Arizona republican., 1914-05-14
At This Late Date

Citizen Member Osburn of the board of control is said to have conducted. be engaged in con ducting another investigation of the reform school and it's superintendent That makes three invesiga- tons. The first conducted by State Auditor Iallaghan; the second, by the superinte enden him sell, involving an investigation of the state auditor We believe there had been some previous inquiries by the adjutant general and by MT. ladd, the gov ernors private secretary, whose findings were not made public
 We cannot forecast the report of the citizen member but We are certain that if should clear the ihsttloh ana the superintendent of the charges that nave been made against them, though it might be true as the gospels it will received with cred ence. It will he regarded as coat of whitewash insufficient to disguise the object to which it is applied.
 The time had long passed since an investigation by the majority of the board of control could be made to serve the reform school and it's superin- tendent The majority of the board moreover had put itself, by it's attitude toward the investigation proposed by Mir. Calaghan into such position that It could not be regarded impartial investiga tor The state auditors action was not precipitate The scandal affecting the school was months old The situation became acute last January and it was nearly month later on February 26 that the auditor addressed the board suggesting public in- vestgation Several days elapsed without action and doubt was expressed by the majority whether con- ditlon demanding investigation actually existed But finally the auditor was authorized to conduc, an investigation by himself: the other members of the board, it was stated. prevented by urgent public duties from taking part in it.
 After his arrival at the school the auditor found himself handicapped by telegram from the citizen member The taking of stenographic notes was for bidden and the superintendent was authorized to direct the manner of the investigation himself The auditor was obliged to return to the city after which, armed with opinion by the attorney gen eral defining his authority he resumed the investi gatlon the findings of which transmitted to the board March S1 Superintendent WhippIe.s Findings in rejonder submitted on April To-
 Being of open mind We do net endorse the re- port of the auditor. We have it. a serious in- dictment of the board as well as of the superin- tendent and the reform school We have also scanned the 267-page transcript of the testimony taken by the auditor the school in the presence of the superintendent and his attorney who sub jected the witnesses cross examination Whether or not that testimony is proof it is about as sick ening mass of matter was ever transcribed
 Whether true not, it is now too late to dis prove 1t, two months after it taken Tn these two months the accused superintendent has been sustained in his position by ma orty of the board which should have done him the justice in the first instance, of Investigating the earliest rumors of mis- conduct or incompetency and, in the second it should have endeavored. while it could to attempt to clear him of the stigma which the report of the auditor attached to him.