The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-04
O'Neal's Reply

The governors reply is as follows
 "A recent meeting was held in Mont gonery ostensibly to protest against the action of the state tax commission in the assessment of taxes in Montgom cry county. Since it was apparent that the only legitimate ground or complain nt which any tax could have was that his property was assessed at more ehan so per cent of its actual cash value. issued in advance of this meeting an invitation to all of its participants to deny that their property was then as- sessed at less than the legal rate. The only issue which the meeting itself could tender 1egitimately and which was emphasized by my invitation was not regarded, but the ground was shifted to the allegation that assess ments at the legal rate were necessary only on account of extravagance and this position was attempted to be sus- tained by reference to certain disburse- rnents from the governors contingent fund and to the employment of special counsel by the governor. With refer- ence to the specific items mentioned in this meeting 1t is manifestiy lm- possible in a statement or any reason able length to deal. Each criticised disbursement, however, Is supported by an itemized statement which is on file
 
 seen bv any citizen. For the informa- tion of the public. however. and to dis sinate any erroneous impression that mipbt have been formed in the minds Of any one by any of the statements made at this meeting, l give statement or inc facts concerning several of the crit icised items, which are typical or all the rest.
 hopl<e fp he fairlv understood should always be read in connection with the account to which they have reference, and which are on file in that office. The entries in inc auditors Books are in the na- fi,re only of an index and do not pur- nort to give the details of the items composing the account to which they refer. These items are to be round m the account itself.
 "The governors contingent fund IS created to meet those contingencies or nublic expenditures not embraced in any specific appropriation and the oc- ca sion for which could not De ahtici- pated by the legislature.
 ,ft is required by law that when the eovernor disburses any sum out Of this fund for other than personal use there must be an itemized statement or the ac- count for which it is paid Where the gov ersor himself uses or directs the use or tha fund the correctness of the items pe- ing within his personal knowledge an itemized statement is not required. Slnce' however. I have been in office nave .inaug1,rated the practice of showing py an itemized statement filed in the audi tor's office the purpose for which all funds were used, whether by me or others In the use of this fund the governor IS vested with the largest discretion. The only limitation upon the governors use of this fund is that it must be for public purpose, of which he IS 10 pc the sole judge The governor would be vio- lating no law if the entire fund was withdrawn. put to his credit in bank and no statement of it's use furnished. There are many purposes of a secret nature for which the governor is authorized to use this fund to attract publicity to which would defeat the purpose to be accom- plished. There is not a state in the union which does not provide such a fund for it's chief executive and in a neighboring state it was heiG that no taxpayer had the right to inquire through the courts as to how the governor used this fund.
 At the meeting last Wednesday. after criticissng my employment of special counsel, one of the speakers said: But, my friends. do not imagine that our gov ernor fig all generosity: he kept a little slice of the pie for himself Listen: Oc- tober 6. Emmet O'Neal. expenses gover- nors' conference. Spring Lake. N. J.. $40O. A few days in Spring Lake cost you 500.