Birmingham state herald., 1897-04-21
nood's Pills taken after dinner aid digestion.
had the same opportunity to know the

had the same opportunity to know the facts as I did.
 Had I been disposed to oust Mir. Lott, your action, doubtless unintended, in the premises, would have given me ample opportunity and justification for ap- pointing his successor. In order to show my attitude in regard to this matter will thank you to have published my let ter written to you on yesterday before l was in any way informed as to your action in the premises.
 - The present complication arises from the fact that one or more of the sureties of MT. Lott applied for release from his bond and under the statute you re- -quired him to give new bond. Instead of appearing and giving one bond for the amount required by law MT. Lott seems to have come in and delivered to you one bond for S50O0 signed by himself and two securities, another for s10,000 signed by himself and three securities, and two other separate bonds for still other sums and with different securities, making in the aggregate the amount required by law. It also appeared that some of the securities on these various bonds attempted to limit their liability by writ ing opposite their names how much he was to pay in case of liability. The auditor properly referred these papers allegedto be the bond of the tax collector of Mobile county to the attorney general to ascertain whether 1t was compliance with the law and the attorney general gave it as his opinion that 1t was not. It seems to be the spirit and intent of the , statutes that in case Of default on the part. of the collector the state and county can bring their actions against the col lector on his bond, making all the sure ties parties and recover judgment against all for any loss In this case as these bonds now stand separate actions would necessafily have to be brought on each bond and separate judgments recovered not exceeding the penalty of the several bonds I regret exceedingly that these complications should have arisen. The bonds in the auditors office show that MT Lott is the only collector in the state who has a series of bonds in different penalties and with different sureties on file purporting to be his bond as tax collector. All the other collectors have one bond for the amount prescribed by the auditor and all the sureties are equal " bound for the entire penalty thereof. have felt constrained to go fully into this matter in view of the fact that you have thought proper to print in advance of it's receipt by me your letter on this subject I understand fully that these are all public acts, and that the people have a right to know how their servants are discharging their duties. and SO Tar as I am concerned I have rothing to con- cea1.' Ihhad but one purpose in view and that was to secure the people against any loss by requiring so far as the law authorizes me to do the prompt and full compliance with the letter and spirit of the statute.
 ," In order that may discharge my duty in the premises I will thank you to certi- fy to me all the proceedings in this mat ter from the application of the surety or 1sureties for discharge, the filing and ap- proval of the alleged bonds and with copies of all such papers under your f official seal Yours respectfully,
 JOS. F. JOHNSTON, Governor.