Evening star., 1939-02-20
State Legislatures
:
Hit byE Epidenic !
Z;
OF Investigations :
Subjects Of Probes Run
From Tax Structures
ToFoir Tickets
BY the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
An investigation complex on the
part of the country's State Legisla-
lures was indicated today as their
calendars showed inquiries were be-
ing made on wide variety of SUBJ
jects ranging from tax structures to
complimentary State fair tickets.
A ten-man Minnesota committee
had $5O.000 to finance its studies of
the deposed Farmer-Labor govern
ment and corelate separate studies
made by the present Republican
Governor, the attorney general and
the controller. The resolution au-
thorizing the inquiry cited rumors of
graft, corruption and mishandling
of public funds"
In Oklahoma, special House
committee was occupied with an in
vestigation of the acts of the States
Public Welfare Commission, which
administers old-age pension pay
ments. From time to time, Federal
assistance has been stopped because
of alleged failures by the commission
to cooperate with the Federal So
cial Security Board. All but three of
the nine-member commission ap-
pointed by the previous administra-
ton resigned and have been re-
placed.
Two Open Tax Studies.
South Carolina's tax structure was
under the scrutiny of a special COM
mittee which worked with a view
to reorganization and consolidation
Of departments. A similar inquiry
was asked in Maryland, where there
also was a resolution asking for a
study to determine the worth of the
State Aviation Commission.
Alleged irregularities in the selec-
ton of textbooks brought the ap-
pointment of Senate committee of
investigation in Indiana.
While Montana Senate groups
looked into the liquor control system
and highway department, lawmakers
in neighboring Idaho probed the
attorney generals activities on FORE
closure proceedings. A Senator
charged that the attorney generals
failure to institute foreclosure pro-
ceedlngs on mortgages assertedly de-
linquent had cost the State $42,8l1
in endowment funds, used principally
for the operation of schools. The
attorney general denied RESPONSE
bility for any losses.
Maine legislators considered a re-
quested investigation of the affairs
Of the defunct Maine Coast Fish
cries. Inc, and the Fishermens Re-
lief Corp. The latter, said the bills
sponsor, received Federal grants and
subsequently made loans to the
former.
North Carolina F. H. A.
The North Carolina Senate ap-
proved a bill requesting congress
sional investigation of the State
F. H. A. administration to deter
mine why the State was last in
the number of "closed loans"
Nearly complete in Nevada was
study of academic and athletic
affairs Of the University of Nevada
at Reno. Meanwhile, a Colorado
House Committee investigating
State printing contract awards in
dicated findings might be turned
over to the Denver grand jury for
criminal action if evidence Of fraud
is found.
An order calling for an inquiry
into all State departments was
pending in Massachusetts, where
lawmakers also have asked a
probe of pardons, appointments and
hurricane flooded relief contracts let
under the administration of former
Gov. Charles F. Hurley.
One basis for requested probe
OF the Iowa State Fair Board was
a complaint regarding the large
numbers of complimentary tickets
issued.
New York had underway an in
vestigation of the State unemploy-
ment insurance law, assailed by
Thomas E. Dewey, recent unsuc-
cessful republican candidate for
Governor.