The Carlisle independent., 1915-04-29

of such examination are forwarded to the superintendent of public instruc- ton for ms eXamlnation, and when ap- proved by him he has the authority to l give the teacher authority to teach in any county in this State under this | license for a term of two years for which there should be paid fee of $1 | into the State treasury.
 We find under the two former heads | that in accordance with the books of 1 the department. there is a shortage of l $1,050 (See page II, accountants re- State treasury.
 We further find by correspondence 1 with county examiners and county su- perintendents over the State, that there are many State and professional li- censes issued over the State that the l records of the superintendent office l do not show; nor do the treasurer's 1 books show receipt of the money paid | therefor. For a list of teachers holding l licenses, whose names are shown on | departments books. We refer you to ac- l courtants' report on Receipts from | teachers certificates as per teachers | books, from page 1 to page 'F' We recite one instance wherein Senator l John L. Carter of Eudora, Chicot coun- l ty, Arkansas, holds a State license. l good for life. for which he paid S1O i His name does not appear on the rec l ords of the superintendent of public in- l struction. w C also refer to the fact l that U. C. Barnett -Dermott, Chicot county. Ark, holds a professional li- cense that is not shown by the records i of this office, and many, many others | as shown by the report and correspond 1 ence in the hands of this committee | that space prevents us from mention | ing. Such acts by a State official need
 no comment.
 S5S2 Turned In.
 | We further find that examination 1 for certificates of statewide authority | f4.a6 ~tYf5s, | of education, according to amounts | turned into the treasury, to the num- | Der of 5S2, which, at $1 each, has net | ted the amount of s52S to the treas
 ury. This sum has been turned in by l said department to the State treasury 1 since this committee began it's work, although it had been accommodating i since the authorization of such certifi- cates by the laws of the State. Of | these examinations mailed to the de- | partment by county examiners and | county Superintendents over the State,
 being examinations sufficient to justify | the issuance of first grade license by l the county examiner or county super l intendent S51 have been graded by 1 Miss Hazel Gill, who, we are advised,
 is the youngest daughter of Ray Gill. l deputy superintendent of public in struction and a pupil in the High i School of the City of Little Rock, in- stead of by officials of the depart ment. We do not think such action by
  l s1bly be appreciated by the examiners
 of the State and the teachers holding l said licenses. The remaining 194 ex- amtnations are shown to have been | graded by W. A. Gibson. who, IS we l are advised, is the husband of Mrs Gib- l son, an employe of the department. To l Miss Gill were issued vouchers to the l sum of $351, and to Mir. Gibson S194 for l these examinations, said vouchers be- l ing paid by the treasury long before l the S5S2 was turned into the treasury l by the department.
 The committee draws no conclusion l as to what the developments might 1 have been had this investigation never i been instituted, but leaves the public i to drasv its conclusion from the facts
 as shown on pages 13, 35 and 36 of ac- countants' report on the file with the 1 governor of this tSate.
 We further find from the report of | our accountants a number of vouchers 1 issued for travelling expenses to the su- l perintendent of public instruction and l to other persons in the employ of the l department of education. While we l have not been able to continue our in Vestigation as We wished to do by talk 1 ing testimony, we are advised by good l authority that the superintendent of public instruction has pass, at least
 over the Iron Mountain railroad. If | this is true. we are unable to see how 1 the superintendent of public instruc- ! tion could incur travGsing expenses. We | also find but very few of the warrants l issued to the superintendent of public | instruction for travelling expenses l 2S of the accountants report will be i found a total of S611.05 for travelling l expenses paid to the superintendent of i public instruction personally, and none l of same is itemiZed as the law directs. l Employment Bureau.
 Tt is quite apparent from our inves- i tigation that the public funds have
 been unnecessarily spent in utter dis
 regard of the State laws governing ] such expenditures.
 We find from correspondence that | there is a Teachers Employment Bu- reau, with headquarters in Little Rock, Ark, the officials of which, as shown i by their letter heads, are Mrs. Phoebe l Ray Gill, president, and Miss Hazel i Gill, secretary, who are respectively i the wife and young daughter of Ray i GIL who is deputy superintendent of public instruction, and many people be- l lieve this Teachers Employment Blu reau is so organized that it may be run | in connection with the State depart
 ment for the sole purpose of thereby
 using the influence of said department i for personal gain. We make no charge i in this, but merely make the statement
 that the public may be advised of the ] apparent conditions.
 Heating Plants.
 we also find that the Waterman | Waterbury Company of Minneapolis, l AIinn., J. L. Waterbury, secretary, are | llahuIaCIuTeFS anu JODDefS or heating l plants for school buildings, and is rec 1 commended to the schools of the State l by our superintendent and we find
 nat George B. Cook, superintendent of l public instruction of the State of Ar ! kansas is vice president of the firm of James L. Waterbury Company, Mime 1 apolis, Mnn, who, from their corre- 1 spondence, appear to be dealing in real
 estate and otherwise. All of the above | shows some apparent connection that l should be more thoroughly investiga- ted. as some people might infer from 1 the connection that our superintendent is interested and using his official po- 1 sition in boosting the sale of these heating plants for his own personal and financial gain. We make no charge 1 of misconduct in this, but merely give | the public ouTs meager information, be-
 cause we believe that the people have the right to know whether or not their officers are in any way connected or used in private affairs.
 Auditors Office.
 "The accountants had only comple- ted checking about one-half or two- thirds of the office of State auditor, and it is impossible for us to give any re- port from unfinished work. but will say that it is quite apparent from our investigation. so far made, that | there are fragrant errors and omissions