Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-11-11
LOBBY CHARGE MAY
CALL LEGISLATURE
|NT0EXTRASESS|
Governor Dorsey Refuses to
Make Statement SoIici-
tor General Boykin Said to
Be Studying Accusations.

That an extra session of the leg
islature may be GALLEY by Governor
Dorsey for the purpose of probing
charges that money and other i'm
proper influences have been used
to procure the passage of new coun-
ty bills, was the report current in
the state capitol Wednesday follow
ing publication of such charges in
the Municipal League Bulletin, which
Of Georgia and is edited by Marion
NJ Jackson, a well-known Atlanta
lawyer ">
When asked about this report,
Governor Dorsey declined to confirm
or deny it. He did, however, make
the remark that he had in his pos
session certain affidavits made by
certain members of the legislature
concerning offers alleged to- have
been made to them to vote in ia
vor of the bill to create the new
county of Lamar with GAINESVILLE
as the county site.
These are the affidavits obtained
by Representative S. S. Barrett, of
Pike county,; immediately following
the last session of the Legislature.
Lamar county will consist of por-
tions cf Pike and Epson counties. AS
the representative of Pike county.
Mr.. Barrett fought the new county
in the legislature. His fight failed
and the bill passed. He was plan
ming to inaugurate court proceedings
to prevent THE bill, which was, like
all new county bills, in the form of
"a constitutional amendment, from
being submitted to the people in gem
eral election. These steps were not
taken, however, and the creation Of
Lamar county was ratified on No
vember 2. = ...-
Those affidavits obtained by Rep
resentative Barrett were laid before
the governor at that time, and are
in the governors possession at the
present time. The governor declined
to discuss the report that he in
tended to turn the affidavits over
to Solicitor General John A. Boy
kin, of the Fulton superior court,
with requc : for grand jury in
vestigation Neither would, he make
any comment on the report that he
might call an extra session of the
legislature for the purpose of such
an investigation. 49,.
Hearsay Evidence
Both reports, however, were cur
rent in the capital, and there was
reason to believe that they were well
founded. It was understood on re-
liable authority that the governor
has heard much, talk of large cam
paign funds. being used IN connec-
ton with movements for the crea-
ton Of new counties.
Solicitor Boykin was making a
study Wednesday of the charges
contained in the last issue of the
Municipal, League bulletin. 1t was
indicated that he might request Mr..
jackson to furnish him al the in
formation in his possession concern
ing the charges and the basis for
their publication.
In his editorial Mr.. Jackson does
not claim to be able to prove his
charges. He admits that they are
based upon hearsay evidence. but de-
clares his belief that they are true.
His charges. in substance, are that
there is a we'll established lobby
headquarters in an Atlanta hotel,
that this lobby engages in the BUSH
ness Of promoting new county move
ments and using money 10 put the
bills through the legislature. that
the lobby does pot control major
ity of the house or senate, but con-
trolls minority who are able to exr
ert strong influence in naming the
speaker OF the house and president
Of the senate, and through them the
naming Of important committees.
and through the committees to ex-
ert stror:- influence upon the prog
ress of bills which the authors are
anxious to pass, thus -coercing them
| to vote for new county bills in
| order to expedite their own bills.
Mr.. Jackson says cit is common
report that the creation of new
counties has become an established
business with regular scale of
| prices which are said to range from
| $4,000 to $4,000 per new county"