The Savannah morning news., 1904-05-17
NEWS OF A DAY IN Z
GEORGIA'S CAPITAL
DODD GOES TO PRISON FARM.
HIS FRIENDS EXPECT HIM TO BE
PARDONED SOON.

Former state Senator Thinks He
was Only Technically Guilty of
Taking His CountY's Funds-Used
What He Is Charged With Taking
to Pay on the school Teachers.
Special Accounts Committee win
Recommend the Creation of n
state Auditor.
Atlanta, May Ex-senator w. P.
Dodd of the Forty-third district, re-
Gently convicted of embezzlement of
public school funds of Gordon county,
while serving as county school COM
missioner, came to Atlanta to-day and
appeared before the Prison Commits
sion to begin his service of two years
in the state penitentiary.
Under the new convict law all short
term men must either go 20 the coun-
ties which work them on the public
roads until they have their full quota.
or must be sent to the state farm. It
is considered that Senator Dodd. is not
physically able to do work on the
roads, and for this reason he will be
oClll AO-illOA AON " bllC SlcibC loA Az LAlo
friends are still faithful to him and
many express the belief that he will be
Iardoned after he has served few
months.
In an Interview given out to-day Sem
ator Dodd said he had not used the
money which he was charged with en-
tezzling, but had paid it all to the
teachers of Gordon county. The teach
ers, ne said. knew this. At most he
asserted he was only technically guilty.
Upon the advice of his lawyers he IN
troduced no evidence in his own behalf.
Had he done so. he said, the result
might have been different.
For State Auditor.
Hon. Joe Hill Hail. chairman, and
the other members of his special COM
mittee appointed to investigate the
books, accounts and methods of vari-
Gus state institutions and departments,
are in the city, and will be here all the
week making a personal investigation
of the methods employed in the va
rious offices at the State Capitol. The
special accountant in the employ of
the committee. is now at work on the
books of the controller general.
Mr.. Hall said to-day that the only
important recommendation to the Leg
islature which the committee has
agreed upon, is the creation of the
Office of state auditor. and the ap-
pointment of an official whose duty it
shall be to audit all accounts of all in
situations and departments monthly.
The committee will visit the Agricul-
tural College at Dahlonega the latter
part of thu week.
AtIanta's Rates Complaint,
The Railroad Commission is in ses-
sion again hearing the complaint as to
freight determinations against Atlanta
and other Georgia points. Several At
lanta merchants and manufacturers
who were on the witness stand to-day
presented figures to show that Louis
Vile. Nashville, Richmond and other
Virginia cities have an immense adj
vantage over Atlanta in the lower
rates they get not only from the West,
but to points in Georgia and contigu-
Gus territory. Rates from Nashville
and Louisville. for instance, to Bruins
wick and Albany, Ga, are from to
10 cents lower on certain products than
the rates on the same products from
Atlanta. The railroad traffic men
present tried to show by testimony
OF the witnesses that Atlanta as q
city and Atlanta manufactures and
other business establishments had
mad grown and prospered despite the
freight rates complained of.
The hearing will be continued to-
morrow.
Industrial Association.
The fifth annual meeting of the Geor-
ga Industrial Association will be held
al Warm Springs, June g. All ar
engagements for the occasion have been
perfected. All of the cotton mill indus
tries OF the state are members of this