The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-05-13
THE TREAsURER's OFFICE

| MT. Black then summoned me before
 the grand jury, and 1 cueersully ap- peared. 1 regret that the law prohibits the disclosure of the proceedings be- fore that body, but no law prevents me | from saying that l recognize the Black hand in the report l have no contro- 1 Versy with MT Black and I want none 1 "I want to uphold him and every law officer of the county in enforcing the law and protecting the interests of the county; but [ would be guilty of d breach of duty and of gross personal folly if 1 paid Mir Blacks warrants amounting to thousands of dollars as long as there is clear doubt as ro his right to appropriate the county's fun ls want the question settled and settled promptly, but l am not to be intimi- dated by MT. Black
 What 1 have said will be sufficient to explain the origin of the grand jury report and the unfortunate animus be- hind it. l might let the matter rest with the foregoing statement, Jut the grand jury Is a public body and 1 will respectfully reply to it's suggestions
 The amount of my bond was fixed, as provided by law, by the board ot revenue, and approved by the judge Of probate The surety is of unquestioned solVency. My bond is for $4O0,0O1. The state treasurer's bond executed by the same surety company which is on my bond, is for $150,000. I stand ready to give any bond the law requires, anl I challenge any man to point out any act of clerical, official or personal mis- conduct on my part or on part of any member of my capable employees in the treasurer's office. l have never em- ployed my office to further personal ends or controversies, and I recommend the same principle to MT. Black and to the grand jury. My predecessor in the treasurer's office executed the same bond, kept the funds in the same excel lent bank, and that bank paid the treasurers portion of. the premium on the bond. All of this occurred or con tinued during Mir Blacks term of of- fee as county solicitor and he knew of it, or should have known of it. He probably knew of the same action on my part, yet it seems that he remained silent until I found it necessary to ex- ercise caution in paying out the funds of the county on his warrant under statutes which, as MT. Black claims give him unlimited draft on the county funds.
 T respectfully suggest that if l paid out the county's moneys in case of doubt, as MT. Black has importuned me to do under penalty of his displeasure, the grand jury would have better req son to recommend to the board of rev enue that my bond be increased.
 Their only other recommendation, made after examining the state exam ineers of public accounts-whose duty it is to examine my office-and after hearing all other critics who may have been presented by MT. Black with that zeal which characterizes his acts when pursuing his own personal ends, is that return part of the premium which was paid the surety company for eX- ecuting my bond. The suggestion is ridiculous and impertinent. The bank could with strict propriety, go on my bond, or indemnify me, or pay the premium charged by the surety com pany. It has been done as a matter or course by other treasurers and off cials throughout the halcyon period Of MT. Blacks solicitorship; and no man dare impeach my integrity.
 q therefore respectfully suggest that as the grand jury, under the per sonal urging of MT. Black, could find no just or fair criticism of my official conduct, it would have been more in line with it's duties and with the prin- ciple of fair play to fave declined to take action which unfortunately tends to further Mr. Blacks uncalled-for threat to give me trouble unless l pay all warrants drawn by him on the county funds, notwithstanding the doubt as to their validity.