Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-08-11
WITNESS CHARGES THREAT
IN STATE HIGHWAY PROBE

the procedure to be followed in the
argume nts.
| II am not a prosecutor of the de-
| partment,p protested Mr.. McMich
ael, land I refuse to be put in that
attitude. I am merely here as one
of the committee appointed to in
vestigate the department"
Representative McMichaeI is an
thor of the legislative resolution by
which the probe was authorized and
on this account, it had beel4 suggest.
ed by other members that he argue
the case in behalf of the committee
He objected to such a plan, and de-
clared that after hearing from Sam
Olive, highway department attorney
the committee should leave it open
for any member to speak.
At one time, it appeared that the
committee would complete it's work
Thursday night. Senator Pace, chair
man, picked up the resolution, read
the first par. graph, referring to al
legged mismanag cement in the depart
ment, and asked if such charges had
been sustained.
Mr.. McMichael again objected, as
sorting that it was contrary to COM
mittee procedure to formulate a re-
port without an executive session,
and asked for another meeting. 1t
was finally decided, upon motion of
Senator Landlord, to appoint the
subcommittee and hold the Monday
| night session, beginning at Z o'clock.
Mr.. Olive, in his argument, asked
for a clean bill of health for the
highway department, asserting that
no charges had been proved. He
asked for a unanimous report ex.
onerating the highway commission
He stated that any charge made
against Federal Engineer Grassland
did not concern the department, in
asmuch as it had been shown that
the engineer was a federal employee
Chairman John Holder, in a short
statement, declared there was nc
politics in the highway department
and that all employees were appoint
ed by State Highway Engineer Neal
Il don't believe any one who has
! been associated with me since
was on the highway board will say
that [ have been playing politics,
he declared. when I 90 over a
! road and see it is in bad shape, an6
then go over that same stretch ir
thirty or sixty days, and find it is
still in bad shape. 1 insist that II
road must be worked at once or g
new man put on Il e job. 1 DOM
think that is playing politics."
Mr.. McMichael told the commit
/ tee he would waive a section of the
resolution relating to the East Point
/ property of the commission, stating
! that he had found that the state S
rights had been protected in obtain
ing the property and he compliment
~ ed the department upon the magnif
lcent building located there.
! The committee dug into operating
details of the highway department
for two hours, questioning w. c.
/ Cage, Jr., engineer of the Americas
! division, that division having been
selected as a typical division. Mr.
McMichael asked for a group of fig.
ures which will be submitted by Mr..
Cage and his assistants before the
Monday night hearing. Representa-.
tive Beck, of Carroll, also question.
ed II. G. Spahr, boollkeeper, con.
corning Carroll county projects.
| CONTRACTORS COMPLAIN
AT BOARDS METHODS
! It. w. Sampson and J. C. Fiem-
ing, witnesses heard by the commit.
tee at its Thursday night session,
were all that responded to the COM
mlttee's open door invitation to all
paving contractors who wished to
| be heard. The committee had been
informed a number of contractors
were dissatisfied and wished to COM
plain against the highway board.
MI. Sampson said he owns the
patent name of a certain type of paw.
mig. He said he had been unable
to get his paving accepted by the
board. CrOss-questioned for the
board by Attorney Olive, Mr.. Samp,
son admitted his paving has no.
been approved by the federal au.
thorities and therefore could not be
approved by the state board; that
he had no complaint against the
state board on the ground of discrim-
ination.
Mr.. Fleming proved to be a dealer
in road building machinery. He read
correspondence passing between
( ii'itAo~IL anu 'llS OOdlu
bids, and said he had been barred
from bidding in certain instances be
cause the board had specified ma
chinery on which he hello no sales
franchise.
w. c. Neal, state highway engi.
neer, was placed on the stand by
Attorney Olive to answer both these
witnesses. With reference to Mr..
Sampson. Engineer Neal said he be-
lieves Mr.. Sampson has a. good pave
ment; that he had Endorsed it indi
vidually, that he had helped Mr.
Sampson in every way he could. that
the board likewise had tried to help
Mr.. Sampson, notably in Troup coun-
ty and Campbell county. AS to Mr.
Fleming, Mr.. Neal said the board de
ponds Largely on the district engi
neers, who are the men doing the
actual work in the field, to speci
| fY their own needs, and usually
fills their specifications without ques
! ton.
/ Shot T\AIino hN NonIt+u