Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1925-12-20
ASKS ACCOUNTING
ON TEXAS ROADS
McCarI to Determine If U. S.
Has Claim to Any of
100000 Refund.

Controller General McCarl has
launched an inquiry to determine if
any of the $4,000 agreed in a Texas
court by the American Road Co. to
be excess highway profits and due
back to the State of Texas belongs TO
the United States.
At the same time 1t was learned
last night that Capt +. st. j. Wilson,
cheif engineer of the Bureau OF Public
Roads. has just returned from an IN
vestigation of the road situation IN
Texas and is compiling a comprehen-
sive report on the results OF his trip.
Although Capt. Wilson said he could
not reveal the contents OF his un-
finished report, he declared 1t MS
opinion that there were no Federai
funds involved in the recovery BACK
from the American Road Co. in Texas.
McCarI Enters Case.
Controller General McCarl in let
ter to the Attorney General of Texas
said. in view of the cooperative con-
struction of public roads, II seems De
sirable that there should be rendered
10 the United States an immediate re-
port and account of transactions IN
yolved which have resulted in the re
covering back of 100000, as stated,
so that there may be determined
and returned to the United States all
of it's moneys involved
The controller general also has
written to the Department OF Agrlcui-
ture for information on any inVesnga-
lions which the department may nave
made into the matter.
"a
t,re. the controller general asked for
"your full report thereof, preliminary
to the consideration of such investiga-
ton as may be necessary for making
by this office"
Refer to Act.
The controller general referred to
the act under which Federal financial
aid is extended to States for construc-
ton of highways. This act PROVIDES
for extension of Federal aid to States
through the Secretary OF Agriculture.
The Secretary of Agriculture may,
in his discretion, from time to time,
saws the act in part, make payments
on such construction or reconstruction
as the work progresses. but these pay
ments, including previous payments,
if any. shall not be more than the
United States pro rata part OF the
valre of the labor and materials which
have actually been put into such con-
struction or reconstruction In con-
formity to said plans and Speclnca-
tions. The Secretary of Agriculture
and the State highway department OF
each State jointly may determine at
what time and in what amounts pay
ments as work progresses snail pe
made under this act"
Contract for Maintenance.
Can't. Wilson explained that his un-
derstanding of the Texas suit was
that it involved only a maintenance
and that since the Federal
was concerned only with
the construction, and not with main
tenance. there were no moneys OF the
United States involved.
The section of the law referring to
State maintenance says that should
anv State fail to maintain any high
Uay within it's boundaries after con-
strIlction or reconstruction under the
provisions Of this act the Secretary of
Agriculture shall then serve notice
upon the State highway department
of that fact, and If within 80 days
after receipt of such notice said nigh
way has not been placed in proper con-
of Agriculture shall proceed immedi-
ately to have such highway placed
in proper condition of maintenance
and charge the cost thereof against
the Federal funds allotted to such
State, and shall refuse to approve any
other project in such State, except as
hereinafter provided" Certain ex-
ceptions are provided to take care of
this point in special cases.
Looked Into Complaints.
Capt. Wilson also investigated dur
ing his trip to Texas, it was under
stood, certain complaints that the
State was not paying out Federal aid
funds to counties which were build
ing roads as rapidly as the counties
claimed they should be getting the
funds.
According to the court records in
the case inquired into by McCarl, the
Texas State Highway Commission had
awarded contracts to the American
Road Co. for resurfacing with an
asphaltum preparation at 80 cents a
square yard many gravel roads in
Texas which had been worn by auto
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