The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-02-01
THE GOVERNOR SHOULDERS IT.
He Says He is Responsible For the
Troops Expenses

Troops Expenses.
Gov. Northen has been interviewed at
| length in regard to the calling out of the
troops TO prevent the Corbett- Mitchell
fight in Georgia and the cost of the cam
/ palgn. When shown a criticism of his
action by the Constitution he said
Il want to say right at the outset for
| the sake of those people who are most di-
rectly interested, that l am personally re-
| sponSible for all of the indebtedness in
Cured in that matter, and that should il,
! By any possibility, happen that the state
does not pay the money shall do so my
self. "
And the attorney generals decision2"
"Oh! as to that YOU may simply say
that everything did was after thorough
and full and complete advice with the
attorney general The matter was
/ brought to my notice particularly by
Solicitor Brantley, and every step in the
affair was taken after consultation with,
and might say, on the advice of these
/ gentlemen"
And this opinion will be-"
We'll, of course, it can only be one
thing. There is absolutely no question as
to the legality of every step that was
| taken"
And as to the fund from which this
money will be paid} understand there
was some point about its coming out of
| the military fund"
! Il have noticed" said the governor,
| that some who criticised me made the
! point that the money expended in meet
| ing the necessary expenses of preventing
this threatened invasion could have been
| expended to good advantage on the mill
tary. Well, you see there is nothing in
that, because the money comes out of the
contingent fund, and, even if it We're not
used as it is, it would not go to the mill
tary. 1t is just such cases as this that
| the contingent fund is provided for and
the comptroller general need have no mis-
| givlngs whatever as to the payment Of
these warrants"
And what about the expenses2 How
much do you think they will foot upl"
well, as to that | have no definite
means of information. AS a rough guess
| would say about 81 900; but, as l said
before, don't know and l would not like
to make guess which would have to be
changed later on"
"You called out, believe, six compan-
iesl'
| Yes; six companies. instructed Col
| Gordon to call out such forces as he
! deemed necessary TO defend the line of
| the Savannah, Florida and Western road.
| He accordingly ordered out four com
panies had twenty-eight men on the
| Florida Central and Peninsular They
were members of the Brunswick Horse
! Guard. Then the Waycross Rifles were
also called out"
Are these men paid when called upon
in this wayl'
"Oh, yes" said the governor, 1.-THE
men receive rs cents and days rations
per day. have made no computation as
yet as TO how much that foots up. Then,
in addition to the military, there were a
good many civil officers whom Solicitor
Brautley put in the field"
How many were there of thesel"
''Well, as to that l don't know Solicit
tor Brantley appointed all Of these and
have no means of knowing the number.
That is the most uncertain feature in
making up an estimate on the total ex-
pense."
If they were deputy sheriffs should
not the expense incurred in the payment
of them be paid by the countiesln
ooh, no. think not. 1t seems to me
that the state ought to bear that, because
they were appointed in the interest OF
the entire state.n
'Can you give me an idea how much
more railroad expense there was-I mean,
of course, outside of the expense of your.
self and Mr.. Brantley in going to Way
CROSSE"
''As to that expense" replied the gov
ernor promptly, II, of course, paid my
own fare and my board bill. The only
Obn6F rdHFOdQ expense connected WIN
the military feature of the movement
was the chartering of train from Way
cross to Folkston, which, l think, was
about 500, and the transportation of the
troops on the Florida Central and PENN
sular. The bills for that have not come
in as yet.
las I said, I don't know how many
civil officers Solicitor Brantley had, and
until do know will not be able TO make
definite answer to your question about
the total expense. But let me repeat that
there can be no doubt about the attorney
generals opinion in this matter, for |
acted under the advice and suggestions
made by him and Solicitor General
Brantley, both as to the use of the mill
tary and civil officers. And let me repeat
one other thing very emphatically, and
that is that all these debts will be paid
If the state does not pay them l shall
most certainly pay them myself"