The Monticellonian., 1904-01-14

Geo. W. Murphy, the Attorney General of Arkansas, who did on Thursday, the I2th day of Feb. 1903, assert and charge that the of- ficial conduct of the Governor of Arkansas has been such that he de, served impeachment; and
 Whereas, The opinion prevails that this controversy has reached stage demanding proper investiga ton and true statesmanlike action on the part of this, the present Legislature, now, therefore, be it
 Resolved, By the House of Representative of the Thirty fourth General Assembly. that the standing Committee on Ways and Means be authorized'and directed to inquire into the allegations and accusations made by both sides of this controversy, and report their findings to this House. Said Com mittee shall be invested with full and complete authority to call and examie witnesses and take testino- ny of whatever kind and character they may deem proper and compe- tent; that they preserve, this testi- mony in detail, to be presented to this House with their report, and that they be authorized to report in whatever manner and form they may deem best in the premises. ,
 This resolution was adopted by a vote of c to II, Among those voting for this resolution were some of Davis strongest friends in the House among them Futrall, Ferguson, Chrisp, Rowland and Wofford. Our own Representa- tive, Judge Bird, who at least can not be accused of being unfriendly toward Gov. Davis. voted for this resolution. Now if this investiga- ton was deliberate scheme on the part of the enemies of Gov. Davis to impeach him, why did his friends support this resolution2
 In the light of these facts, which are matter of record, who was re- sponsible for the investigation by the last Legislature? If 1t had not been for the charges made against his fellow State officials by Gov. Davis, if he himself had not de- manded that the whole transaction be fully investigated by the Legis- lature, and If his loyal friends who voted with him during the entire session of the House, had not vot- ed for this resolution referring the whole Eaffair to the Ways and Means Committee, would there have been any investigation by the last Legi,laturei Certainly not, Does it not come with very poor grace from Gov. Davis to 20 all over the State denouncing the Leg islature for doing something which he demanded that they should do, and which some of his strongest friends voted? Does 1t not Ill be- come him to speak of the great cost of this investigation, when he was the prime mover and cause of 1t all' He charges that this investi- gation cost the State $50, ,ooo, and that the Legislature squandered away its whole time trying to i'm peach him.
 The records in the Auditors of flee show that the cost of the in. vestigation was $39I.35, and add. ing to this about ST, 800 for printing the report of the investigation pro- ceedings, and the entire expense was sI,69I.35. The difference be. s5o, ,ooo, 900 and SI, ,o9I s is s4S,- sos 6, but this is in harmony with the Governors reputation for veracity. Furthermore the sittings of the Ways and Means Committee were held at night, while the House was not in session, and there was more business transacted by the Legislature of 1903 than any of its predecessors. as the Acts and Jour. nals of that body will clearly show
 c. T. GOTHAM.