The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-02-26
COWAN ISSUES
A LONG DEFENSE
On His Report on Books Of County
Commissioners.
ADDRESSED ITO THE PUBLIC"
EXOneFateS the Governor Of Charges oil
Prejudice and Uliairu0SS.
COMMITTEES REPORT ATTACKED
The Card Closes With Some Sarcastic
Comments on Sheriff O'Brien and
the Part He Took in Defend
ing tn , Commissioners.
COMMITTEES REPORT ATTACKED

| Montgomery, February 25.-(Special.)- AS
| sistant Examiner of Public Accounts James
| G. Cowan furnished a card addressed ''to
| the public today in which he defends his
| report on the books of the jefferson county
| commissioners. Mr.. Cowan handles the
| pen with ability, and his reply to his critics
| makes interesting reading.
The card, or defense, begins by exoner-
| ating the governor of some charges of hav-
| ing taken a hand in the examination, and
he. quotes several passages from the COVER
nor's letters written while the examination
was being made. The senate committee re-
! port is next attacked, Mr. Cowan quoting
| from his Original notes. to sustain certain
| of his charges. The report closes with
| some rather warm comments on Sheriff
| O'Brien, in which he says there is pro-
| vision in the jefferson county code for
| the appointment of master of hounds at
| salary of $500 per annum." lie then
| charges that bailins were paid 81 per day,
| when only S1.50 is allowed by the code.
| Following is the full text of the defense:
| ITO the Public:
| L have purposely refrained from having
| anything to say in reply to the many
| criticisms of my report upon the transact
| tons of the commissioners court of JEFF
ferson county, pending the consideration of
| the bill before the legislature to abolish the
| court. Since the legislature in its wisdom
| has indicated the report and in compliance
with the recommendation of the governor
| has passed the bill aboishing the court, 1
| desire to reply to some of the criticisms
| which were made before the committee on
| local legislation and upon the senate
floor.
Senator Sowelrs Charge
In the first place, Senator Sowell, who
according to his own utterance had no feel
| ing in the matter, charged that there was
| man near the governor who had done
| something which the examiner did not see
| lit to refer to in his very careful report 1
desire to state that this charge is at utter
variance with the truth and cannot be sub
Stimulated and 1t could only emanate from
a man VINO was conscious that the cause
he represented was bad one.
The Idea sought to be conveyed was,
that II the examiner discovered ANYTHING
wrong, rejecting upon the friends of the
governor, 1t would not be brought to light
On the contrary, the governor has at all
times insisted that my reports should state
Facts, no matter how influential the Off
| cial, whose books and accounts were to be
| examined. l desire to give few extracts
from many letters which 1 have received
from the governor since 1 accepted the po-
| sition of assistant examiner. The first let
| ter l ever received from him in regard to
my duties contained these words: Let your
| examinations be fair and impartial; if you
| discover errors, allow the officials to ex-
| plain; but II you discover any wrong doing
probe to the bottom, whether the officer be
| T. democrat, populite or republican, While
| engaged in the transactions of the commits
sionerS' court of Jefferson, the following
are extracts from one of his letters: i
want you to be absolutely fair to the COM
missioners, but extenuate nothing 4
| want only-the truth, and 1 want them to
have credit for all the good done and q
| fearless exposure of all wrong doing in
| waste or extravaganza Dig deep into
| the truth, uncover all their actions, so
| that they will get the benefit of every serv-
| ice rendered the people, and expose any I'M
| faithfulness.' BE sure to be accurate in
| all things, SO that they cannot complain of
| any unfairness; show each of them the
| amount of his account, and ask him to
rectify or point out errors. Don't let any
man, friend or foe, stand between you and
| the exposure of wrong doing.
Could Give More Extracts
ST could give many more such extracts
from letters received from time to time
| from the same source.
by these instructions have been guild
| ed, and have in a fearless manner UNDER
| taken to discharge my duty.
II have, since l accepted the position,
| been called upon in some instances to ex-
| anime the books and accounts of personal
| friends Errors have some times been
found and though l have regretted to do
So have made in my reports true state
ment. In one instance I was called upon
to examine the Office of a friend, with
whom l had been on intimate terms for
years That examination revealed things
which were construed to be reflection
asa 81 H.
| though the temptation was great to shield
| this friend In all my examinations l have
| endeavored to discharge my duty, regard
| less of circumstances.
"Senator Sowell also stated, If newspaper
reports are correct, that he did not know
| the examiner or care very much ABOUT
| knowing him.
This is mutual. am strong advocate
| of reciprocity, and heartily reciprocate
! this desire, unless perchance the distin-
! guished senator should some time In the
| future about face and lend his aid to
fearless am. courageous executive, who de-
mands that all officials shall faithfully dis
charge the duties of their respective Offices
Did Not Charge Theft
"senator Cunningham, for whom enter
| tain the highest regard and personal es-
| TEEN. in his defense of the commissioners
| saw proper to use these words, Including
what the examiner says they stole This
! remark from the distinguished gentleman
caused me no little surprise. am sure ne
can find nothing In the report to warrant
the use of such language ! did not charge
| the commissioners with having stolen any
| thing; but IL after reading my report Sena-
| for Cunningham came to that conclusion,
| he is welcome to his opinion. shall not
/ seek to deprive him Of it. / endeavored to
| give the facts in my report as l found
| them; people can draw their own conclu-
| sions. make no such accusations.
| LAS to errors in my report, some there
| may have been. No man is infallible.
| endeavor hard to keep from making errors
| and always make It point to give the Of
| fetal whose books are examined the beneft
| of the doubt II any arises. In regard to the
1 error In the ex-officio services Of Judge
| Porter have this statement to make: