
House, was entitled TO twenty minutes TO
conclude the debate, gave Mr. Fleming ten
minutes OF his time. Mr.. Fleming did not
see any necessity for postponing action on
the report While willing TO vote 10 have
all the evidence printed he thought the re-
port Of the committee was sufficient. He
was a strong friend Of Hon. w. C. Glenn,
who. he said, had one Of the brightest
legal minds which had ever
adorned Georgia. He had read his
mastery argument In this case. It was a
magnificent presentation completely cover
ing the question and stamped Mr.. Glenn AS
genius. He had read IL carefully, but was
convinced that it did not show Judge Gober
guilty Of official corruption, and IL Mr..
Glenn's speech failed TO do IL be was satisfied
that the printed evidence would fail to
do 10.
After Judge Mershon's motion to table
and print had been Overwhelmingly voted
down the resolutions Of Judge Hall were
put upon their passage, call for the yeas
and nays having been sustained.
VOTES EXPLAIEED.
When the name of Mr.. Hogan of Lincoln