The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-10-21
VIM. L. Martin Issues State
ment Alleging His Office Is
Disseminated Against
SAYS HIS WORK WILL
NOT BE DISCONTINUED
patriotic Citizens" Are Paying Ex-
penses of Legal Department Which
Chief Executive Declines to
Indorse, Alleges Official

Montgomery. October 2O.-(Speciai.)--An
effort to show that Governor Henderson
has been inconsistent and discriminatory
in holding the appropriation clause OF
the attorney generals" bill to be I'M
constitutional and cutting off the salaries
of six attaches of the legal department.
employed under that act. was made to-
day by Attorney General William l..
Martin. simultaneously. Mr. Martin made
public the text of correspondence which
passed between him and the governor
during August relative to the attorney
generals action in the matter OF certain
convict lessees defaulting in their OBJ
legations to the state. and as a result
OF his (the attorney generals steps,, Mr..
Martin declares the governor was prompt
ed to stop the salaries of six members
of his department.
SAYS LEGISLATURE OVERRULED
THE solemn judgment of two branches
OF the state government, extending over
period of 81 years" Mr.. Martin declares.
have been overturned by the present
governor, and the established principle
| that the meaning of constitutional clauses
is best shown by and illustrated in the
contemporaneous enact of relevant laws
is ignored by him.
During the eight years tho present
governor was president of the railroad
commission. Mr.. Martin continues, he
the governor) failed to discover that
so, $50. 10 was being paid out in counsel
fees in the rate litigation without any
fixed or definite appropriation. AS gov
ernor he has given executive sanction to
such legislation by ~ different enact
ments of the legislature of 1915 carrying
indefinite and uncertain appropriations.
] During the fiscal year ending September
| 80 last there was pair out OF the state
| treasury, under such laws. the sum of
| 81, $40, 904. 81. Tho convict. fish and game.
and insurance departments. are all con-
I Quoted either wholly or partially under
tsach enactments, Tlae sniiit'1. v,ssg1 o.
dered out by the governor to execute the
law, is likewise paid out Of an indefinite
appropriation. Since the governors ez-
ecutive judgment of September %, he has
approved expense accounts for these three
departments and for the militia, amount
| ing to s6s14s.11, without discovering
constitutional defect. which appears to
him very grave when considering tha
voucher of an assistant attorney rem
eral."
| Mr.. Martin spurns the governors invi-
| tation to 'partake of his contingent fund'
for the payment of thu expenses in Ques-
ton, and takes a fling at William H.
Sanford. the governors legal adviser. In
timating that If the legal expenses Of his
office were chargeable to the governors
| contingent fund, Mr.. Samfords fec OF
$1,000 for services rendered tho governor
| in reading over bills enacted by the leg
| islature," might also be chargeable to
he same fund"
PATRIOTIC CITIZENS AIDING
| Regardless of the governors attitude.
Mr. Martin declares. the work of his
office will not be imped.d. Il have not
| lacked funds for the investigation and
prosecution of official misconduct and Of
| (ContinueA on PAGE Nine)