The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-06-29
LIBERAL CRITICISM
WAS NOT SPARED
IN THE REPORT MADE BY
THE LEGISLATURES SPECIAL IN
VESTIGATING COMMITTEE.

Voluminous Document Filed by
Chairman HaII-Some state Insti-
tutiOns, Departments and OmciaIs
Are Praised, but others Are
ROundIy ScOred-Nothing Criminal
Discovered, but Certain Usagex
Need Correction.
Atlanta, June 2S.-Liberal criticism
of state departments and state officials
is INDUCED in in the report of the spe-
cial Legislative Investigating Commit
tee appointed at the last session.
which was filed in the House and Sem
ate to-day.
The report was filed by Chairman
Joe Hill Hall of Bibb and is a most
voluminous document. The report
proper covers seventy-nine closely
typewriter pages. while with the evil
dence it makes two large volumes of
more than 400 pages each.
The important recommendations OF
the committee are found in it's conclu-
sions at the close of the report. In
every state institution and department,
with the exception of the executive,
Controller Generals and treasurer's Of
fees the committee says 1t found a
general lack of business methods, the
methods used being the same as were
In vogue years ago, when they were
very small affairs.
state Auditor Needed.
To the end that this evil may be
corrected, and a proper system of ac-
| counting and bookkeeping instituted
everywhere in the state, the creation OF
| the Office of state auditor is recon-
| mended, this official to have supervis-
ion over all the finances of the state.
and all accounts to pass through his
| hands.
The report finds, too, that many state
officials have expended moneys without
authority of the law. There is no dis
honesty charged in any case, but the
committee holds that much money has
been illegally diverted from the pur-
poses to which it was appropriated,
whereas the law provides that no mon
ey shall be expended for any other pur-
poses than the specific object for which
it was appropriated.
Sell the Governors Mansion.
The sale of the present Governors
mansion is recommended, as it is too
far from the Capitol and too valuable
piece of property to be used as d
residence by the Governor. II is urged
that a committee be appointed to take
up this matter and see what arrange
nlents can be made toward getting a
new residence for the Governor nearer
the capitol
state Asylum Criticised.
Particular criticism is made of the
state asylum at Milledgeville, the pris-
on commission and the department of
agriculture. The state sanftarium is
charged with a multitudinous variety
| of violations of the law, though all
state funds have been expended for the
benefit of the institution. The trus-
tees are criticised for refusing to in
| stitute the reforms recommended by
the committee and for permitting the
superintendent to use state supplies for
his family table. This last has been
the unbroken custom for years.
The Prison Commission and Agricul-
tural Department are criticized for US
ing funds for paying clerks without
authority of the law. The Prison Com
mission is criticized for spending the
4 money derived from the sale of pro-
ducts of the state farm for running
| expenses. The committee says 1t
should be turned into the treasury.
The Department of Agriculture is crit
icized for employing an assistant COM
missioner of agriculture, for which it
is said there is no authority OF law.
Industrial College Praised.
Minor criticisms are made of law
methods in other departments and in
| stitutions, but in great part the con-
duct of the state institutions Is prais-
ed. except for loose business meth
ods.
Unstinted praise is given to the Geor-
gfa Industrial College for Colored
Youths at Savannah, the accounts Of
which, II is stated, are excellently
|
lief that the work of this school will
go far towards a solution of the ques-
| tion of negro education.
This report was not read in the
House to-day, but will probably be
taken up tomorrow.