Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-09-27
CORRESPONDENCE ON
VEAZEY LAW GIVEN
OUT BY GOVERNOR
CONTINUED From Page ~

ticularly in Savannah. Ga. He sug-
gested that 1 take up the question OF
enforcement with the solicitor gener-
al of the Savannah judicial circuit.
"a careful examination of the
question induced me to concur in
Senator Watson's judgment, that the
Weary law was a practical, working
law and needed no amendment, sim
ply enforcement. In compliance with
the senator's other suggestion, about
enforcement in Savannah, h re
taken up the question unofficially,
with the solicitor general of the Sa-
vannah circuit. and have been assur-
ed. unofficially, the law is being rigid
ly enforced there and that all resist
ance to it's enforcement has ceased.
Pressure of other public matters
has prevented my getting this in
formation into official shape for pub
lie use, but 1 am now going to do so,
and 1 am today taking up the subject
with the solicitor general Of the Sa-
vannah circuit with view to ascer-
tain the exact situation there, and
giving the information so obtained to
the public at an early date.
Thanking you very much for your
inquiry, and assuring you of my fidel-
ity after election to the promises !
made before election, 1 am,
VERY truly yours,
"(signed)
"THos. w. FARFIDWICK, ,,
Governor Hardwick, after writing
the above to Mr. Edwards, addressed
the following to Mr.. Hartridge:
Hon. Walter c. Hartridge,
solicitor General Savannah Ju.
dicial Circuit,
Savannah, Ga.
"Dear Mr.. Hartridge: By way OF
tention to the enclosed correspond,
ence, which is self-explanatory anC
intended for your information.
There seems to exist in this state
a widespread belief that the VeazeJ
law, providing for the inspection OF
certain institutions, is a dead-lettel
SO far as it's enforcement in your
judicial circuit is concerned. Y
ST think this impression may rest
to some extent, upon the resistance
once made by some Of these institu
lions to certain efforts to enforce
this law.
'I am writing to inquire Of yor
exactly what the situation is in re
spect to this matter in your jud1cla
circuit, and to urge you if necessary
to use every effort to see that the
law is impartially and rigidly en-
forced.
At believe that it will make for
much better condition of public sen
timent if this law is rigidly en-
f1io 0iv n
the state, and if the people and tn
public are officially advised tina
such is the case.
"Will you please be good enough
to advise me as to what the Sltua
ton is with respect to this mattel
in your circuit, and what steps ar
being taken to senforce this law.
with assurances of my high per
sonal regards, T am
Every sincerely yours,
THOMAS. w. HARDwICK,
Governor"
Solicitors Reply
Solicitor General Hartridge's let
ter, which is commended by the gov
ernor, is appended herewith:
Honorable Thomas w. Hardwick,
Governor of Georgia,
ATLANTA, Ga.
Dear Governor Hardw1ck:
II am in receipt of your favor OF
the goth instant, and thank you fol
taking up with me the matter about
which you write, as have under
stood that there exists misappre'
hension throughout the state. on the
question of the enforcement of the
act known as the VeaZy bill in this
circuit, and l am grateful for the
opportunity of correcting this err
roneous impression.
81 desire to state to you that
have been present as solicitor gen
eral at the opening of each term OF
the superior court of Chatham coun
ty since the passage of the VeazJ
bill and have heard the late Judge
Charlton and Judge Meldrim, wht
now presides in that court, charge
each successive grand jury, as re
quired by the act to do, on the sub
ject Of inspection of certain institu
tions enumerated in the act. I have
read or heard read the report from
each grand jury from the first CRANE
jury empanelled after the passage o.
the act to the one last discharged
and I beg to assure you that eacl
and every grand jury has done it:
full duty as disclosed by the reports
made in open court.
''In order that there might be nj
question as to my recollection being
correct on this subject, 1 enclose you
certificate from the clerk of thu
superior court to the effect that sucl
reports have been made and are OF
file in his office with the present
ments of the grand juries empanellet
since the passage of the act.
'The first inspection of the insti
tutions covered by the act was mad,
without any objection or opposition
from any source. At the Octobe
appointed to make the inspection
were denied admittance to the Con
vent of the Sisters of Mercy AM
the Convent of the Franciscan Sis
tiers This was reported to me and
Immediately filed a petition to tn,
superior court reciting this refusa
and presented the two persons il
charge of these institutions to TIN
judge of the superior court for con
tempt. The contention made by m,
on behalf of the state was sustaine,
and the defendants held in cont "mpt
The case was appealed to the su
preme court of Georgia, and is to b.
found in the 14Sth report at pag
1892. You will see by reading o
this decision that the decision O
Judge Me1drim was affirmed. Sine
that time there has been no objection
on the part of any one to the in
spection of any of the institution
covered by the act. If there is an.
just criticism which may be made
it is that the grand juries in thi
county have inspected great man.
institutions which, perhaps, do no
come withinthe strict letter Of tn
law.