The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-07-07
Georgia Commission At Last
Completes Work
NEW ACCOUNTING SYSTEM
Commission, 1t Is Understood, Dis
agrees Strongly With Former
Governor Smith in Regard
to Pardoning Power.

/
ness, has finally been completed and is
IN the hands of the printer Although
Judge Turner was anxious to prepare the
report he found that his condition while
1t is improving, would not permit him
! TO do SO. 1t was prepared by Gen.
Clement A. Evans and Commissioner
/ Wiley Williams.
While the members of the commission
decline to discuss the report In advance
! of its presentation to the legislature In
printed form, it is known that it will con-
/ tain some interesting references in an in
/ direct way to the rather strained rela-
! tons which existed between the commits
! sion and former Gov. Hoke Smith
The report will detail the reasons why
| the commission failed to purchase a state
farm for the white convicts which, as
will be recalled. was a chief element of
discord between the commission and the
former governor
There will be also some reference to
the former governors criticisms upon the
| commissions management of the peniten-
tiary department and Its method of keep
ing the books and accounts. The report
|
April l last a competent bookkeeper was
installed at the state farm near Milledge-
vile and that he is now engaged in the
preparation of new accounting system for
! the farm and for the state reformatory
| also located on the farm
Equal interest will be manifest in what
the commission will have to say about
| the freedom with which the former gov
ernor exercised the pardoning power. The
! commission, 1t is understood, disagrees
strongly with Governor Smith in this re-
| speet, and regards the freedom with
| which he granted pardons as a dangerous
precedent. 1t will suggest that there
| should be more care and attention given
the investigation of pardon cases, than
! could possibly have been given in the
\ numerous cases upon which. Governor
| Smith passed favorably, often in the
face of the commissions adverse report
1t Is said the records will show that
| Governor Smith pardoned more convicts
than any governor the state has had; per-
| haps more than any other two COVER
| nors
At the same time the commission rec
| ognizes the governors right to pardon
| whatever convict he pleases, no matter
| what the circumstances. The constitu-
ton gives him that right, and SO far as
the commissions power to prevent is
concerned he might pardon every con-
Wet in the state penitentiary.
| Governor Smiths view of the matter,
! as expressed in his final message to the
! legislature, is that there should be a
more free use of the pardon power, par
ticulariy in cases wherein the convicts
| have acquired diseases and infirmites fol-
| lowing or as a result of their contine-
| ment.
Secretaries To Meet.
| Commercial secretaries from boards of
| trade and chambers of commerce In many
| of the cities of the south will meet here
| tomorrow in convention for the purpose of
| discussing subjects of general interest to
ball commercial organizations.
The convention will be called to order
| tomorrow In the auditorium armory al
| 10 o'clock, when addresses of welcome will
| be delivered by President Asa g. Gambler
| of the Atlanta chamber Of commerce and
| Mayor r. r. Maddox. President w. 3.
| Register of the Southern Commercial Sec
| retaries association will make the re-
| sponse
| The first days programme will include
| the report of Secretary Edwin L. Quarles,,
the appointment of committees, an adj
| dress by Managing Director g. Grovesnor
Dave on 1.-The Southern Commercial Con-
| gress and Its Results" a discussion of
| the good roads question led by, Gen. Cliff
ford L. Anderson, followed by an auto
mobile ride to Roswell, the home of
| PreSldent hOOSeVelLS nOtDeT.
| Thursday morning there will be dis
cussion. led by Alex w. Smith Of At
| lanta of 1.-The Work of Commercial Or
| ganizations in Municipal Betterment" an
| address on Commission Government for
| Cities by ]. w. Arnold, president of
| the Texas secretaries association, and
| general discussion of municipal adver-
| Using. At the afternoon session George
| S. Viewer of Montgomery will lead the
discussion on "Co-operation Between Com
mercial Secretaries" and other discussions
will include Subsidized Plants for Man
| ufacturing," Incorporation Between In
| dustrial and Publicity Departments of
| Railroads and Commercial Secretaries"
| Commercial Organizations and Iegisla-
| ton" and 1.-The Secretarys Local Trou-
bles-How to Overcome Them
A reception at the Piedmont Driving
club Thursday Afternoon Is an interesting
feature of the days programme.
Rifle Competition.
| Practically all preparations have been
| completed for the state rifle competition
as a result of which there will be selected
team to represent Georgia in the ma
| tonal match to be held at Camp Perry,
| Ohio, beginning August %.
! This contest will be held in Atlanta
| from August 8 to H. inclusive, and on the
| Atlanta military rifle range, and follow
| ing the contest the team selected, con-
| SiSting of IL pr1VateS, three alternateS,
| one team captain, one coach, one spotter
| and one range officer, will remain In
| camp upon the local range for practice
| preparatory to the contests at Camp
! Perry
| Maj Mack e. Laird, chief inspector of
| small arms practice of the National
| Guard of Georgia, will be the team cap
| tain, and the selection of the team from
| those making the highest scores will de-
| volve upon him.
| General orders No. g. just issued by
| Adpt. Gen A. ]. Scott give the details
| in connection with the competition which
| is limited to officers and men who have
| served at least IL months in the National
| Guard of the state and who have per-
| formed Is per cent of all the military
| duties required of them.
Any command in the state may enter a
| team In this competition under the rules
and regulations prescribed. The camp
| will be opened in Atlanta on Sunday, Au-
| gust s, preparatory to getting to work on
| the ranges the following day
/ Attention Is called to the fact that
| those who except to participate In the
| contests and to secure II possible, place
| on the team that is to represent the
| state of Camp Perry, should make all
| their business arrangements to cover the
| entire period OF practically a month from
| August g.
|