The weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Craig County, Okla.) 1905-1913, 1911-05-19
.TAYLOR'S REPORT
SHOWS SHORTAGE
Report Shows coneluslvely That State
Dispensary Has Been Losing
Proposition.

Oklahoma City May l6. - A cash
shortage of $5.OO1.46, of which ss6O.76
has been paid in by former employe,
is alleged in the report of Charles A.
TAYLOR. state examiner and inspector,
on the condition of the state dispensary
for the year ended March 81, 1911.
The actual shortage shown by the
report. after the payment of the Ss6O.76
is $4.04O.70.
The net profit for the year, accord
ing to the report was s4,79S.57, in,
which the alleged shortage is includ-
ed. hence If the state never RECEIVERS
the amount declared missing, the agen-
cy made profit of s757.S7 during the
year.
Included in the alleged shortage is
an item of $4,000 which was drawn on
vouchers and placed to the credit OF
William Murdock, former superin-
tendent of the agency. to be used by
him in prohibition enforcement work
connected with the agency. Accord
ing to Mr.. Taylor's report the books
of the dispensary do not show for what
purpose the money was spent, and it
therefore is entered as a part of the
shortage alleged by the examiner.
The report states that R. L. Starr,
former bookkeeper of the dispensary,
paid S960.76 following the examination
made by the examiner and inspector.
The document also shows an item of
$S76.76 charged against former Super
intendent Murdock personally, and not
Included in the alleged shortage. Most
of this was money advanced to en-
lployes of the agency by Mr.. Murdock
which was not deducted from the pay
vouchers of the employees at the end
of the month, according to the report
The inspectors report shows con
clusively that the state dispensary sys
tenn has been losing proposition dur
ing the three and half years of its
existence. The net assets of the dis
pensary March 81, 1911, were $27,
946.22. The first legislature appropri
ated $4,000 to assist in starting the
dispensary system and for prohibition
enforcement in connection with it
which makes the total loss to the state
through the agency system $22,O5S.73
In addition to the $5O,OOO, total Of
$50, 900 has been set aside by legisla
lures since statehood for the cover
nor's contingent fund to be used in
prohibition enforcement, and the dis
pensary has had the use of a portion
of this fund
The cash recapitulation of the con
dition Of the agency at the time of the
report shows a total income for the
year from sales, balance left over from
the former report, and payments made
Iby railroads for damages for lost
goods of .st14.964,14, and cash dis
1 bursements of 99,6O765, leaving {
balance of s14,756.49. Subtractins
from this amount the alleged shortage
however, the total balance is $10,512.
80.
The recapitulation of the earnings
: shows net assets on March 80, 1910, o
$23,14765; net assets on March 81
1911, of s27, ,94622, leaving net prof
of $4,79S.57 for the year. The gross
J earnings for the same period were STA
) 701.75, while the gross expenses. in
| cluding salaries, commissions ant
minor items, were $69,9031S. Accord
) ing to the report there now are onl.
] fourteen local agencies in operation.
. Checks have been issued by tn
: agency superintendent. but not coun
| tersigned by the governor, amounting
! to $714.14. 1t is understood that tn,
t governor has refused to countersigl
anw checks of the agency since Marcl
L. AOoue lhdl uaIS hO aPPiOfOo -
: bill abolishing the dispensary system
/. which, however. does not become effeC
/. tive until June 1.
4 A referendum petition now is beinl
!. circulated by friends of the dispensar,
+ system to repeal the act abolishing il
: One Killed in Frisco Wreck.
{ By Associated Press.