Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1896-09-30
HON. GEORGE n. TILLMAN
Makes a Statement Concerning His Recent
Discussions Points Which Seem to
Have Offended His Opponent.


Discussions Points Which Seem to
Have Offended His Opponent.
Hon. G. N. Tillmnn has given out
the following statement for publica-
ton:
II reports in the daily papers be cor
rect, my competitor for the office of
Governor. Mr.. Tay Tor, is saying in his
speeches that in our joint debate at
Knoxville | assau ted his personal
character, !" and crlled in question his
Honor" and that ! made false
charges against him, wish to say
that II l have made single false
charge against hiinI will cheerfully
retract 1t. and do all in my power to
repair the wrong. But have not, ex-
pressly or by insinuation, called in
question Mr.. Taylor's private life. II
any :sar will read my speech, which
was published in full by various daily
papers, he will see that confine my
self strictly to criticism of Mr.. Taylor's
official acts and conduct. The charges
I make are supported by the records,
They are the following:
First-That he abused the pardoing
power. having issued sOS pardons to
convicts in four years-more than one
every other day, Sundays included.
l have the letter of the Secretary of
State giving the above number.
Second-That he helped make the
law originating and creating back tax
attorneys, and within six months after
he ceased to be Governor he, with his
law partner, was commissioned back
tax attorneys for Hamilton County;
that they receipted for $2,798 OF back
taxes, and have accounted for 81, 1888 SO;
that it did not appear in the Comp
troller's Office that he had given bond,
as required by law The truth of this
charge is tested BY the records. The
point in the charge was the impro-
priety of those who make laws creating
offices accepting appointments to those
offices, 1t was not imputed that Mr.,
Taylor had collected money and not ac.
counted for it, but as criticism on
loose methods of business. l stated
that, although the $3,79s 9S tax claims
had been turned over to them about
five years ago, no showing had as yet
been made to the Comptroller 8 office
as the balance of the claims.
Third-That Mr.. Taylor was in the
habit of drawing his salary while Gov
ernor in advance of earning it. For
the truth of this statement cite pag ges
41 and AZ Of the report Of the Investi-
eating Committee (appoiuted by the
Legislature) dated June o, 1893, where
on it appears that Mr.. Taylor did so
draw money out of the treasury twenty
different times, The committee re-
ported that it was in violation of the
law.
Fourth-That Gov. Taylor in his
message of February 0. 1887, recon-
mended that the Legislature undertake
to determine the merits of the claims
of the old Bank of Tennessee depositors
against the State; that these claims
were what are known in law as "stale
demands. antedating the war between
the States; that they amounted, prin-
cipal and interest to ever S4,0O0,OO0
and that Gov. Taylor's official act in
recommending that the Legislature
determine the merits of those elaine
should be severely condemned. Thai
the question whether or not the State
was legally liable should have been first
submitted to and determined by the
courts, and If determined in the affirm
ative the Legislature could have then
considered the matter OF settling with
the claimants upon some fair basis,
considering the staleness of the demand
and the fact that many of the claims,
it was believed, had been brought by
speculators at 10 cents or 10 cents on
the dollar.
infer from the newspapers reports
that the foregoing are the charges on
account of which Mr.. Taylor rails SO
bitterly against me. But being true,
and relating as they do to his official
acts, shall continue to publish them.
As counter charge against me, Mr..
Taylor parades before his audiences
the fact that /, as private citizen and
taxpayer, had failed one year to
pi piomptly pay my taxes, and the i'm.
preston made by the reports of the
newspapers Of his speeches is that
owed $4,000 of taxes. When Mr.
Taylor stated at Knoxville that haG
been delinquent in paying my taxes
/ denied 1T. Inow find that l was il
error to the extent herein shown.
have the statement of David Crutchfield
back tax attorney, that the tax of 1893
l failed topay until 1896, was the tax OF
house and lot, assessed at $4,000
on which the taxes amounted to $1O7 10
/ can not recall how this happened, fol
/ find that paid all my other Stat'
and county taxes in January, 1894.
: usually drop note to the Trustee ask
ing for statement of my taxes, and
send him check accordingly, and It'll
more than likely the trustee overlooked
the above item, there was no othe
reason, that l can conceive. of, for m.
delay.