Evening star., 1921-08-05
PROBE UNDER WAY
ON ROAD MATERIAL
Representative MacGregor
Tells How States Misused
Federal Property.

Details Of how some of the states
disposed Of the expensive road work.
ing equipment turned over to them by
the federal government for the ex-
press purpose Of building good roads
were given today by Representative
MacGregor of New York. Informa-
tion he has been collecting will be
aired before the House rules commit
tee, the representative intimated.
Representative MacGregor returned to
Washington today to continue inten-
sively his own investigation of the sale
at "ridiculosly low prices" of this road
building machinery and equipment. He
said he has his case pretty well in hand,
and so expects an early hearing before
the rules committee on his own resolu-
ton providing for q definite policy for
dtsposing of the vast war accumulation
Of materials by various branches of the
Navy.
Probe Given support.
Representative MacGregor has had
of the rules committee. who is in SYM
pathy with the campaign Mr.. Mac
Gregor Is conducting. Chairman
Campbell suggested that Mr.. Mac
Gregor gather definite detailed infor-
nation regarding several cases in
over to the states had been sold at
ridiculous prices.
Texas furnishes a striking illus
tration Of how this material was sold.
1t is said. The property disposed of
by Texas included 35 motor trucks.
steam locomotives. gas locomotives.
500 escort wagons. fifteen-ton trail
ers. 3 concrete mixers. IL water carts.
2 locomotive cabs, 80 fiat cars, 2 steam
locomotive tenders. $4,000 fence posts.
400 folding lanterns and many other
parts of various kinds.
Representative MacGregor has also
made special study OF the sale by
the state of New Jersey of eight auto
mobile trucks at $500 each. and has
ernment could very readily have dis
posed Of these for at least $1,000 apiece.
Urges Sales Policy.
Representative MacGresor points
out that while 1t is q startling stu
alton, entirely beyond tho law, for the
states thus to have disposed of the
material this expose is only used by
him as an illustration. What he is
seeking above all else is to have q
definite and proper policy adopted for
the early disposal Of the vast amount
Of property Of all kinds held by the
government for which it has no use.
In this connection he emphasizes
that the Marine Corps has only about
10000 men. but has about $4,000, ,O00
worth Of property. 1T seems ridicu-
lous," he said. "for the Marine Corps
to hold $14.ooo.ooo worth of clothing
for 10000 men,"
The Navy as well as the Army has
vast stores of accumulated property
which should be Immediately put upon
the market, Mr.. MacGregor said. and
points to one item of clothing and
small stores amounting to $6s. .Q0o, 900.
Declared "All Bosk"
Representative MacGregor feels
that the bugaboo of disturbing indus
try which has been GRATED about by
government officials before the con-
gressional investigating committee Ia
''all bosh." During his absence from
Washington for the last couple Of
weeks he has been in conference with
expert sales managers who have bean
successful in selling out surplus
stocks for department stores and fac
tories in all parts Of the country.
They assure him that 1t would In
no way disturb industry or local
business for the government to put
all this accumulated material on the
market at once. In fact, he says,
they have assured him that it would
be helpful to the manufacturers and
storekeepers.
Representative MacGregor will have
another conference with Chairman
Campbell of the rules committee next
week. at which he hopes a date ca n
be set for a hearing on this reselu-