The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-08-27
HENDERSON WRITES
SCATH|NG LETTER
TO GENERAL MARTIN
Governor Explains Why He
Refuses to Approve Ex-
pense Account of Special
Agents at Girard

Montgomery, August 26-(Special.)
After returning to Montgomery, Governor
Henderson wrote and made public at mid
night scathing letter to Attorney Cen
eral Martin. The letter is in reply to Mr..
Martins letter of yesterday and follows:
''I have read your letter Of August %,
addressed to me, as governor, in the state
press, but I have not as yet received the
letter which was presumably sent to me-
also note that you have begun man
damus proceedings to compel me, as gov
ernor, to approve the account of one Daily
for services claimed to have been rem
dered at your instance, and in reply there
to I beg to advise you that my failure to
express an opinion as to the construction
of section of what is known as the at
torney general act, passed by the last leg
islature, and the duties Of the governor
in connection Herewith, by no means con-
ceded the soundness of your conclusions.
NOT FIRST DIFFERENCE
This is not the first matter of difference
dTlSluS DStWOCh yOo iAo viz eS'SAAto-
with reference to the seizure of liquor in
Girard. Among others. as you will re-
member, that you undertook to remove
the liquors from Russell county, and out
of the jurisdiction of the court, which
would have been done but for my posi-
tive instructions to Capt Dallas Smith,
in charge of the militia, to hold 1t in
Russell county, and although this action
on my part saved the state serious em-
barrassments Gin the prosecution of these
cases, it seemed to irritate YOU
I'm the brief note addressed to you
did not deem it necessary to enter into
discussion of the legal phases of the
case, but I take occasion now to say to
you that If your construction of section
6 of that act is correct it does impose
unlimited authority on the attorney gen.
eral to incur, without limit, expenses In
the investigation Of every class of sup
posed crime in the state, whether felony
or misdemeanor, and would permit the
attorney general to spend the entire reve.
nue. Of the state, without let or hindrance
and under you construction no head Vi
the secret police of Russia could want
for more authority.
INSTANCES CITED
IT was induced to take the position
did respecting this matter by reason OF
several instances coming to my knowledge
from your office
''You will remember that after had
instructed you to employ certain depu-
ties to act under your instructions lr
making raids at Girard, that you rendered
an expense bill presumably itemized. but
not footed up. to which you had certi-
fed, and which you stated to me YER
bally would approximate $500. When the
voucher was paid, much to my surprise
/ found that instead of $500 it was almost
twice that amount. You will also recall
that you stated to me that the additional
expense at Girard would approximate $500
and when the expense account was GER
titled to by you and presented for ap.
prevail. it was approximately $1,000, in ad'
dition to the first expense account, which
had been approved and paid. thus max
ing an expenditure of approximately s6o0'
CONTINUED ON Page Eleven)