The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-06
TAX AXCOMM|SS|ONER QUESTIONS POWER OF PROBE COMMITTEE John $. MOOring Clashes With Merritt During
 Investigation REFUSES TO GIVE OVER
 CORRESPONDENCE Committee Spends Much Time in Investigation of Tax Commis-
 sion and of Governors
 Mansion

Montgomery March 5.-(Special. )-Foi the first time since the Investigating com mittee began it's labors at the capitol the authority of that body has been ques- toned.
 John S. Mooring, chairman Of the state tax commission. today declined to give his consent to turn over to the commit tee certain correspondence from Cover nor Henderson relating to the department Henry P. White, associate member of the commission, also declined to turn over this correspondence to the committee. Judge A. A. Evans, the third mem- Der of the commission. was willing to place the correspondence in the commit tees hands, but since the majority of the commission was opposed to the sug- gestion, the investigators were denied the first request they had made of a state official.
 Later a special committee called on Governor Henderson and obtained the correspondence
 First Clash
 The clash between Chairman Merritt Of
  Mooring of the state tax commission was the first that has taken place between the committee and state official MT. Merritt reminded the chairman of the tax commission that his committe has the powers of a court.
 'I doubt that" said MT. Mooring. Then followed a verbal tilt relative to the powers of the committee with the ;, result that MT. Mooring consistently re- fused to give up the papers at this time asking that he be given until next Tues day before turning them over to the com mittee.
 We want them this afternoon" said MT. Merritt
 q will not produce them at this time" was the reply.
 q will have to cite you for contempt to the legislature" said MT Merritt.
 That's all right" said MT. Mooring, but I think it for the good of the state not to turn over this correspondence at this time'' He declared it was a matter that concerned the business of the state.
 Tax Commission Investigation The investigation of the taS commission consumed the greater part of the day, although the investigators examined a dozen or more witnesses. Judge A. A.
 
 stand during the morning session, and was asked various questions concerning the operations of the commission. He de- clared that the laws of the tax com- mission department are in need of many changes, and suggested that they be re- vised by the legislature. He said he was absent from the office at times, but never when the commission was in session.
 The first witness of the day was John Moffat, recording secretary in the of- flee of the governor Chairman Merritt asked MT Moffat many questions con cerning the expenditures of the exec utive office under the former admin istration and questioned the witness specifically concerning an item of $1o0. MT. Moffat said this money was turned over to Detective F. O. Miles, who was employed in the Lacy case. The war rant for this sum of money was drawn in MT. Moffat's name.
 H. R. Spangler, file clerk and stem ographer in the governors office, was called to the stand and questioned con- corning extra clerical hire in the of flee
 Mansion Investigation
 The committee questioned several witnesses regarding the purchase of the governors mansion. which subject has been under investigation since last Monday. The first witness who testi- fled today concerning the mansion was Judge M. H. Screws, who was on the commission that purchased the man. sion. He said he also served on q sub committee charged with the duty of purchasing furniture. Witness said he thought the price of the mansion was reasonable, under the circumstances.
 Others who testified concerning the mansion were W. A. Saffold, a well