The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-04-15
RumOred That He Accepted
Money for Granting of
PardOns.
ALSO GUILTY OF MANY
VIOLATIONS OF LAWS
Mr.. Cats Refuses to Comment
on Action of the State
Senate.
(Ry JOHN c. rRicE


TALLAHASSEE. April 14-Fun inves-
tigation OF the official acts of former
! Governor Sidney J, Cats in reference To
| rumors that he took money to Influence
| ms official acts while governor. in the
way Of making appointments to or re-
| moVals from office or Of exercising the
: pdFoohlnS power, is called for in a con-
current resolution offered in the senate
| by Senator Wells Thursday afternoon
ana which goes before the house tonight.
The resolution calls for an investigat
ing committee of five, and empowers the
committee to make the fullest sort Of
an investigation. giving it power to call
ana swear witnesses and to call for rec
ords. The resolution came as a SUNRISE
to many senators.
Inc afternoon had been given over to
local bills and when Senator Wells of
Iereu his resolution Senator Malone
| called attention to this fact and suggest
ed that it would be better TO Law the
matter over until tomorrow so that all
senators might be on hand. However,
show of hand on his motion 10 Law
over resulted in count of Il to for inn
mediate consideration OF the resolution
which was passed a moment later with
out rev dissenting votes and ordered GER
IlIled Immediately to the house which
was not then in session.
Inc rumors which a joint senate and
house committee would investigate as
stated in the resolution follow:
That Sidney J. Cats, while governor
OF the state of Florida, received ,,oney,
10 influence his official action in grant
ing pardons to state conviets"
Ihat he received money TO Influence
the ofticial actions in removing parties
from county or official positions.
That he received money to influence
his official actions in appointing persons
to office" and
governor was guilty of many other acts
IN violation of the law and tending IN
Drlng shame upon the fair name of the
state of Florida
The object Of the Investigation the
resolution declared, would be to ascer-
tam whether the rumors were true or
Ialse and If such rumors proved to be
"IIhout foundation in fact, that the said
ex-governor S. J. Cats be exoneratad
by the legislature. Should the rurnors he
round to be true the resolution directs
mat the former governor be prosecuted
the investigating committee would con
slst OF two senators and three represen-
tatives
The former governor who was at his
Il nome I IN DeFuniak Springs today. re-
FUSED to comment on the senate's action
bana, who had been in Florida Just foUr
DAYS longer than the period necessary 10
quarry as a candidate for a state office
entered the democratic primary in 1915
as one Of four candidates for the g,,her-
natorlal nomination. Under the first and
second choice voting system in vogua in
TINS state, he apparently was the victor
ana was given the certificate of nor,f-
nation by the democratic state convan-
Ion. W. V. Knott. the runner up. CON
tested the nomination and after re-
count in several counties and an annooI
70 the courts, the state supreme co,,r+
leid that Knott instead of Cats ,vas
ne nominee and awarded Mr.. Knott the
certificate. ''''
Meanwhile, the prohibitionists nominal
ID Mr.. Cats and his name went on th,
'aIot IN the general election as the a-uh-
i 'rhatorlal candidate of that party The
Anott-Catts controversy had caused
treat bitterness within the ranks Of the
lemocratic party, many holding tbat
latts was the rightful nominee. and in
ne general election he defeated Knott q.
y majority Of more than 1000 votes
throughout his term of four vaars
Governor Cats was the center og mn,
nerous controversies and the period ar
ording to state officials, was renoarIxabIa
or the number Of county and other or
lclals removed from office. Governor
iardee transmitted to the legislature last
'eek a list Of 19 important county ana
tate OFFICIALS who had been removed bv
Continued On Page Two.)