Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-31
POLLARD DENIES
LOSS OF 100000
Governor Condemns Research
Bureau Charges of West
moreIand Davis.
Special Dispatch to The Star.


RICHMOND, Va, May 30.-Charges
by the Virginia Bureau OF Research,
Inc, of which Westmoreland Davis Of
Loudoun County, former Governor Of
Virginia, is president, that the State Of
Virginia had lost approximately 100000
since the office of State controller was
established March /, 1928. through fail
ure Of the controller to take allowable
discounts are not true. according to a
statement prepared by Gov. Pollard and
given out late today at the Capitol
Accompanying the statement was a
report of T. Coleman Andrews, State
auditor, on his recent examination OF
the controllers ONCE ordered by Gov.
Pollard after the charges of the bureau
were made. Results of this examination,
the report stated, indicate that the con-
troller failed to take cash discounts ag-
gregating $542.42, which he might have
taken and that the controller was I'M
able to take other discounts aggregating
S7,339.75 because the invoices carrying
them were received by him for payment
after the discount periods had expired,
making a total of $7,882.17 which was
not or could not be taken.
Refutes Statement.
The Governor, in his statement, said
that from the auditors report and other
evidence before him 1t was apparent
that: THAT the statement of Davis
bureau that it made detailed audit Is
either untrue or the audit was made by
grossly incompetent men.
THAT the falsity Of the charges Of
Mr.. Davis bureau coupled with its re-
fusal to furnish the State with the
items upon which its charges were
based justifies the conclusion that the
bureau as at present constituted Is
wholly unreliable and is conducted in
no spirit of helpfulness to the COM
monwealth.
3-That the charge Of ineficiency
against the controller is totally un-
founded
4-That the losses are not out Of
proportion to similar losses in CONNER
cial and industrial enterprises of pro-
portions comparable to that of the con-
troller's Office, and that the number and
amount of discounts lost on account Of
other reasons are not sufficiently large
to justify the charge of negligence on
the part of any one.
This" the Governor added. rs all
the more apparent when We remember
that the total disbursements through
the controllers Office during the three
years was about $140,000,00O and that
his Office has overlooked only $542.42
in discounts, or an annual average of
$1.86 per institution, department or
other agency. and that the average dis
counts not taken elsewhere was annually
only $2522 per institution, department
or other agency.
Condemns Davis.
II believe that Mr.. Davis attacks on
the administration are duly discounted
by the people of Virginia where he is
well known as man Of deep and I'M
relenting prejudices; but regret that
outside the State where Mr.. Davis I'M
fortunate weakness is not so we'll known
he has sought to discredit the State
whose people has so signally honored
him in the past.
His bulletins have been distributed
among Governors and legislators Of
other States attacking our government,
the reorganization Of which has re-
ceived such favorable comment from so
many impartial sources and which is
being used as a model for other States.
Auditor Andrews report is clear and
conclusive. It constitutes a singing re-
Duke to all those who may from ignor-
ance or prejudice. or both, make charges
which are not substantiated by facts"