Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-04-19
DICKINSON WILL
PROBE CHARGES,
He TELLS FORT
Commissioner Smith in 10000
Word Letter Makes Reply
to State Auditor.
Especial to the Newark Star.

TRENTON. April 19-ln a defense
Auditor Drake in. his report to Gov
ernor Fort, the secretary of State this
afternoon made public a copy OF a let
ter dated April I last, written to the
State auditor by Commissioner Smith.
With reference to the section of the
auditors report dealing with the finan-
cial affairs of the department of motor
vehicles, Mr.. Smith says in part.
Bank deposits are made as fire.
quently as the volume of business
make such deposits necessary. The
department is too busy to devote time
to making up bank deposit slips when
the volume of business is not such as
to warrant it.
Explaining the presence in the cash
drawer of Smiths personal check for
$50, Mr.. Smith says that girl in his
office had the money. but that a few
months later when she was ready to
make an entry, it could not be found.
He deduces that it either was taken by
an outside party or folded with papers
and filed away He asserts that he
could locate the money.
ITO hold the girl responsible was TO
my mind unthinkable. The money may
yet be found he declares
Dealing with the statement regard
ing the discrepancies between the
monthly receipts and payments TO the
Stale treasurer, Mr.. Smith says that
the explanation is that these differences
consisted, in some instances, of interest
on bank balances and in Others of
agents sending checks for returns and
the amounts not corresponding with
their reports These checks, he says,
were deposited while the reports were
being returned for correction.
Admit. Poor System.
Discussing the mingling of personal
and State moneys in the same ac-
counts. Mr. Smith declares it is to be
regretted that the agents will insist
upon mingling their own money with
that of the State.
Il have repeatedly urged against this
and in some instances have provided
special repositories. he says, but
know OF no State Law which holds an
agent liable for such intermingllng, So
long as the money is forthcoming to
the state in the time the statute re-
quires it, and the problem narrows it
self to whether We shall have the
agencies or not
The commissioners asserts that ac-
cording to his own audits they have
properly. returned all money for which
they were liable.
In a general way Commissioner Smith
vigorously dissents from the assertion
of the auditor that the department has
been conducted in loose manner in
all details On this point Mr.. Smith
states:
II insist that the system is not only
good. but that it is the best | have yet
seen personally annually examine
the systems employed in the registers
Offices in Boston and Albany, always
finding that in the main our system is
superior to our uses, but always adopt
ing any suggestions that may be found
practicable, and always giving to the
officials at both Albany and Boston any
suggestions that would appear ito help
them, many of which I find they ac
cept,"
Mr. Smith furthermore says that
great comlnendation is due the depart
ment on the ground of economy; that
expenses for clerical services are great
" reduced because of the combination
Of the>State and motor vehicle de-
partmcnt; he goes into detail concern
ing the volume of business of the Office
Continued ON second Psge.)