The Spectator., 1915-04-27
LEGISLATIVE PROBE
 ID BE CONTINUED
INVESTIGATION AUTHORIZED BY LAST GENERAL ASSEMBLY
 WILL PROCEED AT ONCE.
OFFICIALS DENY CHARGES
Using Power Given By Legislatures Enactment-$7,o GOO Authorized For
 Committees Expenses.
Little Rock.

Little Rock Simultaneously with the issuing of A proclamation by Governor Hays au- thorizing the legislative investigation committee to continue its probe of the state departments and permitting the expenditure of $7,000 for the pur- pose, state officials against whom the committee had reported irregularities issued statements denying all of the charges and claiming that the com- mittee was unfair in its work.
 w. B. Owens, chairman of the state highway commission, against whom the committee filed a supplementary report charging further eXtravagance and irregularities since the first inves- tigation of his departments was made. denied the charges and added that the committee was playing a cheap form of politics"
 George B. Cook. state superintend- ent of public instruction, against whom the committee made serious charges in a statment filed with Governor Hays, denied all the charges made against him. Ray Gill, deputy super iItendent. made statement in which he claimed that the committee had persistently refused to let any off cials of the department come before it for a hearing. He substantiated MT Cooks statement. Mr. Cook said the alleged shortage of $1,050 in his accounts was compiled from blank stubs of certificates issued. The cer- tificates to teach were issued, he said, to replace others that had not been recorded, so that the records of the office would be complete, and no charge was made for them. He denied having any connection with a Mime apoIis concern that made school sup plies. He said he had once been elect ed vice president of a land company with which some of the officials of the supply company had been con- nected, but that he had refused to &C., cept the office.
 Governors Proclamation.
 The governors proclamation fol- lows:
 Know all men by these presents:
 Whereas, the Fortieth General As sembly of the State of Arkansas at its 1915 session passed a resolution authorizing the continuation of com. mittee composed of Senator Geo. w. Garrett and Honorables U A. Gentry and Monroe Smith who were mem bers of said session of the General As sembly, to audit the state depart ments and state institutions, author iZing them to employ such help as necessary for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of said resolution; and,
 Whereas, said committee was un- able to complete it's work within the 20 days prescribed by the constitution after the adjournment of said session of the General Assembly; and,
 "Whereas, the committee fin at- tempting to carry out the purposes for which it was appointed, after the ex- piration of said 20 days. the auditor of state was enjoined from issuing warrants covering the per diem of said members of the Legislature and the employees assisting In carrying on said work. said injunction being sus- tained by the chancery court of Pu- iaski County and affirmed by the Su- preme Court; and.
 "Whereas, it appears form the let ter signed by the members of the committee, there exists an emergency iustifying the issuance of proclama- tion authorizing said committee to proceed with it's work. which is in keeping with the intention of the Leg islature and the spirit and letter of said resolution, said letter being ir words and figures as follows, to-wit:
 .'Now, therefore l. George W. Hays. governor of the State of Arkansas. by virtue of the authority vested in me by act 234 of the acts of 1913 of the State of Arkansas, do hereby declare that an emergency exists, such as is contemplated by said act, and do here. by authorize the expenditure of ST. 900 or so much thereof as may be nec- essary Sor the continuation of said work by said committee, vouchers to be issued and signed by the commit. tee
 "In testimony whereof I have here unto set my hand and caused to be af- fixed the great seal of the State of Arkansas on this the 23d day of April, A. D., 1915"
 FARM NOTES.