The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1928-04-19
THE STATE ROADS COMMITS
SION.
Baltimore Sun, Wednesday,

Baltimore Sun, Wednesday,
The report that the Grand Jury is
preparing to make further inquiry
into defalcations discovered in the
State Roads Commissions funds may
be taken as indicating dissatisfaction
with Governor Ritchie's handling of
the scandal. Unless the Grand Jury
believed the previous investigation
had not gone far enough, it seems i'm
probable that it would undertake the
difficult task of new probe.
While the five employees of the
Roads Commission were in the courts,
it seemed proper to suspend discussion
of the situation that has been uncov-
cred. Now that they have been SEN
fenced, it may be said that few will
be surprised by the apparent view
point of the Grand Jury. 1t may be
that all has been done in running
down and correcting Irregularities
that could have been done; and it may
be that the State administration has
broader and more insistent plans than
the public is aware of. But we think
it is true that Mr.. Ritchie's admins
tration has not appeared to be as ag-
gressive in dealing with this matter
as could be desired. The general
breakdown of the morale of the COM
missions organization, as revealed in
the trials before Judge Softer, inevita
bly, creates fears that the evils go
back further than has been disclosed.
Either by the Grand Jury or by the
State administration, there should be
rigid examination of all the affairs of
the commission. And whether the
Grand Jury of the Governor Acts, am
pie machinery and assistance should
be provided to the end that when the
work is done there can be no question
in the public mind that the ground
has been cleared, and has been made
ready for the rebuilding of the COM
missions organization in a manner
which will restore confidence. The
huge sums that are spent by the COM
mission each year and the vast i'm
portance of its work in the economic
and social progress Of the people of
Maryland combine to make imperative
upon Governor Ritchie's administra-
ton the reestablishment of faith in
the ability and in the character of the
whole widespread organization.
And when the probe is completed
and reorganization taken up, Cover
nor Richie, we believe, should give
the most serious consideration to the
question whether he made grave
mistake when he combineds the office
of chairmen of the State Roads Com
mission with that of chief engineer.
Mr.. John N. Mackall, in whom the
Governor combined the two offices, has
been an employee or officer of the COM
mission for many years, save brief
period spent in another State. The
public has confidence in him, and there
is general sympathy for him at this
time. Yet, it must be said that Nj.
Mackall appears to have been unable
to attend to the work of both offices.
The trial Judge and the Governor HIM
self have spoken of the helplessness
of officials when men they trust COM
bine to betray them. But conspir
acy so we'll known as to be almost an
office jest should not long have es-
capped detection. ..A
In the nature of things, an official
charged as Mr.. Mackall has been
charged, with supervision of the en-
gineering work involved in the annual
expenditure of millions of dollars on
roads, and also charged with admins
tration of the commissions business
affairs and with conduct of it's many
sided public relations, must spread
himself out exceedingly thin. There
fore, it would seem that in whatever
is done to restore the commission, an
important part should be division of
work at the top. The Governor should
consider the appointment of chair
man whose duty would be, as in pre-
vious State administrations, to for
mulate the general policies of the
commission and to govern and guard
its business administration, and the
appointment of an engineer whose
mind and energies would be concen-
trated solely upon bodybuilding and
oad-maintainance.
-0-
Card of Thanks.
We desire in this manner to extend