The Harrison times., 1915-05-01

That the principles OF Act No. 3
the Publicity Act adopted by the peo
pie at the election last September
should be applied to the state depart
Eionts is suggested by the findings o.
the Investigating Committee which
has been investigating the state de
partments by authority Of the Legis
loture. While accused officials deny
the allegations against them, the
need OF better system Of account
ing is apparent and it is pointed cu'
by friends of the Publicity Act thai
compulsory, official publicity Of re
osipts and disbursements would be
safeguard to both the public and the
officials.
Following the adverse decision o,
the Supreme Court, nullifying the
work Of the investigating committees
Senator George w. Garrett and Rep
resentatives Monroe Smith and U, A
Gentry filed with the governor sup
Elementary reports on the state
Highway Commission and Depart
ment Of Agriculture, and its complete
report on the office OF state Superin
tendent Of Public Instruction. 1t also
urged that the Investigations should
continue and Secretary Of State
Earle w. Hodges Treasurer X. q
Mcdaniel and Auditor M. F. Dickln
son demanded thorough investiga
tions OF their offices, even Offering tc
nay the expenses Governor Hays
therefore, issued q proclamation ap
propriating $1,000 for the completion
OF the work, and while IL is believed
tnat ten or fifteen thousand dollars
will bo required, the governor pointed
out that he could make an additional
proclamation later II It should prove
to be necessary. The State Bankers
Association Is considering plans to
finance the investigation pending the
deficiency appropriation which VIII
be asked OF the next Legislature
Supplementary reports on the state
Highway Commission and the Depart
ment Of Agriculture, and complete
report on the Department OF Educa
tion, in each instance charge irregu
larities. Chief among the charges
against the Department of Education
is an alleged shortage Of $l,O5O, and
the issuance Of teachers licenses OF
which there Is no record In the Office
The supplementary report on the
highway department charges con
tinued extravaganza In maintenance
of automobiles and tho continued Is
mnnce OF free automobile tags Pay
Ment OF S5,0d6 TO chemist for lana
lyzing' feed and fertilizer, Is charged
in tho supplementary report on thC
Department OF Agriculture
Charges Against Mr. Cook,
Geo B, Cook, state superintendent
OF public instruction, ls said to be
Hco president Of heating plant con
structlon company, manufacturing
heating plants which arc recommend
cd TO schools of the state by the state
department This charge Is made IN
the committees report II also
charged maintenance OF teachers
employment bureau generally sup
posed to be- part OF tho department
but which has no official connection
1ho heads OF the bureau the com
Notices report says, are Mira Phoebe
Ray GIL, wife OF Ray GIL, deputy su
lperintendent OF public instruction, and
Miss Hazel Gu, daughter OF Mr., and
Mrs, OIL Mrs en- In president and
Miss Gil secretary, Tho report fur
ther declares that teachers oyRm'oo'
ton papers sent 10 the department 70
lbe graded have been graded by a
daughter OF Mr. en-, and "a pupil OF
tho Littlo Rock High School
"Aet No, 3O2, Of the Acts OF 1913
requires the chairman OF the State
Highway Commission 10 certify the
humber Of motor vehicles registered
from ench county TO the county clerk
Of each county of tho state" says the
report I'VE hnd by correspondence
with the county clerks over the
state that this law has only been par
TALLY complied With IN very few in'
stances; and IN most counties OF the
state, nm absolute failure to even IT.
tempt compliance herewith,
Autos Are Expensive.
I'VE Mao find from vouchers issued
In tho Office Of the state auditor for
the highway department drawn In
favor Of aomo dealer IN automobile
tuppliea and repairs, for approximate
ly 800 ainoo completion Of our iu
yestigatlon about 20 days ago II n
quito apparent that automobiles con
trolled by this department continue
10 be rather expensive 10 the taypay
ora Of this state We are advised that
the department continues 10 Issue
fee automobile taga 10 some few IL
Little Rock lf In no other part of the
state,
I'VE also are advised by those IN
,tsraated officially or othprWlsp I'm thr