The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-27
H.\ B IRE
 PkUDr LUV|N|IIlEE
Tells of Examination of
 Books at Time of Lacy Dedication

Montgomery. March 2e.-(SpecalD H. '. Brooke. former examiner of pub lie accounts, was the chief witness to- day before the joint legislative inves- tigating committee. Mir. Brooke was on the stand the greater part of the morning and his testimony related principally to his examination of the books of the convict department at the time of the Lacy defalcation
 MT. Brooke told the committee eV- erything he told. on the witness stand In the trial of Lacy, admitting hardly detail of his previous testimony. He was then questioned concerning the departmen of agriculture and oth- CT state offices. MT. Brooke said he had reported in his first examination on the agricultural department that the manner of purchasing fertilizer tags left a, good many openings for graft and "crook ed" work
 ''If I were crook I should like to have the contract to print the fer tilizer tags for the department of az riculture" said MT. Brooke. q would print two million tags for the state and three million for myself and sell them"
 He said that under the present sys- tenn there was nothing to prevent pri- vate firms or agencies from disposing of fertilizer tags on their rown ac- count.
 MT. Brooke recommended a separ- ate insurance department, stating that the present system was defective in
 
 panies operating in the state was ex- cessive.
 There ought to be a separate de- partment with commissioner an ex- perienced actuary and other competent officers said Mr. Brooke.
 Regarding the pension department, with which MT. Brooke was engaged at the time he resigned to take the place as federal bank examiner. wit ness said there should be a pension commission for the state and that the county pension boards should be abol- fshed He told the committee of his
 igation of the pension rolls and
 efforts to detect pensioners who
 not entitled to receive funds from
 ate.
 Bradford Examined
 mas W. Bradford, former chief
 of the motor vehicle department,
 he first witness before the con-
 today. Mr. Bradford, who was
 ing clerk at the beginning of the egislative session. was asked con- the employment of clerks un-
 is supervision. ~
 Bradford was also questioned concerning reports that there gambling in the secretary Of office during the former ad- tration. The witness declined to sr such questions, even though he informed by Chairman Merritt he would be cited to contempt ie legislature.
 Afternoon Session
 afternoon session of the inves- ing committee was brief, only a witnesses appearing before the in- torial body. The committee ex- ed several newspaper correspond who were clerks of committees the session of the legislature questioned them concerning their ies for such services.
 newspaper men were called be- the committee to verify the fact they received pay for every day le legislative session, even though were not appointed clerks until ral days after the legislature con- q. The committee had discovered all the senate clerks drew salaries he entire time the legislature was sssion.
 her witnesses at the afternoon ses- were Walter R. Brassell, member he Montgomery city commission, Dr. H. c. Perry, who has charge gathering vital statistics for the tn department. Both witnesses questioned concerning the oper- of the health department
 blowing the examination of these lesses the committee adjourned for sral days in order to visit various itutions and coal mines in which the e is interested. The committee i'd not announce its intinerary.