The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-11-24
HARDEMAN UNDER HOT FIRE
An IRSinuatiOn that He Gave MiSlGad-
Ing Information.


Messrs. Chambers and Hatcher Re
tort that if They Are Wrong the
Blame Lies With the State Treas
urer.
Atlanta. Ga, Nov. 23.-The Senate to-
day neld a sensational session, devoted
exclusively to discussion Of the admins
tration of the state treasury department.
Some serious reflections were made upon
Treasurer Hardeman, and as a climax
committee was appointed to investigate
his Office The following are the resolu-
tions offered by Mr.. Daley providing for
this committee, being substitute for the
one by Senator Humphreys offered yes
terday:
Whereas. At the last session Of the gen
eral assembly bill was introduced, and
urged for passage. authorizing the governor
to issue and float bonds OF this state to the
amount of 1868 600 to fund the interest
on the public debt OF this state, so as TO
provide a fund from money in the state treas
ury to pay the public school teachers quar-
terry; and,
Whereas. A Joint committee from the Sen
ate and House, appointed at the last session
to investigate the condition OF the treasury,
have made their report TO this session OF the
general assembly, from which it appears
fhat on ,Tuly l. 1893 there was the sum Of
- in the state treasury; and.
Whereas, At the present session Joint
committee of the senate and House was ap'
pointed TO examine the condition OF the treas
ury and ascertain what deficiency, II any, IL
was necessary to supply in order to pay the
public school teachers quarterly, ana sald
committee having reported that the treasurer
informed them that there we're ample funds
in the treasury TO pay said public schooi
teachers quarterly il the soldiers and widows
pensions we're also paid quarterly the pres
emit inability to pay said teachers quarterly
arising from using part OF the school fund
in February in the payment OF said pensions
when money to pay said pensions was not
paid into the treasury until December there
Whereas. 1t appears from the books in the
executive ONCE that the pensions pald 10
widows were not paid until after the tax for
said purpose was collected and turned into
the treasury; and
introduced in the Senate reciting that de-
rosits have been made in certain state depos
itories largely in excess Of the amounts OF the
bonds required OF such repositories and
Whereas, The treasurer has failed to make
a report to this session of the general assem-
bly, of the condition of the treasury as re-
quired by law therefore be it
Resolved That a Joint committee, consist
ing OF three from the Senate and five from
the House, be appointed, who shall be re-
quired TO report as early as practicable TO the
general assembly, now in session the true
condition of the state treasury, the amount of
money in the various state repositories
when such money was paid in such deposito-
ries and the reason, If any, why the public
school teachers cannot be paid quarterly, and
also the pensions. Said committee shall
have full power to examine books and pa
pers, subpoena and examine witnesses ana
exercise all other powers necessary to full
and con plete performance Of their duties
under this resolution.
The president appointed on this COM
mittee Senators Humphreys, DAILY and
Reese. 1t will be acted upon in the House
tomorrow
CAUSED A SENSATION.
While the resolution caused a sensa-
ton, the action of Senators Chambers
and Hatcher in saddling on State Treas
urer Hardeman the blame for giving their
investigating committee information al
legged to be misleading in regard to the
funds in the treasury, was even more ex-
citing. The senator's were moved to say
what they did by an article
published here to-day by Repre-
sentative Fleming, of Richmond, in
which he said the records showed that
the report of the Joint committee APP
pointed to ascertain how much money
was needed to be raised to pay teachers
quarterly, was Incorrect in regard to the
funds in the treasury, Mr.. Fleming took
direct issue with the committee on this
point and discussed it at length, sup
ported by extracts from the records
When the article appeared it created
sensation.
R. CHAMBERS DEFENDS THE COMMITTEE.
AS soon as the session was opened
Senator Chambers had the article read
and on question of personal privilege
spoke as follows: I'm this interview it
is charged that the representation of this
committee as to the statement of facts
that the taxes for the payment of the ap-
preparations to the widows and soldiers
do not reachs the treasury until De-
cember of each year was wrong, but tn at
heretofore they have been paid eight or
nine months previous thereto. If this
statement of facts is false, the treasurer is
responsible therefore. The committee
had no authority to investigate or ascer-
tain any facts as to the payment of these
pensions. It's duty was to ascertain and
report what amount of money, if any, is
necessary to pay the teachers salaries
quarterly. With this purpose in view,
the committee called on the treasurer,
and at its first meeting arrived at no sat
tsfactory conclusion.
THE TREAsURER's STATEMENT.
''At the meeting on the next day at the
treasury the committee was informed by
the treasurer that the pensions to widows
and soldiers were paid out of the educa-
tional fund eight or nine months prev ious
to the time 1t was collected by the treas
urer from taxes raised for this purpose
He also informed the committee that if
arrangements could be made to paw the
pensions quarterly there would be suffi-
cient funds in the treasury to pay the
teachers quarterly. Upon this informa-
ton from the treasurer your committee
submitted the report If the statement
of facts therein stated is false the treas
urer of the state is responsible Mr..
President, not only the teachers but the
people of the state of Georgia have been
clamorous for quarterly payments They
have been informed that there was no
money in the treasury of the state 10
make these payments.
THE BILL FOR BONDS.
"At thelast session of this general as
sembly bill passed the lower House au-
thoriZing the issuance of bonds to the
amount of 1855, 900, ostensibly for the paw
ment of the interest of the public debt.
but argued on the floor of the House as if
it was to raise funds to pay the teachers
quarterly. When that bill came
to the Senate after discussion and
investigation, this body refused to
pass it, The special committee who
counted the money in the treasury in June
last found more than $1,000, 900 in the
treasury In the face of this report bv
the committee,we are confronted wi iii an
other bill in the House for an increase of
the states bonds to the amount of 1855.