The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1902-03-08
MISSISSIPPI
NOTES OF PAST AND CURRENT EVENTS.
By KATE MARKHAM POWER.

~
The past week has been one Of great
interest In legislative circles and mat
tiers Of paramount interest to the en-
kire State have been under discussion.
The bacillus Of investigation seems to
have taken possession of our law
makers. and has gotten in its work
pretty thoroughly on all sides. The
chief topic Of discussion, not only in
Senate and House, but throughout all
public places, hotels, clubs, ETC.,
around the Capital City, has been the
p~enitentiary investigation. AS stated
before in these columns, the commit
tee appointed two years ago by the
Legislature from its own members has
given a vast amount of time and
thought to this work, and has conduct
ed its investigation in a fair and car
full manner. The task before them
was herculean. A great number Of
witnesses were examined and the COM
mittee, In Its desire to be absolutely
Just to all parties, sent far and wide
" WAt1OooSS ~ PioNO Juot II thC
management had been. Day and
night since the early days of the ses-
sion they have been shut of from
everything but this important work, in
the committee rooms. AS the session
drew to a close a resolution vas adopt
cd by the Legislature asking for a
prompt report of the work that had
been done. THIS report was made and
signed by all save one member, who
dissented, and M who was i'll, but in
order to do it the investigation had to
stop at it's most important stage, and
while its expert was still at work on
the books Of the penitentiary. The
committee reported that in so far as
they could discover the board had been
honest; that there had been no mis-
appropriation of funds, but that the
management had not been efficient,
and a change in the law as to the
penitentiary management was recon-
mended. Upon submission of the re-
port, for the first time in the expe-
rience of the oldest legislator, the re-
port of an investigation committee
was not adopted without argument,
but was followed by the presentation
of a resolution Diminishing the com
mittee and generating the manage
ment as honest and efficient. This
resolution opened the gates for long
pent-up floods of eloquence and for
two whole days the Senate and House,
with their respective Hobbies, listened
to imprisoned speeches on both
sides of the question. 1t did not seem
to be the opinion Of any man that
Intentional wrong had been done by
SsbAGsAIemen in charge of the States
from the careless management Of large
interests. On the other hand, 1t was
commended that there had been NJ
carelessness, but, on the contrary, the
State had been largely the gamer by
the methods pursued by those in au
thority. Intense feeling was developed
during the debate and much bitter
ness engendered during the consider
alton of this unusual resolution, an
most of the Senators and Representa-
tives spoke for or against the meas
ure. To put it mildly, the committe
was placed In a most difficult position
by this resolution. Had they been a.
lowed to complete their work there l
no knowing what might have bee
their report, whether clearing or cor
demning the warden and board. A
it was, they were required to sto
short off and make a partial repor'
After two days discussion the matte
was amicably adjusted by the subst
tuition Of a resolution receiving tn
report and Diminishing the COMMITTEES
Another committee was appointed I
investigate the facts leading up to tn
dismissal from the Office of treasure
of Mr.. Showers, but Messrs. Slower
and Raiford refused to testify becaui
thew we're under indictment by tt
grand jury. Mr.. Phil A. Rush Tx
wise refused for similar reasons. I'll
committees findings were practical
the same as the facts that have
ready been published in this matter.
In the forged interlineation in
hill passed by the last Legislature, !
which forgery the "Wineman heir
Of Chicago we're the gamers largel
the investigating committee spe'
much time and summoned many W
nesses in their endeavor to get at 9
the facts in this outrageous n SON
what original violation of law. INT
report does not make a specific char
against any one, but the inference tn
has been drawn from 1t reflects
rlously upon a man now high in
fairs of the State. We do not wish
do n man injury in these column
hence make no afirmations where
charge is not preferred.
The committee to investigate pup
omces varied the monotony by repo
a - xarorabIa findings and hOnt