The weekly true Democrat. (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1905-1912, 1906-07-13

records e thlS olliss a. ths acts Of my
self o. the clerks IN my once Yours
yefy truly. a. G. Groom Comptrollar.
/ A his Ofieial record e 90 perfectly
familiar to the people Of Florida, com
ment from the True Democrat at this
time Il unnecessary.
But Just to let you, Governor Brow
ard, and J. Emmett Wolfe know that
we do find out some things straight.
without bowling into your august pres
snces, however, we will relate q little
story related to us just before you took
up this very interesting letter"writing.
1t runs thuSly: A sheriff Of Florida
county killed q desperate negro. II
was In line with his duties, and no re-
ward had been offered or agreed upon.
The officer had to shoot him because be
resisted when arrest was attempted.
Soon afterwards 1t was suggested that
this officer should have 500 for the he
role deed Of killing a desperate. Some
letters were pesSed between the Gov
ernor and the sheriff, who finally came
to Tallahassee to settle the matter and
collect the reward promised by the Gov
ernoT. [SOme asterisks ought to go in
here.] Well, to make a long story
short, as the story goes, Mr.. Broward
gave the sheriff an order to Mr.. Wolfe
TO ARRANGE for its settlement. Here
Mr.. Wolfe asserted the dignity of his
official position by stating to the sheriff
that It couldn't "be did"-theTe lcds no
taU OF authority for IT, After telling
Mr.. Wolfe he had the GOVERNOR 8
ORDER and 1t was none of his concern
since he got his reward, the story goes,
he returned TO the Governor, who con-
Quoted the sheriff to Mr.. Groom and laid
the case before MIN. Mr.. Groom said,
"You order it, and it will be paid. Il"
1t is said warrant was drawn and 500
paid that sheriff as reward, when no
reward had been offered for that pris-
oner, either dead or alive Investiga-
ton at the proper time may shO1O that
number of such loose transactions are |
being n1aneuvsred through, regardless
Of lack of legal authority, JUST BE-
CAUSE THOSE IN HIGH AUTHORITY DE-
SIRE OR ORDER IT. Work for the next
LegislatureD
Who Is to blame for this manner of
looking after the peoples interests?
Then General Ellis closes this little
letter parade as follows:
Dear Sir-I am in receipt of your let
ter Of the End inst, asking me IL
would inform you on what dates Mr.
Collins, editor Of the True Democrat,
sought information from me as to the
doinRs of the Trustees Of the Internal
Improvement Board" and of the At
torney- Generals department.
beg to say that Mr.. Collins has not
applied TO me for any information as to
any of the affairs Of this department.;
but that whenever he or any other citi-
zen of the State applies for such infor-
nation, he will be given by me full in
formation as to the affairs of this Office
and may have free access to the records
and correspondence thereof to that end
AS TO the information concerning the
Of the Trustees Of the In
ternal Improvement Fund, beg to say
that on October 10th, 1904, the trustees
adopted the following resolution, which
Is found on page $50 of volume 8 of the
printed minutes of the Trustees Of the
Internal Improvement Fund:
Resolved, That upon request for any
Information concerning the affairs, files
Dr. records Of the Trustees of the Inter-
nal Improvement Fund, that said re-
quest be referred to the trustees, for
permission or direction relative thereto,
prior to the furnishing Of any data, cop
es of records, deeds, plats, or maps,
relative TO the Internal Improvement
Fund, under said request. That when
copies Of lists or deeds, or other rec |
)rds, maps or data, are furnished to an .
applicant, that a copy thereof be fur
lished to the trustees, through the
reads of departments, and that the Sec 4
'etary of the trustees furnish copy of |
hese resolutions to all the employees ,
VI the trustees.
| have furnished no information to
anyone concerning the transactions of
he Trustees of the Internal Improve I
nent Fund without first referring the :
natter to the trustees pursuant TO the :.
resolution
Up to the present time no represent
tive Of the True Democrat has ever
applied to me for any information in re- 1
alton to the transactions of the trus-
ees. | wish TO state, however, that,
o far as am concerned as a member
4 the trustees, any gentleman of the Z
ress, or any other citizen of the State, =
nav have full and eofnniata infOrr,atiCv 4