The Spectator., 1915-06-22
OFFICIALS COMPLAIN
 OF INVESTIGATORS
HODGES DECLINES TO PERMIT AUDIT BY LEGISLATIVE
 COMMITTEE.
AFFlDAVITS FROM ALL SIDES
Committee Expects to Complete Aua;t of State Departments in One
 Month.

Little Rock
 The Legislative Committee ap- pointed to investigate the state de- partments is embroiled in a contr0- versy with various state officials aris- ing from charges of favoritism in an affidavit signed by l. F. Thomas. NJ. Thomas had been in the employ of the investigators as an accountant until last week, when he was notified his services were no longer needed. In statement by the committee it was charged arrangements were effected whereby MT. Thomas, it's accountant, was to receive money on his unpaid vouchers by making a note with State Auditor M. F. Dickinson and Deputy Auditor William Stoddard as sureties and with the vouchers as collateral. It was charged that MT. Thomas had received S2S0 through this arrange not made a complete check of the vouchers in the auditors office during the incumbency of Dr. Dickinson. In an affidavit MT. Thomas said that member of the committee had told him it was the governors wish that especial attention be paid to office Of secretary of state and all energy 1e put forward to show it in as bad a light as possible; and further that the policy of the present committee had i always been to consider each depart ment examined as in bad condition and that an effort was made by mem- bers of the committee to discover ir- regularities at any cost. MT Thomas also charged favoritism had been shown and asked that the auditors ot- flee be rechecked.
 Secretary Of State Earle Hodges announced that he would refuse to permit the Investigating Committee to continue the examination of his o:- flee where their accountants had been at work for ten days. The ground for his action he stated was that he could not expect fair and impartial audit and report on the committee findings in view of the conditions as set forth in the Thomas affidavit Sec retary Hodges offered at the same time to pay the expenses personally of any audit of his office to be con- ducted by accountants to be selected by the Arkansas Bankers Association or the new State Board of Public .Ac- countants.
 A denial of the charge of discrimi- nation as set forth in the Thomas a'f- davit was issued by Governor Hays and members of the committee. The governor stated that so far as he was concerned every department and every state officer should have the some fair and impartial investigation.
 A later development brought forth the sensational statements contained in the affidavits of A. J. McAmis, an employe of the auditors office until his resignation last week. Mir Me Amis said in effect that Deputy Stod- dard had told him after a conference with Auditor Dickinson that Thomas would make the kind of report that We wanted on the auditors office dur ing MT. Dickinson's incunbency." It was alleged Thomas had agreed to make favorable report as an induce ment for the auditors office to get him the money on his unpaid vouchers.
 In statement made after the Mn- Amis affidavit was published Auditor Dickinson unqualifiedly denied Mr McAmis' charge that there was an un- derstanding with Accountant Thomas whereby favorable report was to be made as to the Dickinson administra- tion Deputy Stoddard also denied the statements of MT McAmis who was to leave the auditors office the first of the month.
 The committee has announced that the offices of the governor. Attorney General and Clerk of the supreme court will now be audited and com plete report of their findings made to the governor within a month.