Perth Amboy evening news., 1910-04-21
GOV. FORT WAS
IGNORANT OF
INVESTIGATION


Trenton, April 21:-State Auditor
William E. Drake vigorously denies the
assertion made by Commissioner of Mo
tor Vehicles, J. B. r. Smith, to the
effect that in making the examination
lof the latter s department he was ami
mated by a. desire to pay off political
Egrudge against Secretary of State Dick
inson, Mr.. Smiths superior officer,
was acting at the behest of Governor
Fort, whom the Commissioners charges
with instituting the investigation with
the studied purpose of showing up the
latter's department in an unfavorable
light.
The examination Of Mr. Smiths de-
partment was commenced in the ordi-
mary course of business pursued by the
state auditor, - said Mr. Drake today.
lssI hold no animus either against Col
onel Dickinson or Mr. Smith, and cer-
tainly was not prompted by ulterior
motives in commencing the examination
of the accounts and administration Of
the Department of Motor Vehicles. Ii
lis true that Colonel Dickinson and 1
differed in political affair some IF
/ teen years ago, bat it is ridiculous to
say that 7 toa5 s-yt hi,.s, gainst him
/ for' 'fnGlt reason At that time Colonel
Dickinson had right to his opinion
and l had an equal right to mine. 7"
Governor Not Aware Of investigation
Now, as a matter of fact contin-
ued Auditor Drake, the work Of in
vestigating the Department of Motor
Vehicles was commenced without the
knowledge Of Governor Fort. and it
was begun without the slightest intf-
nation from him that it should be un-
dertaken. AS / say, it was begun on
my own initiative as state auditor in
the regular work of my Office y
1t is the custom of your office to
advise the governor Of all the examiifa-
tions made in various departments and
institutions9' was asked of Mr. Drake.
made report to the governor of
only serious discrepancies and condi-
tions that are found in the course of
investigations, = replied Mr. Drake.
'sMinor bookkeeping Inaccuracies and
| the like are not reported to the gov
ernor y
Wanted Separate Department
1t was learned today that governor
Fort was not aware Of the investiga-
tion that was going on in the Depart
ment of Motor Vehicles until within
tbNO Wtths VI Tue uulSu u tue lUu.
This was early in March. At that time
the governor was anxious to secure
favorable consideration in the legisla-
ture for a bill to create separate de-
lpartment for the administration Of au-
tomobile laws, and in an effort to OBJ
| tain accurate information concerning
| the present administration Of the work
! by Commissioner Smith he sent to Au-
ditor Drake for such information as he
might have at hand Then 1t was that
the governor learned for the first time
that the department was being subiec-
ted to an examination by the state au-
ditor.
1t is a matter Of legislative history.
however, that the governor was not
able to induce the law-makers to look
with favor ON his Recommendation for
a separate department for the adminis-
tration of automobile laws. In his
statement made yesterday Commission
er Smith lays particular stress on%this
incident, claiming that the governor
was piqued at the former s Influence
with members of the Legislature and
that publication Of the auditor 3 re-
port was a frame-up to pat he (Smith)
in bad with the public.