The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1911-03-31
WON'T SIGN INVESTIGATION ACT.
BIease Makes Definite Statement As
to Course se-COmmission Holds
First Meeting.

to COurSe-COmmlSSlOn HOlQS
First Meeting.
Columbia, March 27.-Gov. Blease
will not sign the Investigating act.
The investigating of the old State
dispensary affairs and the matters
named in Gov. Blease's special mes
sage will be conducted by the new
winding-up commission, that held it's
! first session here this afternoon.
ct have today decided definitely not
to sign the investigating act" said
Gov. Blease. "What's the use of en-
failing this additional expense upon
the people Of the State? IF the in
vestigating committee is named there
will be the per diem provided for in
the act and all the expenses Of the
sessions. At the same time the new
commissions expenses will be going
on and this commission will he in
vestigating the very matters the in
vestigation was asked for. I do not
want the people to bear double ex-
pense, so I today decided that I would
not sign the investigating act passed
at the last session of the general as
sembly."
Information to Commission.
Governor Blease said he would turn
over the ssT. B." letters and any mat
ter he held to the commission. and
so told that body today. He turned ov-
er to the commission the special mes
sage he sent to the general assembly
and asked the commission to look in
to all matters mentioned in that. That
message includes some suggestions Of
wrong doings on the part of the at
torney general, the former winding
I'D commission, the Atlanta attorney
employed by the State and many 9TH
er things that have already appeared
in the press of the State.
eI told the commission to investi-
gate everything and every one, not
even to leave me out of the matter.
I am willing for them to Investigate
all my acts and doings and so told
them. I want thorough investiga-
ton of the whole dispensary PROPOSE
ion."
Thus declared the governor late to-
day as he sat in his buggy in front of
the State capitol and chatted with a
newspaper man.
Stackhouse Made Chairman.
The commission met today in the
Office of Gov. Blease. The formal or
gSnization was effected with the selec-
ton of James Stackhouse, of Mullins,
as chairman of the commission, and
!B, Frank Kelley, of Bishopville, as
secretary.
The commission adopted a resolu-
ton to ask the attorney general to
meet it this afternoon. At O'Clock
the commission met again at. a local
hotel, with the former chairman OF
the old commission, DR.. W. J. Muir
ray, of this city, and J. Fraser Lyon
attorney general, present at the meet,
ing. The governor turned over tx
the commission the report, of the ole
commission made to him, and Attor'
ney General Lyons reply to the gov
ernor's questions.
The entire dispensary investigation
is in the hands of the following mem
bers tof the new commission: James
Stackhouse, Mullins, chairman
Thomas F. Brantley, Orangeburg; B
Frank Kelley, Bishopville, secretary
John V. Wallace, Charleston, ant
Fred. H. Dominick, Newberry.
Senate Appointments Void.
The action Of the governor in abso
1utely refusing to sign the act passed.
by the general assembly relieves Sen
ators Howard B. Carlisle, of Spar
, tanburg; G. W. Sullivan, Of Ander
son, and John H. Clifton, of Sumter
, the appointees of President. c. A
Smith, of the senate, from any con
nection with the dispensary investi
: cation. The house appointments ha
~ not been announced by Speaker Smith
He would not announce them in ad
vance of the signing OF the act.
The refusal of Gov. Blease to sig
the act also brings to a head tn
: Fielder controversy, because the Al
Z lanta attorney said in his first lette
u that if the governor did not sign th