Atlanta Daily World

Writer Says Griffin Out To Cement Friendships

Men in political life need friends. Successful politicians always have many. But in politics, deference to friends can create enemies. Recent weeks exemplified this in Georgia, as friendly forces threw increasing charges at the administration of business on a basis of friendship.

To charges made by a Fulton County Grand Jury last week, Rep. Denmark Groover replied that the Grand Jury had no authority to investigate and criticize the state government. This week the presiding judge told a new grand jury it should take its advice on what it could look into from the solicitor general, and no one else.

More grand jury watchdog tactics likely.

Groover subsequently argued that the legislative economy committee should confine itself to a "general study" of state affairs. This, when committee members wanted to get down to specific inquiry into instances of suspended extravagance or waste.

The committee's own efficiency expert started to detail instances of "extravagance uncovered in the education department."

He was promptly silenced. This was not for the public. The committee went into executive session.

Much of the discussion, which leaked out to newsmen barred from the chamber, was not on how to effect economies. It dealt principally with how thoroughly the committee should go into details of economy-or rather the lack of it-in state offices.

Crux of the discussion was not to control what might be made public which might embarrass the administration. In the end the committee, apparently in the hands of friends of the administration, seemed set on carrying out the rest of its business behind closed doors.