The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-22
Committee We'll Pleased With Results of Investi-
 gation In Birmingham
FAILED TO UNCOVER
 ANY REAL SCANDAL
Devoted Much Attention to Convicts and Efforts Will Be Exerted to Improve Convict Conditions
 In This State
By HIGH ". RonERrs

Ny HUGH W. ROBERTS
 After spending 8 week in Birming- ham, the members of the legislative investigation committee will leave this morning for Montgomery. There tho work which has been prosecuted for three weeks will be continued.
 In this city the committee examined large number of witnesses and in- spected the Hillman hospital the coun- ty jail. the schools for dependent boys and girls, the county convict camp at Grandview. and Flat Top and Banner mine stockades where state convicts are confined
 There is no question but that the committee has been energetic. It ac- quired a great deal of information. The members are satisfied in that they are convinced that their work has been entirely worth while. Henry P. Mer. ritt, chairman, said last night that the ham a new viewpoint on many in,- portant problems. and data which in the future would tend to shape .egis- lation. He declared that he considered the testimony of ex-Governor O'Neal important for reasons other than that he told the story of the convict scan- dal" from the angle of his opinion
 Found No Scandal
 The commitfaa failad fo a<po~a ap--- thing in the nature of a scandal con- nected with Governor O'Neal as to his personal or official conduct While in office. Every rumor on which the scandalmonger for four years delighted with whispered emphasis was present. cd to the former chief executive for explanation. Each he explained On only che point did he answer In such man. ner that the committee seemed 70 be pleased. He declined to give a de- tailed statement of how he had ex- pended the s2OOo annual appropriation for the upkeep of the mansion in which for four years he lived.
 He stated very candidly that that amount had been appropriated for the maintenance of the home of the gov ernor and was expended, in acco1 danca ' with law, as the governor deemed wise and proper. He declared that he had not kept a strict account of how that money had been expended but declared that every cent had been properly invested. He expressed further Q state ment which is generally known 10 be true, that the annual appropriation of S2000 was made in that his salary might be increased approximately tc that amount which the legislature had r<s-~ l. | .f-- | be paid-which he would have been pail but for the fact that ex-Governor Conner, by withholding his signature permitted the bill automatically to be come law only after ex-Goxarnor O'Neal had been inaugurated.
 While this explanation was satisfac- tory to the people generally it is pointed out that members of the com mittee were seemingly pleased ia that he had not kept a formal reckoning of the expenditures.
 Excise Commission Situation
 When the committee came to Bir- mingham it Was obsessed by an idea that there was some scandal connect : ed with the Jefferson county excise commission. It is believed that the committee had hopes that it wouli un- earth in Birmingham such an under ground state of affairs that Governor Henderson would be prompted to sisn the bill providing for the immediate dissolution of the local commission But no scandal was unearthed. It was ad- mitted by members of the commission that "blind tigers have done business in Birmingham, but 1t was coniended that persistent and in the man. suc- cessful efforts had been made to stamp them out. And it was contended. too, and as is generally known with truth. that in respect to blind tigers and other unsavory institutions, conditions during the last four years showed a distinct improvement over conditions prevalent under the statewide prohi , tition regime.
 The committed found that Chairman Agee gave his entire attention to the work of the commission, but that asso- ciate members, Sydenham Moore and K. Wilkerson, gave only that time which 1t was said to be necessary. In addition to locating a scandal connected with the commission, the committee seemed anxious to prove that the commission CTS gave only nominal attention to the duties-that the duties. in fact, were so light, that there was no longer a reason for the continued existence of the commission.
 Condition of State Conviets
 The committee received Information regarding two subjects which will shape future legislation. Assiduous efforts made to find out the condition of the state convicts who under the so-called