Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-08-12
IMPEACHMENT
OF BAHNSEN TO
BE INTRODUCED

For the purpose of compelling a
vote upon the removal from office of
DR.. Peter F. Bahnsen state veteri-
marian, an impeachment resolution
will be introduced into the house of
representatives some time during
Wednesday, probably during the aft
ernoon session, by Representative
Williams, of Worth county, the lead
er of the fight to GUST DR.. Bahnsen.
On Tuesday there was introduced
into the mouse by Representative
Williams and in the senate by Sena-
tor Pittman a resolution directing
the commissioner of agriculture to
remove DR.. Bahnsen from office and
to appoint a successor to fill his
place.
This resolution was based upon the
report adverse to DR.. Bahnsen which
had been submitted by the joint in
vestigating committee of the house
and senate, which on Monday night
completed it's examination of charges
preferred against him.
The house rules committee on
Tuesday night and again on Wednes-
day morning. declined to place the re-
moval resolution on the calendar of
the house. The senate rules COM
mittee also failed to place the SEN
ate removal resolution on the calen-
dar of the senate.
In order to force a vote upon the
removal Of Doctor Bahnsen, in spite
of the attitude of the rules COM
mittees of the house and senate
representative Williams decided that
he would bring formal impeachment
proceedings.
Under the constitution, an i'm
parchment proceeding cannot be side
tracked Furthermore, an impeach-
ment proceeding when brought at the
close of a legislative session must
be finally disposed of before the
legislature adjourns.
Hence an impeachment proceeding
brought by Representative Williams
against Doctor Bahnsen would place
the legislature in position in which
it would be obliged to dispose of the
beyond Wednesday, which is the day
for sine die adjournment.
Report of Probe Commute
The report of the committee that investi-
gated DR.. BahnSen is as follows:
TO the General Assembly of the State of
Georgia, Session of 1920:
"JTnder and by virtue of joint house res
olution 146, directing an investigation of the
office of the state veterinarian, your com
mittee begS to submit the following report:
"That the state veterinarian paid on his
private sales of commercial serum, virus and
Syringes, from the funds of the state, with
out authority of law, express charges in the
sum of 1,S64.76, in receiving and disburs-
ing serum virus and syringes from jan
uary 1, 1917, to August 1, 1920.
Under the law the whole time of the
veterinarian is required, and one of his du-
ties by himself and his office force, is to
distribute hog cholera serum and virus. 1t
appears from the evidence that the sales of
commercial articles named, from January 1.
1917 to August 1, 1920, amounted to:
'Stnte College and virus. 1914, 1S5. 90
Commercial serum and virus 372, 1871. 03
making total of .......... .$4O6, $40. O5
at also appears from the evidence of
DR.. Bahnsen, state veterinarian, that his
profits on these articles was about $4,000
net. There was other evidence to show that
the profit was much larger. The distribu-
tion of the articles named was handled by
the office force of the state veterinarian.
For lack of records in tho office of the
state veterinarian we are unable to deter
| mine the exact amount of profit made in
the handling of serum and virus Tickets
showing sales made for the years 1917 to
August l, 1920, are as above stated
No Records of Serum
"There are. no books of account, no files
| or invoices, no records of checks showing
amounts paid for serum and virus.
| Under the law the state veterinarian
| is not authorized to engage in the private
| purchase of serum and virus.
Except as herein specified, we find the
| services of the state veterinarian to the
| people of the state have been capable and
| efficient.
| eve recommend the appropriation by the
! legislature of the sum of $4,000 to be
used by the department of agriculture as
| revolving fund for the purchase and dis
| tribution of serum and virus to the people
| Of the state at actual cost
| eve recommend that the law creating
| the office of state veterinarian be amended
SO rs to have the state veterinarian ap