Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1922-05-15


An open break between the commits
sioners who declared themselves to be
acting in unity, and Governor McCray
appeared imminent when the Governor
insisted on the naming Of Matt Brown
of Gary.
MEMBERS THREATEN
TO RESIGN.
Members of the commission threatened
to resign If the appointment of Brown
was insisted upon and held out firmly
for the naming of Williams. whom they
considered the most competent man for
the position.
.sThe commission refuses TO be rub
Der stamp one member declared. I'VE
want things run on a business-like ba-
sis and we believe that the naming OF
Williams Is in the best interest Of the
people of the State"
The three members of the commission
present were Chairman Charles w.
Zeigier. of Attica: Alvin Y. Burch. OF
Evansville both Republican, and Earl
Crawford Of Connersyille. Democrat. The
fourth member of the commission, Walter
G. Zahrt, Democrat, Of Ft- Wayne, did
not attend the sessions. but 1t was said
he stood behind the action taken by the
other members and favored the selection
of Williams.
BOARD MEMBERS
ARE OBDURATE.
Early in the day the Governor and the
two Republican members Of the commits
sto nheld a session lasting more than an
hour During that time, Governor Nc
Cray endeavored to swing their support
TO Mr. Brown. They remained obdurate.
Following the conference, Chairman
ZeigIer said he would resign as men,
ber OF the body rather than see Matt
Brown named. He expressed no feeling
toward Brown, but said that the appoint
ment of highway director should. this
time, be made on merit because Of the
vast Importance OF the work being done
and the amount Of business transacted.
Mr.. Crawford did not attend the first
conference.
1t is understood that the four members
of the commission being evenly divided
on a partisan basis had determined to
appoint Williams The Democratic mem
bers could not well propose a Democratic
director, although according to the law
they have an equal voice in the naming
Of a director and agreed that Repub-
lican be named providing that it be WI.
liams.
APPOINTMENT
Is GOOD PLUM
Promises of the highway dictatorship.
which Is one of the biggest appointments
in the State, are alleged to have been
frequent during the recent camraign.
which resulted In the naming OF Lawrence
Lyons as State kepui.lican chairman.
Governor McCray did not mask the fact
.f.at he had opposed the selection of VIII
lfams and favored Brown. He held out
for Brown to the last minute, endeavor-
ing to bring the commission members to
bis way of thinking. but was tnsuc-
cessful In the case of each.
Mr.. Brown Is an commissioner of
Lake County and as such had consider
able experience in road building.
With the addition of money received
from the Federal Government, the high
way department expends more by many
thousands of dollars than any other
branch Of State Government. Because
OF the wide powers it has in the improve
ment OF highways and bridges through
out the State, 1t has offered an excellent
opportunity for manipulating. In a po-
iitical way, observers say. Members of
the commission receive SO day for the
actual time they spend on the job.
Chairman Zeigler is believed to have
taken the lead In standing for Williams
appointment. He is a banker and mer-
chant in Attica, and never before held
political appointment He says the
present job will be the last political one
he will ever accepts. He was appointed
near the close Of the Goodrich admins
tration.
WILLIAMS HAS
LONG EXPERIENCE.
John Williams. the new director has
had wide experience In matters of State
finance and is regarded as an expert in
that line. His value to the State. has
friends say, Is shown by the fact that
he has been connected with State gov
ernment continuously since 1906 during
which time the State had both Demo-
cratic and Republican administrations.
As chief clerk Of the commission much
of the work fell on his shoulders The
salary Of the director is $1,000 per wear
and Is the highest paid appointive office
Only two others have held the place as
director since the law creating the de-
partment was passed by the LegisIa-
ture. They were Louis III. Wright of
Columbus and Mr.. Lyons whose home is
1T Brook. Both of these obtained their
appointments. it was admitted, at the
time, through political prefernent.