The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1923-09-28
HIGHWAY Dept
IS ExONORATED
BY LEGISLATURE

VI kEQlO6n VaN&
il
| Pursuant to the resolution introduc'
ed in the House at the 1928 session
by Representative e. H. McM1chaell
OF Marion, and concurred in by the
Senate, providing for an investigation
of the State Highway Department, a
committee of five members from the
Senate and ten from the House was
appointed, with authority to subpoena
witnesses and an authorized eXpendi'
ture of $4,000.
At public hearings held in the Sen.
ate Chamber, every criticism which
had been made of the Department
through the press or otherwise, which
was brought to the Committee, includ'
ing those listed in the Resolution, was
thoroughly investigated, special atten'
ton being given to the Ebert Quarry,
the Equipment Depot at East Point,
likewise to the titles and leases cover
ing land on which buildings are erect.
cd. The entire committee visited and
made searching inspection of the
State Highway Departments property
and shops at East Point.
At conclusion of hearings the COM
mittee appointed subcommittee
composed of Mr.. G. W. Landlord from
the 18th District, Messrs. ]. B. Moore
Of Appling county, and c. M. Head
Of Cobb county, to draw up tentative
report for consideration by entire COM
mittee.
Following this plan, the sub-commit.
tees report was read to the Commit
tee at its final meeting and with but
one dissenting vote, that OF Mr. Nc
Michael of Marion, was adopted
This report was adopted in the Sen
ate unanimously and in the House by
a vote of 95 to II.
Following is full report Of findings
by committee as approved by 1923
General Assembly:
ITO the President Of the Senate,
"'3'he Speaker of the House,
"The General Assembly:
Your committee appointed under
the terms of house resolution No. Is
by Mr.. e. H. McMichael, Of Marion,
respectfully submit the following re-
port:
1.-THE Hon Stephen Pace acted as
chairman and D. F. McClatchey acted
as secretary of the committee. Your
committee held various meetings and
also inspected the highway depart
ment's headquarters at East Point.
Your committee had before 1t officials
Of the highway department and all
books and papers and reports fot
which your committee called. Every
request made for information by your
committee was promptly complied
with by the highway department, and
exhaustive hearings of witnesses were
conducted.
Your committee under the resolG-
ton were instructed to investigate
irregularities, Encouragement, ineffr
cheney, extravaganza and burdensome
overhead expenses, which were alleg-
ed to have consumed the greater part
of the state funds, leaving a small
percentage of the said state funds for
the actual maintenance Of the state
system of highways Your committee
finds that the highway department OF
Georgia has been managed honestly,
intelligently and efficiently Your com.
mittee failed to discover any irregu-
larities, mismanagement, eXtrava'
ganCe, or burdensome overhead eX'
pense. On the contrary, your commit
tee reports that the Georgia highway
department has smaller percentage
Of overhead expense than the depart
ments of many Of the other states,
and Is conducted in as economically
manner as is consistent with the
best results.
Your committee finds that the
state highway board has invested the
proceeds Of some of the war materials
given to the state in warehouses and
general headquarters in East Point,
Ga. That the state highway depart
ment has most excellent and effi-
cient plant and one absolutely essen
tial to carrying out it's work and by
building said plant in suburb OF At
lanta the board Is saving in office
rents alone more than enough to pay
the state 10 per cent on such build
ings, not even considering the ma.
chine shops and storage acreage. Your
committee commends the action OF
the state highway department In refer
ence to the East Point headquarters
".
Your committe finds that the titles
of the real estate on which said build
ings are erected are In good shape
and that the interests Of the state are
fully protected.
V.
Your committee made full and
complete investigation Of the pur-
chase of the granite quarry in Ebert
county, and found the following to be
the facts in reference thereto:
Negotiations for the purchase OF
this property were made by pr.