The Columbus commercial. (Columbus, Miss.) 1893-1922, 1906-10-09
GOVERNOR GIVEN
A HOT ROAST
Accused Of Delaying State
Prison Probing.

ing to the absence OF GOv6fn0
Vardaman and Chairman A. A
Miller, of the penitentiary inves
tigating committee, the court o
inquiry ordered by the board o.
control to ascertain the truth ol
falsity of the charges preferred
against the prison management
by the legislative report, has
again been postponed, this time
until the 18th of October.
In ordering the continuance
the board of control adopted a
resolution broadly intimating
that Governor Vardaman and
Chairman Miller haye purposely
avoided the probing, having
been given several opportuties
to be present on the dates named
for the investigation. The reso-
luton is self explanatory, and is
as follows:
"Whereas, The legislative in
vestigating committee, shortly
before their adjournment, made
a report on the management of
the penitentiary of Mississippi,
claimed to be based upon testi-
mony secretly taken, and in
which report they severely criti-
cised said penitentiary manage
ment. Whereupon, in response
to request Immediately made
by a member of the board of con-
troll, the president thereof called
a special sitting of said board of
control for the 22nd day of March
1906, for the purpose of investi-
eating the matters referred to in
said report. Said investigation
was postponed from that date for
the reason. as shown by the
minutes of said BOARD of control, |
on page 515, minute book No. 5,
that the president, Gov. James
K. Vardaman, could not be pres
ent at that time, and that the in
vestigation was not held because,
as claimed by him, the duties of
his office were so multitudinious
and pressing by reason of legis-
lative matters, that it would be
for him tosattend, and
an immediate investiga-
ton was urged by members of
said board, same was postponed
because of the expressed wish of
the governor to be present at the
hearing thereof, and solely with
the desire to give him an oppor-
tunity to be present during said
Investigation. On April 3rd, as
shown by minute book No. 5,
page 522, an order was passed
summoning the chairman of said
investigating committee, DR.. A.
A. Miller, to appear on the 4th
lay of April and bring with him
4 copy of the evidence taken by
said Investigating committee, on ,
which it was claimed said report
was based, the legislature not ,
having had. copies of same print /,
ed. Said report was delivered,
lot to the board of control, but
claimed to have been delivered .
o the president thereof, Gov. {
James K. Vardaman, who stated :
hat same was in his possession :
and would be forthcoming for the
Ise of the board of control in
heir proposed invetigation. At
he date next fixed for said in !,
Testigation said evidence was not
the governor reporting !.
hat same had been mislaid. Said
Investigation was again postpon-
I'd and at the next date fixed for
laid investigation said evidence
vas not forthcoming, the presi-
lent reporting that same had not
,een found, or had been sent to k
he printers, and postponement J
vas again had until the report h
N
could be received from the rrin- 2
ers, when a date was proposed
or said investigation, and after :
postponed until the 1
md day of October, 1906. :
whereas, service of process
las not been secured on the chair
nan of said investigating oom-
nittee. although diligent effort
las been made to secure said SER 8
ice and to secure the atteneance Y
( said chairman of the legisla- 2
i've investigating committee, at p
t,;c .;,ro oud for the furthar i