The Dermott news., 1915-06-24
OFFICIALS COMPLAIN OF INVESTIGATORS
HODGES DECLINES TO PERMIT AUDIT BY LEGISLATIVE
 COMMITTEE.
AFFlDAvITS FROM ALL SIDES
Committee Expects to Complete Auo,t Of State Departments in One
 Month.
Little Rock

The Legislative Committee ip- pointed to investigate the state de partments is embroiled in n contrn- versy with various state officials aris ing from charges of favoritism in an affidavit signed by l. = Thomas NJ Thomas had been in the employ of the investigators as an accountant unfD last week. when he was notified his services werA 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 note with State Auditor NJ. F. Dickinson and Deputy Auditor William Stoddard as suretias and with the vouchers as collateral It was charged that Mir Thomas hal received S2S0 through this arrange ment and further charged that he had not made n complete cheek of the vouchers in the auditors office during the incumbencv of Dr Dickinson.
 In an affidavit MT Thomas said tha; 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 1t in as bad light as possible; and further that tae policy of the present committee had always been to consider each depart ment examined as In bad condition hot Aa hx. bers of the committee to discover ir- regularities at any cost MT. Thomas also charged favoritism had been shown and asked that the auditors o.- fee be rechecked
 Secretary of State Earle Hodges permit the Investigating Committee to continue the examination Of his o. flee where their accountants had boen at work for ten days Tho ground for his action he stated was that ne could not expect n 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 sane time to pay the expenses personally of any audit of his office to be con ducted by accountants to be selected by the Arkansas Rankers' Association or the new State Board of Public Ao- oountants
 X denial of the charge of discrimi- nation as set forth in tho Thomas a'l- dayit was issued hy Governor Hays and members of the committed Thos governor stated that go far as he wis concerned every department and every state officer should have the some fair and impartial investigation.
 A later development brought forth tse sensational statements contained in the afiidayits of A j. McAmis. all employe of the auditors office until his resignation last week. Mir Me. Amis said in effect that Deputy Stoj- dard had told him after n conference with Auditor Dickinson that Thomas would make the kind of report that we wanted on the auditors office dur ing Mir Dickinson's incumhency" II was alleged Thomas had agreed 10 make a favorable report as an induce ment for the auditors oGlce to gel him the money on his unpaid vouchers.
 In a statement made after the Me Amis affidavit was published Auditor Dickinson unqualihedly denied Mr McAmis' charge that there was an un- derstanding with Accountant Thomas whereby n favorable report was to he made as 10 the Dickinson administra, ton. Deputy Stoddard also denied the statements Of Mir. McAmis who was 10 leave the auditors office thes 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 a com. ple;e report Of their findings made to the governor within month
 "H5ir of the Don