The Spectator., 1914-12-18
Governor Removes Board.

came to head Friday. The resigna tion of Dr. J. L. Greene as superinten- dent of the insane asylum, under con ditions that made his stay intolerable has aroused public indignation that is unprecedented.
 Dr. Frank B. Young, elected tempo rarily as superintendent, was Thurs day evening elected by majority of the board for full term of four years, while mass meeting was in progress in Little Rock church condemning them for forcing Dr. Greene out. Fri day morning E. w. McCorkle of Ark adelphia and Conrad Elsken of Subj aco, adherents of Dr. Greene, resign ed Friday night Governor Hays sum. marily removed from the board E. c. Parsons of Batesville, R. c. Love of Mountain Home, w. c. Dunaway of Little Rock and s. M. Shane of Para gould. Gen. Thomas Greene of Pine Bluff, an appointee of Governor Hays, alone remains.
 Robert w. Hart, the secretary, who is elected by the board, automatically loses his position, since he will not be elected by the new board.
 Governor Hays letter is as follows:
 Ut is with the sense of deep regret that l feel it my duty as an official of the state to remove the members of the Board of State Charities.
 "On December 5, 1914, I addressed ~f f1., board, notifying them that unless a satisfactory answer was made to charges of misconduct immediately following the meeting of the board would demand the resignation of each member. A committee composed of three members, to-wit; Messrs. s. M. Shane, E. c. Parsons and k. w. Mo corkle, notified me Monday afternoon that a report of the board would be filed not later than Thursday of this week. Up to this time have received no further notice from the board It is an admitted fact by all members of the board that contrary to Act No. 234 of the General Assembly of 1913. at page 1905, which provides that no officer or boards having authority for the letting of contracts for the expen- allure of public funds can create a deficit or to use one appropriation for any purpose other than for which the appropriation was made, the Board of Charities, without authority. created deficit in the building of the power plant at the State Hospital for Nervous Diseases in the sum of several thousand dollars, and that this deficit has been paid out of the general appropriation for current ex- penses of the running of this institu- tion. A violation of this statute is misdemeanor, the punishment being fixed at fine of not less than fifty dollars nor more than two hundred dollars. It is true that your board called my attention to this matter, but long after the deficit was created.
 Tt is also admitted by members of the board that an automobile was purchased for the use of the board. also a chauffeur employed for the run min gof same. This, in my judgment, is violation of the spirit of the law. It is also admitted by members of the board that a majority of same made a contract with Dr. Young, electing him for four years, holding that the four-year term of Dr. Greene had ex- pired, when, in fact, in my judgment, a contract could have only been made to fill out the unexpired term of Dr. Greene, which would have been until September, 1915, as l am informed.
 There are many other acts of mis conduct charged against the board by Dr. Greene. the facts of which l have no personal knowledge.
 For the reasons above stated l am justified in taking this action.
 Should you desire, you may tender your resignations at once; otherwise, you may consider this notice of your removal from the board
 "Messrs. E. w. McCorkle and Con- rad Elsken, members of the board, rendered their resignations this morn ing. This order of removal does not apply to General Thomas Green of Pine Bluff, for the Aason that he was appointed since the trouble and ir- regularities complained of occurred" Condition of State Banks.
 The report of the State Bank Com missioner John M. Davis shows a to- tai of 431 banks under the jurisdic-