Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-01-30
No WEEKLY REPORTS
REQUIRED BY STEVENS
AS COMMISSIONER.
Former Head of Agricultural
Department Nails Attempt to
Make Him Party to Attack
on 7. G. Hudson

That weekly reports were not required
from inspectors when he surrendered the
ONCE Of commissioner of agriculture to
the present incumbent. Thomas @. Hud-
son; and that any report quoting him to
the contrary was mistaken; and that IL
the records of the committee showed him
as so stating, they were also In error
through some misunderstanding either
of the questions asked or OF the answers
TO them by him-these points were me
gist of an emphatic statement made by
Col. Obadiah H. Stevens. Monday morn
ing, before the legislative committee that
is now investigating the conduct ana
government OF the state department OF
agriculture
Colonel Stevens was on the stand last
Saturday morning, and went fully into
the practices of the department when he
controlled It, and the improvements
which he thought advisable or which the
committee suggested to him for his opin-
ion
Monday morning he appeared agaiA-in
the committee room. which is the smok-
ing room OF the senate chamber At the
capitol He was there voluntarily. and
after State Chemist R 3. staIlings had
been heard by the COMMITTEES. Colonel
Stevens asked permission to make a
statement He asked to be sworn. but
Chairman Bush reminded him that he
was sworn before he went on tho stand
last Saturday.
WAS MISoUOTED.
his own words:
IT was very much surprised to read in
a morning paper yesterday the state
ment that I had testified that during
my connection with the department CT
agriculture I required weekly reports
from the inspectors.
The truth is that never had any
weekly reports at all from them. we
did havela sort Of monthly report from
the inspectors. about where they had
been, what their expenses were. and so
forth. but not particularly about sam
pies.
IF the records OF this COMMITTEES
show me as stating anything else in
this regard than what I say now, there
is some mistake. Either my answer
was misunderstood. or / misunderstood
the question itself. had no intention
to convey any other impression than
imnrQRe the system Of Tia denaE kroeut....
The stenographer read his notes, ana
It was found that Colonel Stevens hao
been asked a question by Represents
tive Cabaniss, OF Oglethorpe as to
whether or not he did have weekly re-
ports when <he was commissioner: ana
that Colonel Stevens had answered
that weekly reports could be required
to considerable advantage
The committee accepted the former
commissioners correction unquest1on-
ingly, and his full statement OF the
correction went. into the records ex-
actIy as he made 1t; so that there Is
now no, doubt on the matter. Com
missioner Hudson did not inherit
weekly report system from his prede-
cessor and then abandon it.
'I realize that the report has already
been spread broadcast that / said we
had weekly reports when was COM
missioner" said Colonel Stevens IN pri-
vate conversation later. And real
ize that my correction of that erron-
eous report will never catch up with
it-that harm has been done which-can
never be undone. Commissioner Hud-
son has been put in the attitude OF
neglecting to do q thing that I gave
gave him no such precedent. Two
newspaper reports have already been
printed on this erroneous version Of the
matter and one editorial has taken it
for a bitter theme upon which to score
Mr.. Hudson"
Colonel Stevens stated before ma
committee II at he had talked with no
one about the matter until that mo-
ment-that he had seen neither Mr.
Hudson nor the new sDal'er editor. nor
had he had any communication with
them.
COST REDUCED.
State Chemist Stallings testified Nom
day regarding the workings OF his de-
partment. He submitted statistics to
show that theNcost Of fertilizer sampling
In Georgia Cincluding expense OF col
lection. analysis and report has been re-
duced to about 80 cents, as against -
and "a per sample In every other state.
He showed also that Georgia uses one
third Of all the fertilizer used In the
south. He declared that his department
needs more working chemists and needs
more money to get good men He said
hat he appoints his own men. and that
all are worked, and that there are no
1rones among them.
AS showing the work his department
s doing for the protection of Georgfans
from fraud, DR.. Stallings cited one In
stance IN which he examined cancer
cure selling for SO bottle, and found
t to consist of nothing but water and
iuinine worth about 8 cents. He turned
he matter over to the federal authorl-
lies, he said. and they did the rest
The committee asked DR.. Stallings to
iraw up such recommendations as he
Gould make, and such suggestions as he
Jared to offer, for the Improvement of
he laws and conditions governing his
branch of the department of agricul-
ure.
Three members of the COMMITTEES were
rot present Monday morning. Two OF
he absentees, Senator Harris and Rep
'esentative Ault were attending the fu-
leraI of the late Senator w. C. Bum
n Cedartown- The third absentee, Rep
esentative Wimberly. was at home 10
Macon.
The committee will probably conclude
is examination of witnesses Tuesday
and get to work on it's report
Wednesday. It now seems improbable
hat any other than the statehouse Of
icers Of the department. of agriculturs
will be called before ii.
PACKER TRIAL LAWYERS