The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-07-02
PROBE COMMITTEE !SD|SAPPONTED|N
 TWO PARTICULARS
Has Failed to Solve the Lacy Steal and Is Unable to Lodge Serious Charge
 Against O'Neal

While the recess Investigating commit tee of the legislature is satisfied that when the public secures it's report and recommendations. it will be pleased. it is, nevertheless. disappointed. it was learn d yesterday, in two particulars.
 Theodore Lacy, who was regarded by his trial juries as the central figure in the 1913 rape of the state treasury. has de- clined to throw light on that notorious crime. And the most serious charge which twill be preferred against ex-Governor 0 Neal will be based on the ground of his alleged carelessness in supervising sae several departments of state, his alleged extravaganza iii travelling while governor in certain comfort and style. and the fact that while prosecuting limited speculatian In cotton. he dictated to the states ste nographer certain telegrams which could not be placed under the head of state business
 The committee in the beginning wa possessed of certain confidence that it would be able to solve the so-called mys. tery of the rape of the treasury The fact that up to present it has failed. con stitutes one of It's disappointments. In the beginning the committee was certain that it would be able to lodge and sus- tain serious charges against ex-Governor O'Neal. It is regarded as certain that in this it has also suffered disappointment.
 The report as a whole, it was learned yesterday. is lacking in the sensational. although by virtue of certain allega 1 ShOrtaVaC ui fond to reflect unfavorably on the administra- tion of the former governor. The report will go into detail In describing the incl dents leading up to the discovery of the alleged discrepancies in the accounts of Homer Billingsley, former chief clerk of the pure food and drug department; Capt. John C. Cheny, former chief clerk of the agricultural department. and Lee Cowart. former immigration commissioner The report will contain certain strong recom- mendations which the commmittee be- lieves will. if put itns erect, reduce the running expenses of the government. The abolition of the convict lease system, as has heretofore been pointed out, will be recommended in the report
 It was learned yesterday that Chairman Henry P. Merritt. of Macon had made known to Governor Henderson the con tents of the report of the Investigating comittee. and that over the protest ot some of the members of the committee had spent three hours with the chief executive in discussing the recommendations con tained therein. That MT Merritt had taken such action in time when the pub lie had been led to believe the majority faction of the legislature had determn d to ignore the chief executive, caused Bir- mingham people generally to congratulate him.
 The members of the Investigating, judi ciary and financial committees, who were for several days this week in conference in Birmingham have. with the exception of Senator Hartwell of Mobile, and Rep resentative Yarbrongh of Lee departed. Senator Hartwell and pr. Yarbrough had personal business in Birmingham yester- day, and will leave for their respective homes this morning.