Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-05-17
BEN|VETT To STAY
IN OFFICE, REPORT.
The Atlanta Journal News Bureau
623 Riggs Building.
BY THEODORE TTLLER


WASHINGTON. D. c.. May IA
Attorney General Daugherty today
told Senator Harris that the depart
ment of justice had no plan for
changing district attorneys in the
southern district of Georgia and that
John w. Bennett. the encumbent,
would finish out his term. District
Attorney Bennett has more than two
years to serve.
The attorney general also inform
ed the Georgia senator that reports
covering business of the fiscal year
ending June 80 show a serious con-
gestion in the northern and southern
district he would support a bill to
create. a third judicial district in
Georgia.
At the conference between the at
torney general and Senator Harris
this afternoon the peOnage situation
in Georgia was discussed and Sena-
tor Harris informed Mr.. Daugherty
that reports in the northern news
papers about conditions in Georgia
were grossly exaggerated.
The assurance of the attorney gem
eral regarding District Attorney Ben
Washington and Georgia that he
would be displaced by the depart
ment of Justice, or would resign.
Mr. Daugherty said he believed that
Mr.. Bennett WAS entitled to serve
out his commission and was making
a capable official.
Senator Harris. in accordance with
an arrangement made some days ago,
called on Attorney General Daugh-
erty for a general discussion of
Georgia affairs and particularly the
congestion in the federal courts and
the status of Mr.. Bennett.
Mr.. Daugherty said on July l the
department of justice would get a
statement Of the condition of the
docket in the northern and south
ern districts of Georgia and the adj
administration would then know
whether it should support a bill to
create another district in the state.
Senator Harris is author of a bill
giving Georgia another Judge for re-
lief work, but not creating another
judicial district. After his talk with
Mr. Daugherty this afternoon the
Georgia senator said he would put
in a separate bill to create third
district. Action on this bill. Of
course. will await recommendation
from the department of Justice IN
July
If congestion continues in the fed
eral courts in Georgia. Mr.. Dau"h-
,erty indicated he would join in ask
ing congress TO create d tnlru ulS-
trict. Senator Harris told Mr.
Daughertv he did not favor the
transfers of couaties from the north
ern to the southern district. as re-
Gently suggested in a letter from
the attorney general. because this
would simply switch the place Of
congestion.
In an incidental discussion about
peonage cases in his state. Senator
Harris informed Mr.. Daugherty that
the people and courts of Georgia
were capable of handling the situa-
ton and it was by no means as bad
as pictured in the northern press.
The people of Georgia, Senator
Harris assured Mr. Daugherty. are
law-abiding people and want fully
to uphold the law when it is vio-
lated by a small and indefensive
minority. 1t is understood that the
attorney general expressed pleasure
at the statement of the Georgia sena-
tor to the effect that charges of
wholesale peonage in portions of the
northern and negro press were en-
tirely without warrant.