South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-02-26
Other Editors Than Ours
THE ROAD COMMISSION STENCIL.
INDIANAPOLIS Timcsl

The charges of incompetency, extravaganza and
worse. made against the notorious Goodrich admin
istration summer characterized by the
Goodrich press furnishing more heat than
light" and the long suffering people apparent
~ Impressed with this characterization At any
rate the Goodrich administration received an over
whelming vote of confidence from the voters of the
state.
The election over the democratic charges began
to receive the approval of republican papers and
politicians
Now on the subject of the state highway commits
sion, which represents the full Towering of Good
rchisn we are getting quite as much light as we
stand The OF the state board of accounts
the activities of this commission indicates
scandalous condition of affairs, utter contempt
for the rights of the people extravaganza shat
scarcely be explained, and practices that
scarcely considered in good taste
The efficiency OF the business administration OF
Goodrich is well illustrated in the comparison in
the report between the overhead expense Of the
commission of Ohio and Indiana.
In Ohio, under the Cox administration, this
Iense represents 81 percent of the entire amount
spent for construction work.
In Indiana, under the Goodrich administration,
this expense represents 317 Of the entire
amount.
Many thousands of dollars were spent for pur-
chases without the formality and precaution OF
competitive bids.
The building Of the garage scandal 1t
denounced a scandal by the democrats in the late
campaign. At time the taxpayers were told that
almost $50, 900 OF their money had been expended
in the building OF a garage-but then it was more
heat than light"
The board of accounts confesses itself at a loss
to understand the exact procedure through which
this contract let. When bids were advertised
for and received the records Of the show
that there were three competitors follows:
Frank Meid S56.493.
William h Harrison, s5s,41O.
George w. Bunting. $4,000.
All this is set forth in the records OF Nov. %.
1919.
Nothing more appears in the records until June
10, 1920, in which confusing reference is made to
the contract let Charles J. Wacker for s67.7sO.
The actual cost in the end was &71.4l4.51.
Here we have high finance on spree
II appears that vast sums much 100000
commission. totalng s2.552sss.0S, and that this
money deposited by him with the Aetna Trust
and Savings company. Of which he IS an official and
checked out by him personally for the expense OF
the department.
Through this business-like method. the board OF
accounts finds that the lost S443s7 In interest
that while the law provides that
work in testing road materials shall be done by Pur-
due university that the commission. acting above
the law, below il. engaged Chicago Pittsburg
firms at Of more than $1,000 to do the
work.
1t appears that either through deliberate at
tempt 10 deceive through stupidity that the tax
payers have been misled the cost OF construc-
ton OF roads per mile. They thought last summer
that the average cost was S35,s11.14.
But IL now appears that this did not include the
cost OF engineering. inspection, administration, sup
Ies meals, lodging, auto hire railroad fare. Per-
hans after a time shall know the cost.
The highway commission under Goodrch!sm is
scandal and a stencil. II is everything that the
democratic party pictured it being last summer
and fall And the proof Is submitted in the report
of a republican state board OF accounts.
Let US hope that Gov. McCray will decide on a
reorganization of the commission. a radical reform
in its methods and publicity to its actvi-
ties