The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-03-19
BOARD SECRETIVE Highway Commission De- nies Public Road Out
 lay Information FORMAL REQUEST
 MADE TO ROGERS Twice People Refused Details As To What
 Officials Doing BONDS NOT SOLD,
 PREVIOUS EXCUSE Age-Herald Trying To Break Down Brandon Administration
 Latest Explanation
tsrATE CAPITAL BUREAU)

MONTGOMERY, Ala, March 1S.- Chairman John A. Rogers of the high way commission today refused to give information to The Age-Herald and its affiliated papers, the Mobile Register, Mobile Item and Montgomery Journal, relative to the actions of the highway commission. In a signed statement an- nouncing this policy. Chairman Rogers charged that The Age-Herald has at- tempted to "break down" the Brandon administration,
 Previously, both Chairman Rogers and J. F. Suttle, members of the high way commission, had expressed dissatis- faction with the policy of The Age Herald, and particularly with maps carried by that paper in connection with certain highway locations, which loca- tions, it has been charged. were made to serve special local interests rather than the general interest of the people of Alabama.
 Chairman Rogers was asked this aft ernoon whether he could supply certain details concerning the sale of state bonds today.
 q can, but I will not" was his reply.
 Information Previously Refused Chairman Rogers was next asked to furnish The Age-Herald representative with a copy of the highway program adopted by the commission. showing where the proceeds from the $7,O0O.OOO worth of state funds is to be spent. Chairman Rogers had previously re- fused to give out information concern ing this program, stating that it should not be made public until the bonds were sold. Today, after the bonds had been 1n kn Tttru ioh ho program to The Age-Herald. Both Governor Brandon and Attor- hey sHarxell c; Daxis, when asked for | information as to how the highway com mission intended to spend the peoples money following the sale of the ST. 0O0,O0 of highway bonds, replied that they were unable to supply that in- formation, that it would have to be procured from the highway commis- sion.
 Chairman Rogers stated that The Age Herald "does not tell the truth" Commissioner J. F. Suttle, who was on hand at the time, announced his ap- proval of the views of Rogers. Refer ring to highway maps carried in The Age Herald, Mir. Suttle charged that they were not bona fide maps, but drawn from imagination"
 Commissioner J. H. Scruggs was not present when Chairman Rogers declined to give to The Age-Herald the highway program.
 When seen later and asked whether he had a copy of the program which he could furnish, Mir. Scruggs stated that he did not.
 Chairman Rogers, after voicing dis satisfaction with The Age-Herald's policy toward the highway department and declaring that he would not give information to enemies" was asked to state explicitly his policy in the matter of giving information from the highway department to this paper. He dictated to his secretary and gave out the fol lowing statement:
 "On being asked by MT. Fred Thorn ton for the happenings of the day in the highway department, Chairman Rogers stated that the highway department felt under no obligations to give news items to The Age-Herald and it's associate papers. The Agc-Herald and its asso- ciate papers have tried in every way to break down the administration of Gov ernor Brandon, and for this reason we believe that these papers would contOrt to the injury of the Brandon adminis- Oh any BASA ONb by any of the departments of the state.
 (Signed) JOHN A. ROGERS"
 In connection with the refusal of Chairman Rogers to furnish the in- formation sought concerning the high way commissions program, it is of in- terest to note that the highway act of 1923, which created the present high way commission, contains section 7, as follows:
 "The state highway commission
 shall keep on file in its office
 copies of all plans and specified
 tiOnS prepared by the state high
 way department and the files and
 records of such department shall,
 under reasonable regulations, be
 kept open for inspection of the pub
 lie at all reasonable hours. Certi-
 fled copies of such records shall be
 received in evidence in all the
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