The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1921-05-16
COMMITTEE HOLDS
C[AbO GUILTY OF
ACCEPTING BRIBE
Report Declares Tennessee
Senator Eagerly Accepted
$500 for Vote and Influ-
ence to Defeat Bill

Nashville, May 15.-The Senate commit
tee, composed of Senators Bond, Graham.
Craig and Durham. democrats, and SEN
ator w. s. Tucker, republican, which has
been investigating for some weeks rum
ors and charges of bribery and corrup-
ton during the recent session of the leg
islature, has submitted its report which
was unanimous, to Governor ALI Taylor.
Its conclusions and recommendations
were:
That Senator e. N. Clabo Of SEWER
ville deliberately, corruptly and eagerly
agreed to and did accept $500 in lawful
money of the United States as a con-
sideration for his vote and influence to
defeat the passage of a certain bill,
known as the Sales Tax bill"
That he was not INDUCED to do so by
being put under the influence of liquor.
all the proof showing that he had agreed
to accept bride several hours prior to
receiving the same, and that neither at
the time of agreeing to receive it, nor
at the time of actually. receiving it was
he intoxicated or under the influence of
liquor"
SHOULD BE BUSTED
That having reached these conclu-
sions, we believed he should not remain d
meT<er Of she Senate, but inasmuch as
the sssb eshas adjourned and it would
be Expensive to call an extra session,
we do not believe it wise to do So" In
case of an emergency for an extra ses-
sion should arise however, the recon-
mendation is made that the matter Of
Senator Clabo's expulsion be included
in it.
That Pnhart r Gardar S+o 70 i,,o,,ranca
commissioner and former Judge d. b.
Puryear of Memphis, assumed to act
without authority and used improper
methods in dealing with Senate bill 1925
This bill affected certain insurance com
,panies. They are alleged to have added
section to the bill after it had passed
the Senate.
That as to Senator Kemper and Repre-
sentative Rawls of Robertson county,
who were alleged to have received brides,
we recommend that the evidence deal
ing with this matter be delivered to the
proper criminal authorities of Davidson
county for investigation and such action
as the proof will warrant" In case OF
extra session of the legislature is
called, the recommendation is made that
Kemper and Rawls' cases be included
in the call.
NEITHER MAKE DENIAL
mo person testified directly that either
the 500 or the sou or any part of same
was paid to Senator Kemper and Repre-
sentative Rawls,' said the report. "but
there are many facts and circumstances
IN 1.-The record which strongly indicate
that this was done. The only denial Of
tkis was the testimony of Walter Rawls
and his brother, Tom Rawls. which was
so inconsistent, weak and unreasonable
as that the committee feels justified in
wholly disregarding it. Notwithstanding
the said facts and circumstances indi-
Gated that these parties received this
fund, neither of them testified before the
committee or denied under oath that the
fund had been paid to them"
The committee also called attention to
the peculiar and unusual testimony" of
Insurance Commissioner Garden with re-
gard to approaching Representative Rus
sell of Knox county upon the per cent
interest bill.
After the report OF the committee had
been submitted to him in person, Cover
nor Taylor declared that he would not
make formal statement until after he
had carefully studied the report.
He said, however, that he would not
call an extra session of the legislature
now to act upon it, as he deemed it I'M
necessary at the present time. The re-
port will be turned over to the attorney
general of Davidson county to be used
in the prosecution of persons whom the
latter might deem guilty of violating the
law. the governor said.