The Dermott news., 1915-06-17
Report of Legislative Investigating
 Committee
COn1n1ftfee

disbursements of the states revenue that a perfect check could be made in this office at any time of each and all of the state departments and in. stitutions, but as 1t Is now this can not be done.
 The necessity for perfect audit ing system as suggested is seen in the fact that from 1911 to 1915 the University of Arkansas drew from the state treasury S519.554 on war rants ranging from $500 up to s100. GOO
 Shortage Refunded.
 We call attention during the ad ministration of l.. L. Conraan to the fact that one R II Waddell a clerK in the auditors office. drew duplicate vouchers to the amount of $24tS7 and cashed them and appropriated this sum to his own use. This shortage was later discovered and refunded to the state treasury The only thing Tn connection with this affair for which Mir. Cofiman is subject to criticism, Is the fact that he retained Mir Waddell in the employment of tha state Tor three months or more after he discov- cred this shortage. If the law requir- ed warrants to he made payable to or der instead of bearer. as 1t should this shortage could never have oc- cured. We find that the same Wad- dell issued warrants and collected from the treasurer the sum totaling $922 0t. This was not loss to the treasury. but to tho parties to whom the money was due We. however understand that this money was at- 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 being carried on whereby MT Thomas, orr accountant. was to receive the money on his unpaid vouchers by making a note with the present auditor. M r. Dickinson, and his deputy. William Stoddard. as security thereon. with the vouchers as collateral. he receiv- ing the sum of S2S0 therefor
 Our accountant. Mir Thomas. on being interviewed admitted to lis that he had received this sum of money. and further stated that he had not made complete check of the vouch- CTS since the 4th day of March. 1915. to date which was during the incum- bency of NJ. F Dickinson
 Mr. Thomas stated to the com mittee that he signed the note aud that II 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 b.. fore he signed it. nor had he seen l. since Dr. Dickinson stated that ne signed the note as security. but did not notice 10 whom it was made pay able and did not know vet H. further stated that he thought it Wa perfectly legitimate transaction and mad no wrong motive himself in sign ing the note
 NIT 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 it aS security When thls was done, he stated that ne turned tho note over to Mir Thomas and that he did not know what he did with II. or when and where he got his money and that he tStoddardl had never at any timo paid Mir Thomas any money
 We immediately dispensed with the services of Mir. Thomas as one of cur certified accountants, and fin jus. icc 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
 partmcnts and Institutions.
 Geo. W. Garrett. Monroe Smith. |. A Gentry