The Green Forest tribune., 1915-04-30

should be applied to the state depart r.ents is suggested by the findings Of the Investigating Committee which has been Investigating the state de- partments by authority of the Legls- loture. While accused officials deny the allegations against them, the need of a better system of account ing is apparent and it is pointed out by friends of the Publicity Act that compulsory. official publicity of re- ceipts and disbursements would be a safeguard to both the public and the officials.
 Following the adverse decision ot the Supreme Court, nullifylng the work of the investigating committees Senator George W. Garrett and Rep resentatiyes 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- tondent of Public Instruction. It also urged that the investigations should continue and Secretary of State Earle w. Hodges, Treasurer R. c.. Mcdaniel and Auditor M. F. Dickin- son demanded thorough investiga- tions of their offices, even offering to pay the expenses. Governor Hays, therefore, issued a proclamation ap- propriating $7,000 for the completion of the work, and while it is believed that ten or fifteen thousand dollars will be required, the governor pointed out that he could make an additional proclamation later if it should prove to be necessary. The State Bankers Association is considering plans to finance the Investigation pending the deficiency appropriation which will be asked of the next Legislature.
 Supplementary reports on the State ment of Agriculture, and complete report on the Department of Eduea- tion, in each instance charge irregu- larities- Chief among the charges against the Department of Education is an alleged shortage of S1,050, and the issuance of teachers licenses of which there is no record in the office. The supplementary report on the highway department charges con- :in6ed extraTaga6ce in mafnfei1ance of automobiles and the continued is- suance of free automobile tags. Pay ment of S5,945 to a chemist for "ana lyzing' feed and fertilizer, is charged in the supplementary report on the Department of Agriculture.
 Charges Against Mir. Cook.
 Geo. B. Cook, state superintendent of public instruction, is said to be a vice president of a heating plant con- struction company, manufacturing heating plants which are recommend ed to schools of the state by the state department. This charge is made in the committees report It also charged maintenance of a teachers employment bureau generally SUD- posed to be part of the department, but which has no official connection. The heads of the bureau, the con- ,Inittees report says, are Mrs. Phoebe Ray Gill, wife of Ray Gill, deputy su- lperintendent of public instruction, and Miss Hazel Gill, daughter Of MT. and Mrs. Gill. Mrs. Gill is president and Miss Gill secretary. The report fur ither declares that teachers examina- tion papers sent to the department to 1be graded have been graded by a daughter of MT. Gill, and a pupil Of the Little Rock High School.
 "Act No. 302, of the Acts of 1913. requires the chairman of the State Highway Commission to certify the number of motor vehicles registered from each county to the county clerk of each county of the state," says the report. We find by correspondence with the county clerks over the state that this law has only been par ttally complied with in very few in- stances; and, in most counties of the istate, an absolute failure to even at. tempt compliance herewith.
 Autos Are Expensive.
 "We also find from vouchers issued in the office of the state auditor fol the highway department, drawn 1T favor of some dealer in automobile supplies and repairs, for approximate fly S700 since completion of our in vestigation about 60 days ago. It i. quite apparent that automobiles con trolled by this department continue to be rather expensive to the taxpay
 CTS of this state: We are advised tha, the department continues to issu, free automobile tags to some few il
 Little Rock, if in no other part of th,
 state.
 We also are advised by those in fterested officially or otherwise, in tn
 good road building in Lincoln Count, (where this department boasted q doing such great work, claiming the, would have been better off if they ha never heard of the highway depart lment That the department attempt
 ed to sell them crushed rock at '
 cents per yard, when, in fact. the
 fought it from w. w. Dickinson at 2