Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1927-01-21
of
FeygmsOms Played IN
Committees Report

MS AANs @t&N~s jan. -l---fA-f---
Scathing remuneration OF the activi-
lies 81 James r. Ferguson during the
twU-year gubernat0rial term III his
wife. Miriam A. Ferguson. IL the
dominant note OF the report vf the
house investigating committee made
public ,oday.
The committee Of hire was named
last fall at the special session Of the
39th legislature.
The report vas read Friday 10 the
house in open and regular session by
| Representative Lee Satterwhitc II
Amarillo, chairman Of the invcstigat-
ing committee, after an unsuccessful
attempt by Representative Ruben
Loftin 70 prevent it, reading L0ftin
pointed out the report would be
printed and could he read by the
Ferguson floor leader ia the 39th
/ legislature.
Governor Fcrguson's liberal pardon
pnlicy was condemned. She granted
1855 clemcncy acts.
Not in the history Of organized
government Of our beloved state has
there bcsn such q disgraccful diSrc-
gard for the proper and just punish
ment of criminals, and the safeguard
" the people. the property or this
state, u has been shown bv the gov
ernor Of Texas in the past two years
by her indiscriminating and super
liberal pafdoning policy" the report
said.
Testimony Lacking
We have not Aeen able 10 obtain
the testimony of all the witnesses
summoned By this committee for the
purpose of examining into the az
fairs, policies and acts of the chief
executive nf this state the report
said. explaining that the court of
criminal appeals had held lcgisla-
, tive committee without authority 10
punish for contempt.
However. Notwithstanding this
failure To secure. a we believe. much
valuable information connected with
the matters under inves ,igation with
reference To the executive office. yet
We believe that the testimony is Suf-
4 ficient 10 establish the fact that the
power and prestige of the governors
office during the ycSts 1925 and
i 1926 have been practically uSurpnd
and dictated ~ 4 private citizen. the
husband az the governor. for political
Il AtAfRA A%ANfl 0AtM AAtAAMftAf EAtH anu Va
fact that he WAS private citizen has
nlaced him beyond the pale Of the
law. =
We therefore now have no law or
laws To prohibit such usurpage of
: power by a private citizen. Other
wise, thera j. no doubt IN our minds
bul that the investigations hy the
grand jurics Of Travis county and
\ by this committee would have result
81 ia the return Of indictments for
criminal offcnses. n il our opinion.
further. that the only recourse under
our existing laws. u by Impeachment
for the wrongs done 10 our state by
tho chief executive under the dom
ination of her husband.
Commerciaiixed Office
The growing tendency for com
merciaiizatioR in state and federal
government. rs well rs in the minor
divisions of our organized govern
ment. il appalling and reflects upon
the integrity and justics 0f free
and independent people.
No private individual should Ne
permitted to usurp the powers and
functions ~ the governor Of this
state. rs no private individual should
be granted. or permitted TO exercise
any special privileges when dealing
with tAosa in governmental author
ity. All should understand and know
that they stand upon equal ground
AM any attempt 20 sell or purchase
/ political influence. and favoritism
should met with prompt and just
punishment
The report was read BY Represen-
tat;ve Lee Saftrrwhite ar paftcr
county. committee chairman other
members ~ the committee are: Rcp-
rcsentativeS Williamson az Rexar.
Neach Of Johnson. Teer Of William
son. Powell Of Montgomery. Wallace
80 Freestone. Fly af Gonzales,
Petsch Of Gillespie. and Montgomery
81 Hidalg0.
The first outstanding end bold
effort - commcrcialize the COVER
nor's office came through what WAS
generally known at the good viii
edition of the Ferguson Forum
weekly newspaper. shown to have
heon then owned, edited and pub
lished BY James r. Ferguson. hi~
wife. Miriam A. Ferguson. his dan~h-
'~-. N~S C~orpe s. Nnlle. and Miss
Dorrance Ferguson. also daugh-
ter the report said.
After hearing the rerort, the
hr''~a an-@re~'lv -~as ~ loss A. 10
what 70 ~ with it. After some dis
/ cuSS'o~. ->wrver. fhe view of Sat
tcrwhite ana Tcer that 10 actor was
needed. since NJ recommendation
we're made prevailed nnd the report
wa ordered nrintesl sr the house
iournai. subject 10 resolutions at any
futrr- tire
Big sum From Advertising
The renr~t d~~i~red the rergnsons
realized thousands Of dollars from
Forum ADVERTISING. hought hv rr~A
contractors. railroad generations. oil
romnaries. bankers. ruhlir service
cctrnrasiors. nna Individuals.
Al fhn snrRe tim the Fergusuns
were obtaining money from the
shove named persons and co-ncra-
Is