The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-08-20
Keep These Promises

ray Of hope at last ilumines the deplorable state
highway situation with regard to waste in the motor
transport division which apparently has cost Indiana
taxpayers hundreds Of thousands of dollars.
Governor Harry G. Leslie today promised thor
ough investigation into charges and counter charges
concerning ineficiency, Encouragement and extrava
gance, and highway commission members are agreed
that they will proceed toward inquiry at their
session Wednesday.
The Times hopes that these promises will be car
RED out and that investigation will result, which
will achieve great saving to the state treasury The
Times is willing to believe the Governor and the com
mission sincere in these pledges.
An hours inspection of the maintenance and re-
pair figures should satisfy them of the need for COM
plete investigation One hour, however. will not
slfhce in itself for such inquiry. They it to the
state to the transport chief to the highway director
the Governor and themselves to make thorough in
quiry. There can be no CLOSING over the matter on
hinsy averages. Waste and extravaganza must not
be averaged.
Digging behind those condemnng figures, the com
mission might well look INTO laxity of employment in
the Central garage. where tooroom attendant, on
state pay barriers out soft drinks he issues monkey
wrenches
The commissioners justifaby might inquire into
the utter lack of inventory in the transport
division where stocks may reach a half-mllion dol
lars; where years business represented the eX-
penditure of S827.124 of the peoples money
They might inquire into the wages paid garage
employees who gather in clinics about antiquated
wrecks to plan repairs wholly beyond justification.
They will be interested doubtless in the interpreta
ton of economy that permitted 1890 worth Of ma
terals s467 labor s335 in overhead and $78 in adj
r1inistrative expense-S871 in ALTO be spent on one
antiquated touring car in one years time
They may be interested in the charge of nepotsm
brought against the motor transport chief who has
five near-relatives on the states pay roll.
If they feel inquisitive and the day is cool, the
commissioners might dig deeper into the rumors of
unethical purchase of used auto parts when bids
we're asked new parts only.
Surely the commission has neither the desire nor
the audacty white wash" the s.tuat on, although,
in measure it sits on trial itself Two of its memoers
held their responsible posts during the period of the
report third was a commissioner for FIVE and one
half months of that time and the fourth, recently
appointed is of course committed to the Governors
insstence upon a business administration.
All should bear in mind that the Cove nor's
promise OF inquiry indicates he has not forgotten.
In Governor Leslie's inaugural statement refer
ring to newspapers which criticised his candidacy he
said:
Il realize and appreciate the great nfluen e and
the indispensable necessity to society of these agencies
and here and now, as your Governor, solicit their
support even through constructive criticism, in our
efforts to re-estabish the fair of Indiana in our
attempt to raise up to the highest possible level the
standard of governmental efficiency in every depart
nent Of state"