The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1893-04-14

to make his statment he could con-
tinue.
Mr.. Ellis remarked that if the
members didn't want to hear what
he had to say he would sit down.
He would say, however, that he
would never agree to make any
white-wash report on this matter.
These officers have violated the law
in several instances and they ought
to be held responsible. 1t twasveFy
important that this investigation
should be thorough in every par
ticular, in order that the people
might know Just how their money
was being squandered.
Speaking Of the direct tax COM
mission and its affairs, Mr.. Ellis
said: This direct tax, gentlemen,
belongs to the people, andits prop
er care is a trust in the hands of the
State and its officers; yet what do
we find? Here is an entry on the
books showing thet one John f. f
Richardson was paid $4,000 out Of
this trust fund to go to Washington
and collect the money. Kentucky
got her money from Washington at
the cost of a postage stamp. Now
| hold and believe that the State is
still liable for every dollar Of the
money paid to Richardson, and if
the parties to whom it belongs were
to demand it the State would have
to pay it. So far we have examined
only one voucher in this direct tax
matter, and there is mistake Of
SO in that. The men who have
; handled this money have SO mysti-
| fed their books that it will take
considerable time to get at the true
state of things.
"The military Of the State has
cost the State in the last two years
, about $160,000, and there is such a
I looseness in regard to how and why
? this money was expended that it is
very important the whole thing be
3 probed to the bottom.
, "The States printing has cost
+ between $40,0 and $4,000 in the
! same time, and it looks as if there
), is corruption in connection with
i this matter.
!, Gone of the greatest and most
;; important things demanding inyess
tigation is the operation of the in
% surance commissioners Office. The
50 committee appointed at this session
,s took the wosd Of the treasurer as to
Dl this matter, and could not secure
10 any facts or figures of value. Here
90 are some figures on this insurance
10 fee business which should have the
10 attention Of the members of the
6s house. In 1889 the commissioners s
:, part Of the fees from insurance
. companies amounted to ST, ,409.52.
The commissioner received in adj
% dition a salary of $500. This sum
added to The other makes a total
of 81, ,909.52. In 1890 the commits.
80 sioner's fees were S2,Ol627, which
40 added to the salary of $500 makes
80 S2,5l627, a total of $4,425.79 fol
IS the two years. This was previous
Ne to the passage of the act which gave
Of all the fees to the commissioner
o. Now listen, gentlemen, under the
p operation of this benefcent law oI
n 1891 the fees Of the commissioner
= amounted to So, 8,439.56 in 1891, ant
. in 1899 he grabbed S9,9l3.53. Ii
the month Of January Of this yea
the old commissioner collected fee,
a to the amount of S6,529. Now ther,
y must have been collusion some
- :, where, for we see by the figure
y, u, that the commissioner collected
three years fees for two years serv
ca e ice, and the action of this assembl,
lis in passing the Aust bill is thu