The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-06-12
M'LENDON SEES POLITICAL PLAY IN CITY PROBE Declares Lehman Should Be Made To Prove
 His Charges TIRED OF RUMORS GOING THE ROUND Suggests Committee Of Local Bankers To Fin
 ish Audit


 "political capital' out of the short age in the city comptroller's office, for which William L. Lehman, youthful clerk, has been sent to prison, Commission President D. E. McLendon charged in spicy state- ment Wednesday.
 His statement followed the action of Commissioners Mary Echols and w, l.. Harrison in taking the mat ter out of the hands of McLendon, in whose department the shortage occurred, and putting through a resolution calling for third audit of the books by an accountant to be named by the state auditors as- sociation.
 Both President McLendon and Commissioner w. B. Cloe declared they voted for the resolution be- cause they did not wish to be placed in the attitude of opposing fun limited Investigation" but stated emphatically they felt the matter had been handled in the wrong way.
 "McLendon is right" said Mir. Cloe, This business has become mixed up with politics. The resolution offered at Tuesdays meeting came up in an un- usual way. There should at least have been conference on it. It was offered without notice and there appeared noth- ing to do but vote for it. But, on re- flection, think young Lehman should be forced to prove all these charges he is reported to have made. Then, let the books again be audited thorougAtss We are wasting to Q much Uf the pe0. ples' money in invest tigations of charges made by persons who are irresponsible. "
 Citizens Complain \ President McLendon, in his statement, said scores of persons had declared to him since Tuesdays meeting that politics is being injected into the case"
 'The way in which the audit reso- lution was offered was unusual, sur prising and out of line with the long standing custom of commission mem bers," the commission chief declared
 "I felt that I should have at least had advance notice of it, since the comptroller's department comes direct ly under me-" he went on. However, did not want to go on record as block ing any move tO-uEcover new facts, and voted for the resolution. I want the light turned on the situation without further delay. I hope the grand jury goes deeply into the case, and it will have my hearty cooperation and that of every person in my department, I am sick and tired of the ugly rumors that continue to fly about. I believe they are doing the city harm and that they are very unjust to some of the persons now working for the city. It is time to call q halt"
 Suggests Plan
 MeLendon said he had no criticism to offer in connection with the naming of the next auditor by Judge Charles Me Call, chief examiner of the state board of accounting, but that he felt confident the people of Birmingham would pre- fer that local auditors do the work.
 Why not let a committee of the city's leading bankers get together and select an auditor?" he suggested. He tee, the following bank presidents: Os- I car Wells, First National; T. O.. Smith, Birmingham Trust; w. W. Crawford, American Trust. and John H. Frye, Traders National.
 These men," McLendon asserted, ''are leaders in the city's business life. They know the local situation and they Il would name an auditor that would cer- tainly be satisfactory to everybody. The auditor so named should then be turn ed loose in the comptroller's department and allowed to sift things to tAe very bottom. He also should be allowed to interview every person he desired, in- cuding myself, and every person con- nected with the comptroller's office"
 McLendon already has followed the letter of the resolution passed Tues day and forwarded a letter to Judge Mccall, asking him to comply with the resolution and name an auditor. How ever, the commission head said he would consult with his colleagues Thursday and sound them out on the proposed new arrangement.
 Support Assured
 It appeared certain that Commission Ter Cloe would support McLendon's move. Commissioner Dickson's support also was expected. The latter returned Wednesday from the Shrine convention in Kansas City and began to study up" on the late developments. Dickson always has been staunch Supporter of the established rule to let each com missioner have a free hand in the oper- ation of his own department.
 The entire matter may be brought up again at next Tuesdays meeting. If a motion to repeal the resolution passed at the last meeting is offered, the im- pression prevailed that it would pass by a 8 to 2 vote.
 Meanwhile. McLendon promised to cooperate fully with the grand jury and exert every effort to end this entire matter as quickly as possible"
 Comptroller Armstrong left the city late Tuesday to attend a national comptrollers' convention in the east. He will be away two weeks.