Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-08-14
EFFORT TO FIRE
BAHNSEN FAILS
IN FINAL SESSION

marian, DR.. Peter F. Bahnson, was
one of the sensational auxiliary de-
velopments of the 1920 session Of the
general assembly, the effort to re-
move him from office on the charge
of misconduct failed after strenu-
Gus parliamentary battle waged In
the house on the last night of the
session. The result of the whole Sc
ries Of events is, therefore, to con-
tinue DR.. Bahnsen in office and in full
charge of his department, while the
findings Of the legislative committee
and the evidence introduced at the
various hearings will be turned over
to the general assembly when it con-
venes in 1921.
An effort ON the part of Repre-
sentative Green B. Williams, Of
Worth county, to introduce an i'm
parchment resolution during the
closing stages of the session We'd
nesday, failed of accomplishment.
The rules committee of the house
refused to allow such a resolution q
place on the calendar and 2 fight was
made on the floor to override the COM
up regardless Of all other considera-
tions. Before a vote could be taken
on the question Of overriding the
rules committee, a resolution intro
duced by Mr.. Johnson, of Barlow,
was adopted almost unanimously,
turning the findings of the probe
committee and the evidence it had
collected over to the 1921 general as
sembly. This action composed the
situation.
The Bahnsen controversy came to
the surface in the house almost as
soon as that body convened for the
Wednesday night session. Repre-
sentative knight, of Berrien, precipi-
tated the fight by 1nQuiring whether
the rules committee intended to al
low the impeachment resolution to
come to the floor so that the whole
matter might be threshed out
Four heated meetings of the rules
committee had been held during the
day and Mr.. Knight on several &C.
casions had left the meetings out
of evaporation and resentment at
the action Of the committee in keep
ing the Impeachment resolution off
the calendar. When he opened up
the whole situation on the floor Of
the house by his inquiry directed -
thu speaker, the parliamentary battle
was on and for an hour and half
the naneuvering was OF a most IN
Finally the resolution of Mr.. john
son, Of Barlow, offered solution
Of the affair that was welcomed by
all concerned and the partisan De
bate was brought to a close with the
unanimous passage OF the resolution
sen controversy to the 1921 general
''''' Two Reports Submitted
The Joint legislative committee
after a series of hearings lasting for
more than two weeks, brought in
majority and minority reports. Ihe
eight members Of the committee,
fouid DR.. Barnsen guilty. of having
used about $1,000 Of the states
money to pay express charges on
shipments Of hog cholera serum pur-
chased by himself from his own per as
sonal funds to be sold and distr RI
Georgia. DR.. Bahnsen, was also
charged with having taken profit
of approximately $4,000 on serum
sales during the past four years;
The minority report, signed by
county, denied DR.. Bahnsen's guilt
on any count and insisted that the
state Veterinarian was obliged to use
his own personal funds to purchase
serum in the, absence of authority TO
use the states money for this pur-
pose.
tee were Senators Barrett, of the
Thirty-first; Clements, of the Forty
fifth, and Veazey, of the Nineteenth;
Representative Williams, of Worth;
Paimour, of Hall; Hollingsworth, Of
Screven; Lasseter, of sDooly, and
Hendrix, of Fulton. - .s.
Commenting upon the ajortty re-
port, DR.. Bahnsen issued the follow
ing statement: ...
Bahnsen's Statement
at consider the ma jority report very I'M
fair. am put before the people of the
state as guilty of misusing state funds in
payment of express charges on serum ship
ped out by me. Whether this was wrong
or not depends upon construction of the
law and I have support of some of the
best lawyers in the state in my interperta-
ton of the law. The report doesn't take
this into consideration, but the majority
of the committee has made Its own inter-
probation Of the law and found me guilty
under that.
I'm regard to the profits I have made
ON sales of serum, their charge that made
a profit of $4,000 is one which I admitted
without hesitation: My profits during the
last three years have amounted to $4,000,
but the serum market is such that profit
must be made in order to cover the in
evitable losses. Right now I am $4,000
ahead; inside or month may be Dehlnd
the game. I have in my possession $4,000
cubic centimeters Of serum which has spoiled
although 1t was purchased from reliable
concern and is supposed to, me good until
September II. My loss on this lot of serum
will be from $500 to $1,000.
'At present I am under contract to buy
1000, 900 c. C. Prices of serum declined
after made the contract and I am afraid
I will lose nearly 1000 on that lot. The
investigation happened to come at a time
when I was ahead Of the game and I ad-
mitted how much profit I had made, because
I have always conducted my sales Of serum
openly and without any attempt to conceal
what / was doing.
st have attempted to serve the farmers
and stockmen Of the state and my enemies
are persisting in their efforts to discredit
me-" ,--