The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-16

that this money was deposit secured on a loan from the University of Alabama. The witness was asked regarding trips which he had made at the expense of the state, especial emphasi being put on d visit to Cincinnati. He replied that he had made trips in the interest of the state as the governor of the state and that he thought the charge against the contin- gent fund was just charge. His trip in Cincinnati he said, was for the pur- pose of making an address as the gov- ernor of Alabama.
 The board of compromise he said, was
 composed of the auditor, the attorney gen. eral and the governor. He was then asked regarding 8 compromise made by this board with c. H. Billingsles, pure food clerk against whose department Ex- aminer Evans charged 5000 paid in alleged illegal salaries. The terms of the settle- ment, the witness did not recall. He was then asked regarding the charge that he had sent telegrams trading in cotton at the expense of the state. He read from bis prepared statement d denial of the
 charge.
 Maintenance Fund Snag
 The testimony here reverted to the
 expenditure of the contingent fund and
 the mansion maintenance fund. The calm which had heretofore prevailed was again disturbed. The witness be-
 came apparently fretted as did the
 chairman of the committee. The com-
 mittee was very anxious to have the witness testify regarding the spending
 of the maintenance fund and the wit
 ness was determined not to do so save to reiterate his former statement that every cent had been properly eXpend- ed according to law. The chairman then asked the governor regarding 9 bill from Philadelphia for s90 balance
 On a debt for furnishing the mansion, The witness said that he thought the bill had been paid long ago by him personally. As regarding bill for over $6000 against capital maintenance fund the governor referred the com
 mittee to his various secretaries.
 At this point Representative Welcn
 questioned the witness respecting the report of the military board regarding
 a reorganization of the adjutant gen- erals office, whereupon the witness
 repeated his testimony of the morn
 ing. And then, having been ques-
 tioned, the governor retold the old
 story of how his examiners had found
 difference in the accounts at the |
 vict bureau at the capitol The au-
 dience listened with attention to his
 dramatic story of the Lacy lefalca-
 tion.
 Regarding Detective Miles Regarding the testimony in Mont gomery of Detective F. o. Niles that
 but for the governors failure to em- ploy him he could have located the
 money which Lacy was charged with
 having stolen, the witness said: Some
 time after Lacy's arrest Miles came 10 me and declared that if he was paid the usual fee of s25 per day and ex- penses he would undertake to locate the money which had been stolen. l told him that We would pay him lib- erally on a percentage basis if he found the money, but would no- make bargain with him at so much per
 day. He declined"
 Henderson Company Contract Regarding the cancellation of the con- trdct with the Henderson Lumber con- pany, under which the company paid the state $39 per man for convict labor, the witness testified: ''The company had completed its work and asked to be re- lieved of the contract. l declined to ac- sede unless the convicts could be trans- ferred to some other company without loss to the state. This provision was finally met and the contract cancelled The witness asked the committee to con fer with the president of the convict bu-
 reau further regarding that contract. The Second Outbreak
 At this juncture, the chairman of the committee asked the governor if hs | wished to testify regarding any other matter not mentioned during the day. 'J do," replied the governor.
 Whereupon, he read from his statement a reference to the report that after his removal from the mansion of the gov | ernor, 21 carloads of garbage had beer | taken from under the house. He de-
 nounced that report as false. And then he expressed a desire to make known
 to the committee his speculation in cot
 ton futures. He explained that he had
 purchased cotton from only two firms and that as a result of his speculation he had lost between $500 and 800. He
 declared that that speculation was en- | li,ely personal matter that the people
 or the state had nothing to say or dc l concerning it. but that he was perfectly
 willing that everybody be informed. 1 As to whether or not 1t was matter oi winch the state should take cognizance wus disputed by Chairman Merritt, wht | insisted that it was wrong for mar
 to conduct speculation in the office oi
 governor and dictate personal teIegrams 1 to ciefkS WnUSc SdidTlcs WciS pau pS | the state
 This criticism caused the outbreak or
 the part of the governor which is de-
 scrIbed stenographically above.
 The Governors Statement
 The statement of the governor whicf the committee would not permit him tS
 read, but which during his testimony ! was repeatedly referred to, in part fol lows:
 MT. Chairman and Gentlemen of tn, | Committee: Before answering any ques
 tions you may propound, l deem it m. duty and ask the privilege of malSins
 a preliminary statement. Without ad hitting your authority to sit as a com ! mittee, to summons witnesses or exer else any legal powers: in view of tn fact that in the course of your investi gation you lave aired and publicity ha | been given to garbled statements. idl l rumors, loose-tongued gossip and variou islanders which my personal and politsca
 enemies have invented, I deem it m.
 duty to the people of Alabama who's