South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-11-30
WILL PROBE BOOKS
Of HIGHWAY BOARD
State Accountant TO Keep
Tab on Expenditures of
Commission.
Copyright 1879

INDIANAPOLIS. Nov. 2s.-It be
came known today that the state
board OF accounts under the direc-
ton OF Jesse r. Eschbach will make
e complete investigation OF the af-
fairs OF the Indiana state highway
commission which ia the last year
has let contracts for cement roads
IN Indiana al an approximate &C 20 Of
100000.
Several weeks ago Mr. Eschbach
suggested 20 the director Of the
highway commission, l.. H. Wright,
who IL an appOintee OF Gov. Good
rich. that the state board OF ac-
counts should take over supervision
of the awarding OF contracts for
roads. The suggestion was made
public but there has never been
reply thereto made public. Mr..
Eschbach stated when he made the
suggestion regarding the supervision
OF contract letting that unless the
plan was agreeable 10 the highway
commission the state board OF &C
counts would have TO make the same
kind of an investigation OF the com
mission that IS made OF every other
department Of the state
IL IS understood that the highway
commission responded with the plea
that the money expended was fed
eral money and the methods Of ex-
pending IL were not within the SUI
pervision Of the state board OF ac-
counts Mr.. Eschbach. however,
takes the attitude that although the
commission IS expending some
money provided by the government
II il also expanding large sums pro
vided BY the state OF Indiana for the
building and maintenance Of roads
and IS also expanding thousands of
dollars in the operation OF the de-
partment. For that reason he be
lisves that an investigation is a part
OF his duties and 1t Is also under
stood that recent criticism of the
highway commission has aroused
him 70 determination TO conduct
a thorough examination.
Things To Investigate.
Among the things which the state
board OF accounts are expected to
investigate are:
/. The specifications under which
il has been charged the poorest kind
OF a cement road and only the best
kinds OF brick and asphalt roads are
placed I'm competition.
2. The remarkable record made
by the commission I'm the acceptance
OF bids for cement roads almost to
the entire exclusion OF brick and
asphalt road.
3. The fact that one bonding
company OF which VIII II. HAYS, re-
publican national chairman, is re-
puted 10 be a director, has bonded
"a larger amount OF road building
than any other bonding company.
4. A provision In the specifca-
tons under which IL is possible to
force a bidder 10 give a detailed
statement OF the manufacture Of the
materials which he proposes to use.
The peculiarly Of this paragraph of
specifications is that II requires the
submission OF this data before the
contract is let and il has been
charged that its purpose is to make
il possible TO direct the purchase of
material from favored manufac-
turers
5. The aliesed interests Of Good
rich machine members in cement
making plants in Indiana
6. The peculiar methods OF the
commissions office force under
which the chief accountant in the
office Is charged not only with keep
ing all the financial records Of the
commission but also with the opera
ton OF the office switch board.
Z. The unusual deal with the
Lexington Automobile Co. by which
the highway commission traded two
trucks loaned To IL by the govern
ment for three Lexington pleasure
ears which are now being used by
the commission and its employees.
VIII BE Probe OF Governor.
InsomuCh "a the state highway
commission law provides that no ex-
penditures can be made without the
approval OF the governor any inves-
tigation Of the acts of the highway
commission In expanding more than
$4,000, 900 which his been spent in
the last year. viii ne in effect an in