Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1908-05-28

IlIe law, WOuIu seem 10 lnQlCaJe JndC
reports concerning Mr.. Speer's men,
tai condition may be we'll founded
2. He states that I violated the
law by depositing more than $780,
100000 in the Neal Bank at one time.
and that the State had az other Depos-
tory (the Fourth NationaD in Allan
ia with much less than the limit
fixed by law" and the vaults of the
Treasury were strong enough to
have held the excess deposit placed
by Treasurer Park with the Neal
Bank in violation of law.
Mr.. Speer must know, if at all him
self, that this charge is not true He
should know that Attorney General
Hart gave an opinion stating that
what | did was fully authorized, and
that Judge w. d. Ellis, of Fulton
Superior Court, made a decision en-
tirely vindicating my action He
ought to know that the law gives
the State Treasurer ten days within
which to withdraw an amount in eX-
cess of $100000.00 when placed in a
State Depository in case of an emer-
gency, as this was. He knows. or
ought to know that the excess amount
had been in the Neal Bank only
tWenty-four hours, and that it was
in checks which could only have been
deposited in one of the Atlanta d.
pOsitOries. Checks, he should know,
must be collected through Banks, and
it would be ridiculous" ito place
them" as he foolishly suggests, in
the Treasury vaults" Instead of
h in, ,o
iOnal Bank Of Atlanta, as he states,
| on the 21st of December, the date
of these deposits, my report to the
Governor, which has been published
shows that the Fourth National Bank
had, at that time, $168,613.11 of the
States money, and that there were
| then, in transit, scattered throughout
the State, checks drawn on the Neal
Bank amounting to $35, AL AS. He
knew, or ought to have known. these
| facts before making a statement, not
| only untrue, but which is apparently
| malicious.
3. He says, from personal exam
| nations | always knew the actual
condition of each Depository"
This is a remarkable statement. in
| view of the traditional fact that dur
| ing the last term he held the office
| of Treasurer he was very frequently
| absent from the Capitol sometimes
| from the State, for weeks at a time
| While his able Clerk Captain Fur
| low, looked after and transacted the
| entire business of the Department.
| When Speer was Treasurer there
| were only SO State Bank Depositories
| and 40 chartered State Banks; now
| there are 80 State Bank Depositories
and 465 charteded State Banks. maxi
! ing the responsibilities and duties of
the office UNNECESSARILY greater now
than they were eight years ago.
| 4. Referring to Bank examinations
Mr.. Speer adds, both the jury and
| the law say that he (meaning my
sel1l did have authority to employ
| sufficient help
No jury has made any such state
ment. The Acts of 1907 do give per-
mission to employ sufficient num-
| Der OF Examiners, but makes no pro-
| vision for paying their salaries. I
may have authority to travel to the
| moon, but the means of transporta-
| ton are wanting. Able and experien-
ced Bank Examiners demand and de-
serve adequate pay for their SER
| vices.
5. He declares, never did a de-
position ever lost a dollar while
1 w DIS treasurer.
Mr.. Speer has evidently forgotten
the notorious failures that occurred
during his connection with the Treas
ury, at Brunswick, Atlanta, Warren
| ton, GAINESVILLE, Rome and other
places. The State of Georgia has
never lost dollar during my eight
years of service, and during that long
period of time there have been only
i've failures of State Banks.
3. Mr.. Speer says: Il respectfully
submit that Treasurer Park has not
given the people of Georgia a pru-
dent or businesslike administration
of the office, and | ask the votes of
the people on comparison of rec
Ords with Mr.. Park"
| rms is an unprovoked attack, and
regretfully accept the challenge. I
VIII be glad to have my personal re-
cord, both in the walks of private
life and public life, compared with
Mr.. Speer's. On investigation it will
be found, if widespread rumor be
true, that he has become mentally
and physically incapable of prudent
and like methods. espec-
tally would this be true in the adj
mnlstration of great trust such as
IS imposed upon the Treasurer of
Georgia The acceptance of this chal-
lenge on my part, and the request for
an investigation of the unfortunate
history of my opponent, is an ex-
ceedlngly painful one and would not
be given but by reason of the provo
cation he has wantonly offered.
Respectfully submitted.
ROBERT F. PARK.