The Pulaskian., 1915-06-18
Report Of Legislative Investigating
 Committee

disbursements of the states revan,o that a. perfect check could be mado in this office at any time of each ona all of the state departments and h stitutions, but as it is now this can not be done.
 "The necessity for a perfect aua,. ing system as suggested is seen ;,, the fact that from 1911 to 1915 tbn University of Arkansas drew from the state treasury $519,554 on war, rants ranging from $500 up to S1eo. 900.
 Shortage Refunded.
 "We call attention during the aa ministration of L. l.. Coffman to ina fact that one R. H. Waddell. olor,. in the auditors office, irew duplicato vouchers to the amount of s244q7 and cashed them and appropriated this sum to. his own use. This shnrtaro was later discovered and refundad to the state treasury. The only thing in connection with this affair for whicb MT. Coffman is subject to criticism |. the fact that he retained Mir Wadda,I In the employment of the state Tor three months or more after he diseov. cred this shortage If the law reouir. ed warrants to be made payable to or. der instead of bearer, as it shouId this shortage could never have m. cured. We find that the same wad. dell issued warrants and collected from the treasurer the sum totalino $922.01. This was not a loss to tbe treasury, but to the parties to whom the money was due We, however understand that this money was af. terward paid by Waddell to the par. ties to whom the money belonged.
 Thomas Resignation.
 We regret to report that during the last two weeks we had reasons to believe that negotiations were haino carried on whereby MT. Thomas. oyr accountant, was to receive the money on bis unpaid vouchers by making a note with the present auditor. M. t. Dickinson, and his deputy, William Stoddard, as security thereon. with the vouchers as collateral, he receiv- ing the sum of s280 therefor.
 Our accountant, MT Thomas. on being interviewed. admitted to us that he had received this sum of money and further stated that he had not made complete check of the youch- CTS since the 4th day of March. 1915. to date, which was during the ineum. bency of M. F. Dickinson.
 MT Thomas stated to the com. m1ttee that he signed the note and that It was payable to Dickinson or Stoddard-Stoddard, he thought He said when he had signed the note Stoddard paid him the money and that he had never seen the note be- fore he signed il, nor had he seen it since. Dr. Dickinson stated that he signed the note as security, but did not notice to whom it was made pay able, and did not know yet. He further stated that he thought it was perfectly legitimate transaction and had no wrong motive himself in sign ing the note
 MT. Stoddard stated to the com mittee that he filled out the note and that it was made payable to bearer, and that he and Dr. Dickinson signed 1t as security. When this was done, he stated that ne turned the note over to MT. Thomas and that he did not know what he did with it, or when and where he got his money, and that he (Stoddard) had never at any time paid MT. Thomas any money.
 We immediately dispensed with the services of MT. Thomas as one of cur certified accountants, and in jus tice to the people of the state and to the official in charge of this depart ment, we shall withhold our report, insofar as his administration is con- cerned, until further investigation can be made.
 Auditing Committee on State De-
 partments and Institutions,
 Geo. w. Garrett, Monroe Smith. U. A. Gentry"