The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1908-05-08

lion eAcSSueQ the expenditures OF the
previous year by three-quarters of a
million dollars. After all allowances
have been made for the expenses of
the Legislature. for increased pen
sions to soldiers. and increased ap-
preparations for schools. there still re-
mains an excess of 100000 against
Gov. Patterson's administration.
CLAIMING EVERYTHING GOOD.
''In accordance with his policy Of
claiming everything good as his own
act, Gov. Patterson boldly appropri-
ates to himself every particle of the
credit for the increased appropriations
to public schools under the Chestnut
law. Now what are the facts? This
bill was first prepared by former SUI
perintendent Mynders and by Prof.
Claxton of the University of Tennes-
see, both friends and supporters of
mine. For months before Gov. Pat
terson was elected they were carry
ing on systematic campaign and
holding educational rallies all over the
State to work up a sentiment in its
behalf. Throughout his whole cam
paign for the nomination and after
wards as the nominee Gov. Patterson
never uttered one word in it's behalf,
and no reference to it can be found
in any message he sent to the Legisla-
ture. Judge Chestnut, another friend
and supporter of mine, introduced this
bill in the House and fought it
through that body without ever receiv-
ing one particle of help or any moral
support whatever from Gov. Patter-
son. On the contrary, at the very
time that my friend Judge Chestnut
was promoting the passage of this
bill, Gov. Patterson's leader in the
Senate, Mr.. Speaker Toilet, was urg-
ing the passage of another bill which
would have carried an appropriation
for the public schools Of three hun
dred thousand dollars less than the
amount appropriated under the Chest
mutt law. Not only that, but when the
Chestnut bill reached the Senate it
was fercely antagonized by Mr.. Toll
lett, who finally added an amendment
to the bill utterly inconsistent with
che whole act, and which sought to
place the distribution of all the State
school funds under the control of the
State Board of Education. This board
is NY LHC OOFClhOI, anu LAC
Governor himself is the Chairman.
The effect of the Toilet amendment
was to concentrate the school fund
in the hands of the Governor and his
self-created machine. This act was
finally submitted to the Attorney-Gen-
eral for his opinion and he declared
the Toilet amendment imperative
and void.
"And this is a plain statement of
Gov. Patterson's connection with the
educational legislation of the last
General Assembly.
ADMINISTRATION
OF PENITENTIARY.
Gov. Patterson tells you of the
increased receipts from the peniten-
tiary, but he does not tell you that
this increased revenue is due to the
increased price of coal and coke,
with which, of course, he had nothing |
to do, and that every dollar of the |
revenue so derived is by virtue of con-
tracts made by the appointees of his
one single dollar OF
t comes from any contract made by
MS administration. What Gov. Pat
.erson has done Is to make a material
reduction in the revenues by whole
sale increase in the number of en-
)loyes, and in the amount of their sal
lries, both at Brushy Mountain and
he main prison.
II have before me statement COM
,iled from the pay roll made a short
ime since, which shows the salaries
icing paid at this time-let me call
our attention, in this connection, to
he fact that the Legislative Commit
ee, which at the last session made
N investigation Of affairs at Brushy
declared at that time that
here were more employees than were
eeded, and this was one Of the stand
ng charges during Gov. Patterson's
against his competitor.
"The statement to which / refer Is
8 follows:
ar. l.. Blevins, Deputy Warden,
5000. No such place as this author
,ed by law, the Legislature having
Expressly repealed the law authoriz-
lg the appointment Of Deputy War
en-.
Ion the second page you will find
L. Nelson, Steward at salary OF
1000 and board. The red on the
1T of each name indicates that the
mploye Is also receiving board in ad-
ition to his salary.
"'The Steward and Warden's clerk
as heretofore combined in one office,
nd the place was for long series OF
-. altn,t hxy Tanl NalQnn thn cQlarV