Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-01-28
CONTROLBODY
ALSO UNDER
HOUSE FIRE
Sanction Investigation
Of 22 Charges of Ir-
regul arities And
Misconduct

AUSTIN, Jan. 2s.-LF-The house
voted los to - today to investigate
22 charges Of alleged misconduct
against the highway commission and
four against the board Of control,
preferred in a resolution offered By
Representative Elwood Gerron OF
Waxahachie.
Rules were suspended on motion
by Representative Purl Or Dallas 10
permit the immediate disposal "of
this important matter once and for
ALL"
A letter was read by Roy /. Ten
nant, member of the board OF con-
troll, inviting the investigation, and
during consideration of the resolu-
tion, Glib Gilchrist, state engineer,
telephoned 70 Representative John
y. Wallace Of league. that the de-
partment would welcome inquiry.
Gerron told the house that III Civ
en- chance he would mot only
prove the charges set out in the res
oiution. but many more"
Fourth Probe
Stating that he meant no reflec-
tion on the governor, who appointed
the highway commission, he added:
/ am not one of those who come
down here TO vote for everything
the governor stands for"
This makes the fourth investiga-
tion authorized by the present leg
islature. Committees have been APP
pointed to investigate the general
land office and awarding Of textbook
contracts and the house committee
on privileges, suffrage and elections
is investigating alleged irregulRri-
ties in HidalgO county affecting the
election of Representative W. r.
Montgomery of Edinhurg.
The house was placed under call
until the matter was disposed Of.
the doors locked and sergeant-at-
arms instructed 70 bring in all abb
Sentee members.
-Four Of the probers would be ap-
pointed by the speaker OF the house
and three by the president OF the
senate. Under Gerron's resolution
they would be authorized also to
check transactions of the general
land office, a duty with which
Joint committee Of five already has
been vested.
Specific Charges
Gerron asserts have been directed
against the highway department
during the past two years In IA pur-
ported controversy with the board
OF control relative to the purchase
or road equipment machinery are.
Usurpatioa Of authority by highway
and maintenance engineers in rec
ommend!ng huying Of machinery, in
exeuSable extravaganza in the pur-
chase Of Sl50,0O0 Of road machinery
in 1927, illegal waste of $l0,3s9
worth Of wheels without ecmpeti-
tive bids by Maintenance Engineer
Leo Ehlinger in September, 1927.
improper leasing OF road machinery,
extravaganza in buying two rock
crushers ia 1923, when the state is
alleged TO have had three crushers
leased to private concerns; insist
enee Of the department that a con-
tract be made with an oil company
for purchase of gasoline and oil
much in excess Of that Of a compet-
ing organization, and rank fav0rit-
ism IN allotting more than S6,200,-
200 70 Harris county and 40 adjacent
counties covering an ls months pc
rlod IN 1929 when 2I2 others re-
ceiyed In contract all0tments little
more than $l5,OOO.0O0.
Charge Conspiracy
Cerron also. charges an apparent
conspiracy" between r. A. Thomp-
son, former highway engineer, and
member Of a Dallas engineering firm
at the time Of his appointment. and
another engineering Interest," where
by Thompson served Rs highway en-
gineer pending securing of contracts
Continued on Page Fourtecn.D