The Monticellonian. [volume] (Monticello, Ark.) 1870-1920, 1915-04-29
Investigating Committee Charges
Irregularities in State Departments
Report Furnishes a Substantial Reason for Improved
Accounting Systems and Publicity of Receipts
and Disbursements IN State
Departmental

That the principles or Act NO. j
the Publicity Act adopted by the PEG
pie at the election last September
should be applied to the state depart
r.ents is suggested by the findings OF
the Investigating Committee which
has been investigating the state de-
partments by authority of the Legis'
Iature. While accused officials denY
the allegations against them, the
need of better system of account
ing is apparent and 1t is pointed out
by friends OF the Publicity Act that
compulsory, official publicity of re-
cefpts and disbursements would be a
safeguard to both the public and the
officials.
Following the adverse decision OF
the Supreme Court, multiplying the
work of the investigating committees.
Senator George w. Garrett and Rep.
reeentatives Monroe Smith and u. A.
Gentry filed with the governor sup
Elementary reports on the State
Highway Commission and Depart
ment of Agriculture, and its complete
report on the office of State Superin-
tendent of Public Instruction. II also
urged that the Investigations should
continue and Secretary OF State
Earle w. Hodges, Treasurer X. G.
Mcdaniel and Auditor M. F. Diekin-
son demanded thorough investiga-
tons of their offices, even Offering to
pay the expenses. Governor Hays,
therefore, issued a proclamation APP
propriating $1,000 for the completion
of the work. and while it is believed
that ten or fifteen thousand dollars
will be- required, the governor pointed
out that he could make an additional
proclamation later IL it should prove
to be necessary. The State Bankers
Association is considering plans TO
finance the investigation pending the
deficiency appropriation which will
be asked of the next Legislature.
Supplementary reports on the State
Highway Commission and the Depart
ment of Agriculture, and complete
report on the Department of Educa-
ton, in each instance charge irregu.
larities. Chief among the charges
against the Department of Education
is an alleged shortage of S1,050, and
the issuance of teachers licenses of
which there is no record in the office.
The supplementary report on the
highway department charges con-
.inued extravaganza in maintenance
of automobiles and the continued is
suance of free automobile tags. Pay
1aent of $685. to a chemist for ANA
lying" feed and fertilizer. is charged
In the supplementary report on the
Department of Agriculture.
Charges Against Mr.. Cook.
Geo. b. Cook, state superintendent
of public instruction, is said to be a
vice president of heating plant cen
struction company, manufacturing
heating plants which are recommend
ed to schools of the state by the state
department. This charge is made in
the committees report. 1t also
charged maintenance of teachers
employment bureau generally sup
posed to be part of the department,
but which has no official connection.
The heads OF the bureau, the COM
Inittee's report says, are Mrs. Phoebe
Ray Gill, wife of Ray Gill, deputy SUI
perintendent of public instruction, and
Miss Hazel GIL, daughter of Mr.. and
Mrs. Gill. Mrs Gill is president and
Miss Gill secretary. The report fur
Their declares that teachers examina-
be graded have been graded by a
daughter of Mr.. Gill. and a pupil OF
the Little Rock High School.
Act No. 500, of the Acts of 1913,
requires the chairman of the State
Highway Commission to certify the
number of motor vehicles registered
from each county to the county clerk
of each county OF the state" says the
report. 1--WE find by correspondence
with the county clerks over the
state that this law has only been par.
italy complied with in very few in
stances; and. In most counties of the
state. an absolute failure 10 even at
tempt compliance Herewith.
Autos Are Expensive.
I'VE also find from vouchers issued
in the Office Of the state auditor for
the highway department, drawn in
favor OF some dealer in automobile
supplies and repairs, for approximate
ly $500 since completion of our IN
vestigation about so days ago. 1t is
quite apparent that automobiles con
trolled by this department continue
10 be rather expensive to the taxpay
ers Of this state We are advised that
the department continues to issue
free automobile tags to some few If
Little Rock, If in no other part of the
state.
I'VE also are advised by those in
terested officially or otherwise, in tht
good road building in Lincoln Count,
where this department boosted O
doing such great work.. claiming the,
would have been better off if they hal
never heard of the highway depart
ment. That the department attempt
ed to sell them crushed rock at Il
cents per yard. when, in fact, the,
bought it from W. W. Dickinson at s.
cents per yard, and w. w. Dickinson
had tha highway department furnish
the rock. Just why this was is unes
planned, and really a little hard Z
understand"
The following letter, received b
the committee, in response to a lei
ter OF inquiry. was written by c. I