The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1933-08-18
c. REVENUE
DEPARTMENT
IS INVOLVED
Men Already Discharged
and Information in
Hands of Brummitt
NOBLE WITHHOLDING
NAMES OF EMPLOYEES
By J. c. baskerville.
The Times-News Bureau
Sir Walter Hotel

RALEIGH, Aug. ia num-
Der Of irregularities in the state
department of revenue involving
the interpolation of state funds
have been uncovered by Execu-
tive Assistant Commissioner of
Revenue M. c. S. Noble, Jr., and
the employees involved have been
discharged, he said today. DR.. No
bic declined to make any state
ment either with regard to the
amount of the shortages found in
the accounts of these employees or
to reveal their names, saying that
the investigation into these mat:
tiers has not yet been completed
and that all information was turn
ed over today to the attorney gen
eral. ANY additional information
with regard to the investigation
or those involved must come from
the attorney general, Noble said.
1t was only when told that there
was considerable talk going the
rounds that an investigation was
going on into the accounts OF en-
ployes of the department OF reve-
nue. and that a number of en-
ployes had been dropped, that DR..
Noble consented to make any
statement at all. This statement
is as follows:
"Since my appointment as ex-
ecutive commissioner of revenue,
Irregularities in the accounts OF
certain former employees of the
revenue department have been
discovered. These matters were
promptly reported to the COVER.
nor and he Immediately directed
a thorough and complete investi-
cation. In the meantime, each
case, with all available informa-
ton thereon. is being reported to
by me to the attorney generals
Office for appropriate legal action
to protect the states interests
DR.. Noble would not elaborate
upon this statement other than to
admit that the reference to "ir-
Irregularities in the accounts OF
former employees" meant that
those whose accounts had been
found short had been discharged.
He also made it clear that some
employees had been dropped for
other reasons, so that not all those
dropped were because of irregu-
larities.
It was not possible to learn
how MANY employees have been
dropped from the rolls OF the
revenue department within the
past two months, but various es-
Inmates heard here are that the
number is between 20 and 30. No
definite estimate could be OBJ
tanned from any reliable source as
to the total amount OF the detal-
cations discovered, it is under.
stood involve employees who had
been dropped from the depart
ment a year or more ago.
{ According to current reports,
the irregularities were discovered
more or less accidentally by DR..
Noble while he was investigating
the records of various employees
incident to his plans for reorgan-
iznig the revenue collection divi-
sion and the set-cp for the new
sales tax division. Some OF the
Irregularities were so fragrant
that DR.. Noble is understood to
have reported the matter at once
to Governor Ehringhaus. who in
structed him to proceed with an
intensive investigation. A staff
of special accountants and inves-
tigators was placed at his dis.
posal and the investigation is still
continuing.
There was and still is good
deal of criticism concerning the
appointment of Noble as execu-
tive assistant commissioner of
revenue. But those close to the
governor know that he was APP
pointed to do just what he has
, been doing-to reorganize the de-
partment on an efficient and eco
nomical basis and to ferret out
any weaknesses in its organiza-
ton and find any irregularities.
1t is believed by those who have
been following the work being
done by Noble that while he has
already become one of the most
unpopular state executives in any
of the state departments. he has
already gone a long way towards
| iustifying the necessity for his
/ Job. Some believe that by the
/ time he gets through with his re-
| organization work and plugs up
the holes in the revenue depart.
| ment, he will have saved his sal
airy to the state many times over.