The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-07-13
Members Reticent Regard ing Report, But Body Has Scored Two Signals Fail ures Is the Belief
COMMITTEE WILL
 MAKE REPORT TO
 LEGISLATURE TODAY
Report Mildly Tempered as a WhOle-Former Gov ernor Criticized, But Not Scandalized
By HUGH ". ROBERTS

Montgomery, July I2.-6speciaiD While the members of the recess in- vestisation committee have guarded the report which they will submit to the legislature tomorrow scrupulousls, 1t ia learned on excellent authority that
 They have failed to uncover serious scandal with which cx-Governor o'Ncnl was connected. and they have failed to solve the mystery of the notorious "pine box"
 It has been the general conception that the committee was raised primarily be- cause of the belief of certain leaders of the prohibition lobby that ex-Governor o'Neal could be proved guilty of serious offenses; that, in other words he knew more of the dedication of Theodore Lacy than he was willing 10 talk about. that if Lacy should be Induced to talk the former governor would be seriously im- plleated.
 In It's report tomorrow the committees will bring no serious charge against the former chief executive, and in that the Lacy mystery might he solved. will ask for further time for Investigating pur- poses Thus il has failed in achieving two of the prime objects of It's life.
 Expect No Sensations
 As whole, the report is mildly tenn pered The people of the state who have anticipated a llmtless series of sensations arc destined to disappointment The report was mild when first suhrlit- ted to the members Of the lotby It is milder now
 Of course. Governor o'Neal is criticised Certain paragraphs of the volumnous document of more than 50 pages deal with the purchase and equipment of the governors mansion. It is charged that the purchase was exceedingly unwise and that in equipping of the mansion serious criticism Is due because of the fact that certain cocktail and champagne glasses were purchased. One fault with Q Neal found by the committee is that his travelling expenses while governor amounted to q figure in excess Of Sl per day or approximatel 5000 in four years Ii is reported, too that the committee will grievousy complain because in the ex- pense account of a banker. travelling in
 
 an item of trousers pressed" Mention is said to be made of the fact that thu former governor indulged to a certain extent in cotton speculation, and that he dictated few messages of privatas nature to a secretary employed and paid by the state
 An effort has been made by the ad- visers of the committee to have these minor criticisms of the former goY- ernor omitted on the ground that they are very small" and will he con strued as having been made on account of prejudice As to whether or not the advise has been followed Is mystery. The Big Feature
 The chief recommendation contained in the report is that the convict lease system be formally abolished January l. 1918, and that thereafter the eonviets be employed on the highways of the state under conditions similar to those which prevail in Georgia.
 The committee recommends, too, that a prison commission be created to sup plant the convict bureau, and that as commissioners the legislature elect one man skilled in handling eonvicts on- other skilled in prison sanitation. and third skilled in the art of road con- struction. should this recommendation go into effect, it would be tantamount to the consolidation of the convict bu- reau, the state highway commission. and the office of prison inspector
 The report contains innumerable sug- gestions as to how In the opinion of the committee the state could be better governed than at present and more cheaply governed. It Is reported that the committee will recommend that the department of fish and game presided over by John H. Wallace. Jr.. be made an integral part of the agricultural de. partment. On account of the secrecy with which the commission has yelled the result of it's summer acticity. 1t has been impossible to learn definitely the truth of this report