Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1903-02-19
PROBING HAS BEG -
Ways ard rleans COMMITTEES Bepins
Hearing at Little Rock

nected with il, stating thai lhay had
their witnesses on hand and were at
the service Of the committee IT any
time. day or night, for the purpose Of
Investigation.
After lively executive session Gf
the committee ii wa5 learned that a
re@e5ufton lad been offered Il t4}zz III
u" G4Hileut.ary matter first. \ sub
stitate Wa offered TO tako az thc
aeternnr'a contingent find. AMI This
t.te'.ai5ad rs a=yaJazofz six 10 Eve. =Tae
tspaeiue au tAi# matter Will bagia %.
eioEt
csairHaa T. NJ. Hoaipaa eaaaad
9=o sioa a The aapqiniel time,
5.e p. af..#s'=Iz t2ie fri n fff fa5an
eo 4as a Communication from coy
eaner =Bais. readjag as follow.
GOV. oayis' Letter.
February II, l972.
iio0. E. H. Merriman. chairman of tho
Way and Ucaus Committee. Ilause
- Z prea"atatjYea.
ilear II: | beg 10 acknowledge re-
e"i9t of your recent favor calling my
attention 10 the fact Chat the ways and
means committee viii meet tonight for
the purpose Of an investigation as to
the controversy that is alleged to exist
between myself and the other NOM
hers of the penitontiary board, togcth.
or with other matters. In this cOnneC-
ton ] beg to call your attention to
tie fact that by action of the house
and senate yesterday Il concurrent
resolution was passed vcsting the
special committee recently appointed
by both houses with full and abse
lute power 10 investigate the purchase
Cf the Cummins plantation for a con-
vict farm. Inasnuch as the special
committee, by their absolute power
Ct invest ieaton, and taking teati
mcny the Wh0ic object that | had in
view in my mcssaee to the legislature
on this subject VIII have been ac-
eompIiS'cd, viz tie investigation of
this transaction from a business
standpoint and determining whether
ar not the other mnn5ers of the pcni-
tnn1iary board exercised good business
Judgment IN the purchase of this place
for the object proposed; and now.
since nothing in my judgment is loft
70 your committee to investigate Nth
reference to members Of the boards,
except that you might conStrue in my
message 10 mean a personal charge
of dishonesty against the said other
beg to assure you and through you the
members Of the committee that it
has not been my object or purpose
to charge or insinuate that the other
members OF the penitentiary board
have acted cOrruDtly or dishonesty,
or have been the recipients of any
br'fHS IN ms lF3nS3ctlOn, ana y IL
i the object Of your committee 10
go into the motives of the members ia
he purchase of this farm, tiisclaim
any intention to have ever impeached
the honesty or integrity of any men.
Der Of said board respecting the ne
gotiations or purchase Of said farm.
If any part OF my message may be 50
construed as a reflection upon the per-
sonal honor and integrity Of the other
members OF said pcnitentiary board.
/ beg that you eliminate that from tho
consideration Of your committee. as |
did not so intend it.
81 far IS ny investigation Of myself
is concerned, Or the affairs OF my Of
fec, my books ere open, and I am
perfectly willing that your committee
roale al the investigation that yoar
committee may desire, and will take
nleasura in meeting you.
Very respectfully,
JEFF DAVIS, Governor.