The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-08-07
SPECIAL SESSION
 NOT A CERTAINTY Governor of Georgia May Not Call the Legislature INVESTIGATION NOT OVER Should the Report of the Committee Be Made Soon Enough the Legis-
 lature May Be Able To
 Handle 1t.

Atlanta, August 6.-(Special.)-It is still vict situation will result in an extra session of the general assembly, with the chances little bit in favor of it.
 Some of the most sensational testimony of the legislative investigation has been brought out this week. and more is yet to come from the remaining lessees. members of the prison commission and others yet to be examined.
 Members of the Investigating commit tee state they cannot possibly complete their work before early next week. It will require the remainder of this week to bring out all the evidence the commit tee desires to get then if those against whom charges have been made desire to introduce any witnesses in, rebuttal, it will take just that much longer.
 At best the testimony cannot be con- cluded before Saturday and then the committee will require some little time for the preparation of it's report. Should the report reach the legislature by Tues day it will have only two days to con slider and act upon it before final ad- journment
 It is yet practically impossible to fore see what turn the investigation will take with regard to the matter of impeach- ments. It is a safe assumption that no steps will be taken which will involve in such a proceeding Gen. Clement A. Evans, a member of the commission, and one of the foremost of living Confederate veterans. Therefore whether the other members of the commission will be tried on charges of official inattention and neglect, is matter of considerable doubt.
 Then in the case of former State War den Jake Moore who, there is no doubt, profited to the extent of some 1000 or s4O,0OO as the result of traffic in transfers and sub-leases of convicts while in the employ of the state, it is difficult to see how under the law, much of anything can be done. MT. Moore, it is stated. will stand squarely upon the plea that he was never an official of the state in any sense, as the law makes no provision whatever for the office of state warden. He was merely an empoye of the com
 
 is no direct legal authority. He will hold that he has violated no law. what ever, and his attorneys are claiming now an effort is being made to use Moore as the scapegoat. They assert it shall not be done. .ss
 There is little question that many flag rant instances in which prosecutions against the wardens and others may be instituted will be officially brought to the attention of grand juries as result of the committees report.
 Despite all the abuses and irregulari- ties the committee has brought out, the indications now are that there is going to be more of a stir over convict legis- laton than there is over the work of the committee.
 Agitation against the lease system has reached point where it is said some 50 of the 10S members of the house of representatives who voted for the Holder bill with it's lease features, are quite ready to swap horses and vote practical ly for its eimination at once.
 The senate began debating the con- vict question today; possibly 1t will get it to a vote tomorrow. The bill which the senate will pass will be material mod ification of that passed in the house, and still it is hardly likely that the senate's bill will go as far as the measure which finally becomes a law.
 Despite the opposition which originally appeared against it. there has been an increasing willingness in the general as- sembly to go the full limit, and enact constitutional amendment providing for bonds with which to establish a state penitentiary system, thus getting rid of the lease business immediately follow ing the expiration of the present con tracts.
 Owing to the lack of the necessary time-60 days-in which to advertise 1t, such a constitutional amendment could not be voted on by the people in the October election-the first Wednesday In that month-but the matter of calling a special election for this purpose to be held at the same time and place as the election for presidential electors and con gressmen is now being investigated. There does not appear to be any doubt that a constitutional amendment could be properly voted on by the people at that time and 1t is quite probable that