The Harrison times., 1915-06-26
ACT NO. 93.

ACT NO. 93. /
po Amends the PmhIicitV Act
paltments Is embroiled in a contr0'
versy with various state officials arif
ing from charges Of fayoritism in an
affidavit signed by l. f. Thomas. M
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 a
statement by the committee 1t was
charged ARRANGEMENTS were oIiec.7l
whereby Mr.. Thomas, IT'S accountant
was to receive money on his unpaid
vouchers by making a note with state
Auditor NJ =. Dickinson and Deputy
Auditor William Stoddard as suroti"s
and with the vouchers as collateral
It was charged that Mr. Thomas hal
received $3.50 through this arrange
mont and further charged that he had
not made a complete check Of The
vouchers in the auditors Office during
the incumbeucy Of Dr. Dickinson,
In an affidavit Mr.. Thomas said that
a member Of the committee had .ol1
him it was the governors wish that
especial attention be paid to office OF
secretary Of state and all energy 1o
put forward to show It In as bad a
light as possible and further that the
policy Of the present committee had
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 IT.
reguIarities at any cost Mr. Thomas
also charged fayoritism had been
shown and asked that the auditors oS
fee be rechecked
Secretary Of state Earle Hodges
announced that he would refuse to
permit the Investigating Committee
to continue the examination Of his Of
fee where their accountants had boen
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 rs
set forth I'm the Thomas affidavit, Sec
rotary Hodges offered at the same
time to pay the expenses personally
Of any audit Of his Office to be- con.
ductod by accountants to be selected
by the Arkansas Bankers Association
or the new State Board Of Public Ac'
countant8
A denial Of the charge OF discrimi'
nation Os set forth In the Thomas an.
doylt was issued by Governor Hays
and members Of the committee, Tho
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
TIE sensational statements contained
IN the onIdayits Of A, j. McAmi8, an
omployo Of the auditors office unlIl
hl8 resignation last week Mr. Me.
Amis said In effect that Deputy Sto1.
d0rd had told him artor n conference
wiu Auditor Dickinson that "Thomos
would mako the Kind Of q report uult
we wanted ON the auditors ohlco dur
mg Mr. nickmaons ncumboncy" II
WAS alleged Thomas had agreed 20
make a favorable report as an induce
mcut for the auditors oGlco 10 gct
him tho money ON his unpaid
vouchers
In % statement made after the Me-
Amis a1idaWt was published Auditor
Dickinson m0ml0odly ecnlod Mr.
McAmH' charge that ihoro was nm un'
donNn1Ing with Accountant Thomas
whereby q favorable report was 10 ho
made us 10 the Dickinson odminlarm
ton Deputy atoddlrd also donio1
the statements of Mr. MoAmls who
was TO loayn the auditors olIioo rha
nrHi of the month
Tuo committee has announced lhut
the 0WcoH of the governor Attorney
General md 7lorl of Che supreme
court win nov ba audited and o cons
pluIu report of their findings made TO
tho governor within % month