The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-07-14

, dates The travelling expenses and sal aries of these men were paid by the state. We also find that the expense accounts of these inspectors were in many instances padded.
 MT Craig has reported discrepancies in this department, amounting to not less 1 than 5000 Our investigation leads us to believe that the amount is much larger than this sum. There have been in this l department two sources of fraud and on account of the lack of any business system or checking. it is practically im- possible to estimate the amount of money which has been lost to the state It has been an open sesame for graft and cor ruption We refer to the purchase sale and exchange of fertilizer tags These tags have been sold in enormous quanti- ties without any method heinz provided for check covering the sale. In many instances the books show reports of sales In other instances sales of tags not issued by the department have been made and proceeds therefrom anpro- priated
 l The office system of this department and the methods of accounts and book keeping are anticipated. loose and utterly out of accord with the demands of mod ern appliances. The corruption. emhez- element and graft herein disclosed which has run through this department like a scarlet thread is tragic evidence of the deficiency of our business system
 Immigration Department
 Within the past four years s42.ooo of I the peoples money has been expended We have not been able to find that the state of Alabama ever realized one cent 1 on this investment. Not only was this | amount total loss of the taxpayers money; but. in addition, the office has been used as a means for embezzlement. | Sto of tha lif funds through this department can be denominated nothing less than criminal. Absolutely no books are kept. We quote the following from the examination of the commission of immigration. before this committees:
 O. Did you keep a cash book?"
 A. No, sir; had little memorandum book when I was in the Bell building a few years ago.
 1 o. Did you keep cash book?
 A I didn't have any receipts and dis bursements.
 Q. Did you keep a book for that? | A. I had those entries in front of a little memorandum book when I was in the Bell building.
 o. Where Is that book?
 A. don't know, sir.
 MT J. T. German an examiner of pub lie accounts, was questioned in reference to his report on the books of this de-
 
 made an investigation of the books of this department because there were nc books: that he had called to the atten- tion of the commissioner of immigration the fact that he kept no books and had warned him that his failure in this re- gard would probably result in serious trouble to the commissioner. We asked Major German why, if he found no books kept by this department he had reported under oath that he had examined the books. accounts and vouchers of thi' depa rtment. In answer to this this ques- ton he testified that he had merely signed and sworn to one of the blank printed forms used for the purpose.
 Major German also approved the books of the convict department of the depart ment of agriculture and industries and the pure food and drug department ir all of which large defalcations have beer reported. These facts disclose either thai the examination of these books by Majol German was not thorough or that ht was not competent. Major German has been reappointed as examiner since oul investigation disclosed the discrepanciel in the books of these several department: which he had passed as heinz correct. As a legacy from this department there are a large number of unpaio