The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-01-05
CUT IS ASKED M
 STATE EXPENSES
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that this uniform rate Is ineQuitable, and many cases grossly dispropor- tionate to the actual cost of such transportation" the report stated.
 Examiner Brooks said that in his Investigations he consulted managers of a number of business concerns rel ative to their travelling expenses, but received but little worthwhile infor- nation, since in almost every case commercial travellers are furnished automobiles and have their travelling expenses for automobiles charged in one account with other expenses.
 However, learned of one company which has two men on the road who are allowed 10 cents per nile travel, which allowance covers all hotel and other expenses, including upkeep of their privately owned automobiles. was also informed that one of the large packing houses operated auto mobiles in all parts of the United States last year at an average cost of slightly over 5A cents per m;le."
 The report stated Tn investigating the cost of operations on the states own cars kept by the highway de- was found to be 6.39 cents, not much over half what other state employees are allowed. Tt should be remem- bered that the cars of this depart ment are operated under more un- favorable circumstances than the cars of any other department of the state government are or could be subjected to, the greater part ot their mileage being made over roads in process of construction" the re- port said.
 Run At 6.39 Cents Per Mile.
 All the cars of the highway de- partment are small, the report stated, some old war cars donated by the government being excluded because of extreme age. Tt will no doubt be gratifying to you to know that the highway department has been operating it's automobiles at the sur prisingly low cost of 6.3s cents per mile" the report stated. AS a result of auditing the numerous automobile expense claims of the department in question. which loom large in the aggregate. the writer[began this in- vestigation with the idea rather of this service was excessive, and he takes pleasure in admitting that the careful analysis of the entire matter by this investigation has proven him wrong" The figures in detail show that the third highway gomery, had the least travelling ex- penses of any, being 5.79 cents per mile, while for the first division the figure was 6.02 cents, for the second division 6.69 cents and for the third division 7,34 cents.
 Examiners Report.
 In his recommendation to Cover nor Brandon, thu examiner stated:
 "The facts disclosed as reported herein have convinced me that the plans so successfully followed by the highway department Is best, and that
 where an employe has purchased q travel regularly to places poI access sible by railroad or where the cir cumstances of his work are such that he can cover more territory and reach more places by using automo- bile transportation, 1t will be more economical for the state to provide him a Ford and pay al expenses of it's maintenance and operation, and prevent, as far as possible, Its use for private purposes. However, where a employe has purchased a car expecting the state to reimburse him for its. use at 10 cents per mile as has been done heretofore, I sug- think would be equitable, the allow ance of $20O or $250- per year as de- preciation on the car and reimburse ment for It's actual cost of operation and maintenance.
 T cases where only occasional trips are made in private automobiles. I suggest that the officer or em- ploye be reimbursed therefor at a rate not exceeding z cents per mile and where the circumstances are such as to make the use of a motor cycle advisable that its use be con- pensated for at a rate of not over 1 cents per mile"