The weekly true Democrat. (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1905-1912, 1907-07-05

That bOasted business administra-
ton" is certainly "a hummer. On top
Of all the previous disclosures OF its
strenuosity now comes the evidence Of
its completely in bold attempt to Vie
timize the people through an alleged
contract with the l. l. Board.
At q recent meeting of the TurPen-
tine Operators Association, Mr.. Her
rim voiced the complaint of several Of
the members at the manner Of claiming
damages for trespasses on state lands,
incidentally referring TO q certain con-
tract Of Messrs. S. B. Small and /. J.
Mccall with the /. l. Board, authoriz-
ing them 70 prosecute and collect such
claims on a commission of fifty per
cent and mentioning ex-governor Jen-
nings' connection with said contract
Some Of Mr.. Herrins statements hav-
ing been denied, including that involv-
ing Jennings, he re-aftirms them in
recent interview in the Times Union,
in the course of which he says:
Ny reason for connecting ex-Govern-
or Jennings name with that of Messrs.
Small and Mccall, in connection with
this contract, were based on a state
ment made by Mr.. Small while discus
sing with me certain claims in Clay
county. Mr.. Smal's exact words were
these:
~ will have to consult Ex-Governor
Jennings first, as he is with us in this
matter Mr. Small has informed me
since, however, that Mr.. Jennings was
not, nor Is not now connected with Nc
Call and himself in the original con-
tract with the Internal Improvement
Board.
Both Small and Mccall have admit
ted to me, since Gov. Jennings denial
that he was ever connected with the mat
ter in anyway except as counsel for the
board, that he (Jennings) was connect
ed with them in the Clay county claim
(which claim amounted to $50, 900 or
$40, 000), and that he (Jennings) was to
perform q certain service, and 1Ods TO
recieVe f0r said services One-third of
the so per cent that would be due Small
and Mccall under their contract with
the board.
"Since Small and Mccall have admit
ted this both publicly and privately,
again ask the public whether or not
made any statements in this connection
that we're untrue or misleading.
The contract with Small and Mccall
was made November oath 1906, and on
the previous day, l. j. Mccall purchased
from the board several hundred acres
Of State lands at one dollar per acre.
The following should be very careful
ly and thoroughly investigated by the
Commission now in session.
Some Of the administrative organs are
demanding that those persons and news
papers that have mentioned alleged ir-
Irregularities in the transactions of the
board shall now voluntarily appear be-
fore the commission and prosecute the
accusations. Not so. The Commission
is there to Investigate. not to conduct a
trial against alleged wrongdoers; to as
certain and report TO the Legislature
the facts as they find them from all of
the evidence pro and con that they can
procure, not TO acquit or condemn any
body. The Commission Is bound to take
notice of every accusation that has been
made or minated and seek every par
ticle of evidence bearing thereon,
on either side, and not rely upon VOlun-
tdTy communications or evidences. And
the Commissions acts In the premises
will be judged by the people on this
basis, and no other