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


 reporters.
 
 much money to pay off the First Ma tional bank of Birmingham in order that I might continue the arrangements which had made with it to carry state war rants for the succeeding year. The in- terest due the First National bank of Birmingham was paid by the New Far ley bank, who purchased their indebted ness without discount and the First Ma tioral bank of Birmingham, who car ried warrants for the succeeding year relied only on the good faith of the leg islature to reimburse them Tor their in- terest. During the following year Mir Harding. of the First National bank of Birmingham advised me that while his bank was willing to carry the interest on the loans which they made. certain portions of the warrants were carried by banks in New York; and that they would not undertake to purchase the warrants unless their interest was secured. I ap- piled to J. H. Hicks, Of Taladega a gentleman of high character, who promptly loaned the state $10,000. did not stop to consider whether MT. Hicks was a local optionst or a prohibitionist My information subsequently, was that he was very active advocate of the cause of statewide prohibition but as a pa triotic citizen he generously advanced the necessary funds to protect the credit of the state and saved me rom the neces- sity of calling the legislature into extra | ordinary session to p~ocure money with which to protect the public credit. MT. Farley. in his testimony, nas fully ex- plained this transaction. I did negotiate with the First National bank of Birming- ham and the New Farley pank, as well as a bank in Baltimore, to carry state warrants I did apply to every institution supported by the state that had war l rants to be carried, to advance the in terest to the banks for carrying the warrants, or carry them. I used every possible legitimate effort Co protect the credit Of the state. and was successful
 Release of Conditional Appropriations There has been some criticisms of the conditional appropriations which l re- leased, especially in view of the fact that the statute expressly stated that when in my judgment the treasury warranted the release that l could do so, and many peo- pie have therefore concluded that in view of the financial condition of the state the treasury was never in condition to war rant the releose. I have no apologies to make for my action in this matter. Tn making these releases I was actuated by no desire to favor one institution over another and am more than prepared, if it should be proper for me to do so, to show that I did not discriminate against one in favor of any other institution in acting as I did. and all the appropria- tiofis I released were for educational pur- poses.
 Military Affairs
 It has been charged that l concealed report in reference to the military de- partment This statement is unfounded. I did receive letter from the Secretary of War calling my attention to the fact that Major Mc1ver, the clerk of the mill itary department, had signed my name as well as that of General Sculy to cer- tain vouchers Major McIver had drawn warrants on the treasury and signed my name without authority. The Secretary of War also called attention to the fact that the United States military property was not properly protected.
 sI immediately convened the military board and instructed them ito investigate the condition of the adjutant generals department They recommended that the department be completely reorganized and an additional clerical force be em- ployed. They summoned before them Major McIver, who stated that he had signed the vouchers mentioned without my authority, but that he had signed sim liar vouchers during the term of my pre- decessor and he mistakenly assumed that such conduct was not objectionable. Major McIver was removed from office and an investigation was made of his accounts, which were finally settled by the board of compromise by his payment or the amount due the state.
 Tt was suggested to me that General Scully should be removed from office l called to Montgomery Gen. Louis V. Clarke, the major general of the Ala bama state troops who was the head of the military commission, and asked him whether the board recommended the re- moval of General Scully. He stated that they did not; that he believed that there were certain political influences at work to secure General Scully's removal in or der to secure a position for some other applicant, but that in his judgment Gen. eral Scully was thoroughly competent and was a faithful and efficient officer. and if I would furnish him with a sufficient clerical force. he would make a model adjutant general. While Major Mclver never had any authority to sign my name to any voucher did not believe that he acted dishonestly. but in good faith and mistakenly assumed that he could sign the governors name to any paper that he deemed proper.
 Empl0ymen of Special Counsel
 "As to the employment of special coun- sel, I refer you to my quadrennial mes sage to the legislature. which fully ex- rlajns this subject. Every attorney that I employed with one exception, were engaged with the approval of the attor- ney general. and that one exception was the attorney who had been employed by the state tax commission, and not by me. These gentlemen rendered valuable services to the state. and their compen- ssttion, which agreed to pay them. was just and reasonable. selected them, not on account of their political affilia-