The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1917-09-25
FERGUSON IS OUSTED
FROM HIGH OFFICE
GOVERNOR IMPEACHED BY
SENATE COURT.
Ten Out of Twenty-One Charges
Against States Chief Execu-
tive Are Sustained.

tN<N'' SSpt. E.-JdIleS IL
ferguson was tonight completely
severad from his office as governor
OF Texas, to which position he was
twice elected by the people of the
State, the senate high court of i'm
peachment this afternoon having
sustained ten OF the 21 charges in
the bill returned against him by the
house committee of the whole. Act
ing Gov. William p. Hobby, an edi-
tor of Beaumont, assumes the full
power of office, his tenure extend
ing to January. 1919.
Next Tuesday at noon the senate
as high court will formally pro-
nounce its judgment. Conviction
carries disbarment from future Of
flee. but it is understood this CON
dition may be ameliorated.
The vote this afternoon on the
first of the 21 articles was sufficient
to convict 4 two-thirds vote was
necessary. The ballot was 27 TO 4
in favor of sustaining the charge.
Guilty on First Count.
The governor was found guilty OF
article one, charging misappropria-
tion of $4,000 of Canyon City Nor
nal funds.
The second charge. that the gov
ernOr profited from the deposits
from Canyon City Normal funds.
was sustained, &c to >.
The third, fourth and fifth ar
ticles were not sustained. On the
sixth article, charging the governor
derived profit from State funds de-
posted in the Temple State Bank.
the senate voted to convict, "a to 7.
Article z, charging that the gov
ernor assisted in depositing $3.50
600 of State funds in the Temple
State Bank for profit, was sustained
&c to 5.
Article 8, that the governor
sought to have the State highway
fund deposited in the Temple State
Bank for profit. was not sustained
Q to %.
The ninth article, that the govern
or deposited funds in the Temple
Bank that could have been placed in
the treasury, was not sustained. l5
to 22, four present and not voting.
Article 10. that he was indebted
to the Temple Bank above the legal
limit at time when he testified he
was not so Indebted, was not sus-
tanned. 13 to 1S.
Official Misconduct.
Article IL, that the refusal OF the
governor to tell who loaned him
$156.500 currency constituted Off
cial misconduct, was sustained, 27
to 4.
Article IL, that the governor in
1916 diverted the adjutant generals
fund to pay for the Canyon CITY
Normal building, was sustained. 27
to 4.
Article 13, that the governor fail
ed to refund to the State money mis-
applied for the purchase OF grocer
les. meats, vegetables, etc, was not
sustained, 15 to .16.
Article IA, that the governor in
duced the Temple State Bank TO
loan him an overtime, although he
was sworn to enforce the law, was
sustained, 26 to s.
Article Is, that the governor by
vetoing the university appropriation,
attempted in effect to set aside the
constitution, was not sustained. six
ayes and "a noes, one present and
not voting.
Article 16, that the governor
sought to coerce the board OF re-
gents into following his autocratic
Will. was sustained. 22 to 9.
Article IT, that the governor
violated the law by seeking to re.
move regents without good cause.
was sustained. % to g, one present
and not voting.
RENTED Bail for Influence.
Article 18, that the governor call
ed members of the faculty of the
University OF Texas liars and graft
ers but did not prosecute them, was
not sustained, 20 to 9, two present
and not voting.
Article 10. that the eovernor ra-