The log cabin Democrat., 1922-03-04
M'RAE UNDECIDED ON APPOINTMENT HALL SENT TO ASYLUM Resignation Followed by Commitment to Asylum-Allege Shortage
 in Funds.
(By the Associated press)

board Of control to succeed W. Il { Hall The governor received MT Halls resignation yesterday coinci' 1 dent with his commitment to the state hospital for nervous diseases.
 Little Rock, March 4.-Not since the disappearance of Monroe Smith of the State Tax Commission has so great a sensation been caused in the state government as occurred yester- day when it was announced that w. il. Hall had resigned from the Board of Control and that there are ap parent shortages amounting to about S15,000. It was further stated that he had suffered a nervous breakdown and had been taken to an institution for treatment. Governor McRae ac- cepted his resignation and at late hour yesterday evening issued the following official statement.
 "I had my private secretary write to about thirty wholesale companies and business houses outside of Arkan- sas, who have been furnishing goods of one kind and another to our state charitable institutions. about week ago, in which letters tlIese companies were asked to advise me about the condition of accounts our institutions had with them. l was induced to do this after hearing of complaints from 1 some of these outside houses about the slow payments the state was mak- ing, some of these complaints having been lodged with me directly.
 ''In the last three or four days I have been receiving many detail statements, revealing an astounding condition. have found that ap- proximately fourteen thousand dol lars in accounts are far past due, if l am to accept the statements of these companies. Only about $7,00O of these accounts complained of have been checked with the records of the tuditor of state and treasurer of state, and it is found that more than $7,000 of these accounts have been paid by the state. The remainder of those complained of will be checked later. l am still receiving informa- tion each day of other delayed pay ments. On yesterday, Thursday, I called the chairman of the Board of 1 Control, w. H. Hall, before me and asked him to explain the situation, telling him that many of these letters that l have been receiving indicated that he had delayed in payment. Mr. Hall admitted that he might have omitted to remit promptly in some cases l pointed out to him that it was not his duty to receive or cash warrants made out for the payments of companies furnishing goods to in- stltutions under the Board of Con- trol and he said that it had been a custom for him to do so merely as accommodation to people who lived out of the state, who did not know anything about the system of vouchers and warrants in Arkansas. He ad- mitted that he had been sending his personal check in payment for many warrants which he obtained the money on. l gave him a statement showing accounts with several houses TOT which warrants had been issued and paid, some of them having been obtained upon vouchers receipted bv him. He asked me for time in which to check up and ascertain how much he might owe these companies. I gave him until 3 o'clock today. Fri day, agreeing that I should hear his explanation then. Before he left my office, informed him that there were many other complaints, not included in the list gave him.
 "l went to Lonoke this morning. re- turning to my office after 2 o'clock. After the hour appointed for Mir. Halls visit to me today, I was in formed that he could not see me. that he was sending in his resignation. I | received it about 4 o'clock and it was accepted.
 The law requires that those who . sell the state charitable institutions supplies and materials shall file itemized sworn statements with the heads of these institutions, which when found correct, are approved. then passed on to the Board of Con trol, and there approved by the secre- tary and chairman. These sworn vouchers are then presented to the tudltor of state, It IS possible and proper that they be mailed cut to these outside companies so they may use their own method of converting them into state treasurer's warrants.