Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-01
i. S. AID OFFERED
ROAD FUND PROBE
Michigan Tells Legislators
/ Their Difficulty in Han
f. ding Vast Data.
By WILLIAM ]. WHEATLEY,
staK Correspondent Of The Star.

staf Correspondent Of The star.
STATE HOUSE, ANNAPOLIS, Md,
February 1.-The helping hand of the
Federal Government, given generously
in paying a portion of the construction
OF Marylands good roads, is again
stretched out, this time to assist State
agents in discovering whether. there
were any frauds in the making of con-
tracts, whether the workmanship was
inferior, and whether Maryland paid
more for similar road work than did
other States. This was disclosed yes
terday to the grand inquest. when it
had before it John j. Michigan, chair
man OF the governors special commits
sion which is conducting a thorough
examination into the road scandals
At the same time, it became apparent,
as Mr. Nelligan unfolded some of the
intricacies of the work facing the COM
mission, that the grand inquest could
not, in the short time the Legislature
will be in session, perform any great
part in the investigation. 1t was
pointed out by Mr. Ne1rgan, for in
stance. that the grand inquest could
hear charge after charge, but that it
would not have before 1t the mass of
data which is being collected by the
Michigan committee and thoroughly in
vestigated to check up on the charges
The Republicans at the first meeting
OF the grand inquest attempted to choke
on the governors commission. so that
the grand inquest could do all the in
vcstigating, but Mr.. NelliganS report
to the legislative committee has turned
the tide, and it developed that it very
likely would be the grand inquest that
would be choked off, Aside from the
fact that it is going to take more than
60 days remaining of the present ses-
sion. there arose the question as to
whether the grand inquest could sit
after adjournment and whether its re-
port would be of any use to the Legis-
lature two years hence, which will be-
new one elected in November of next
year.
Contracts TO be Sifted.
Mr.. Michigan told the grand inquest
that his commission was going very
thoroughly into the thousands of con-
TRACTS made for road work and bridges,
not only examining them as to their
legality. the condition under which
made, but was employing engineers
to examine the work to determine
whether there was any inferior work.
manship. The material purchases were
to be gone into. He said that the COM
rlittee had received the promise of the
Federal Public Roads Bureau to furnish
1t with information on State road
contracts In. Maryland in which the
Federal Government had an interest
by reason of the fact that it paid
SO per cent of the COST Reports of the
Government inspectors will be given
the committee as well as Information
as to the cost of similar construction
mother States at the same period. He
SAID that the committee proposes to
have inspections made of certain road
work to ascertain whether there was
inferior material or workmanship.
Speaker E. Brooke Lee of Silver Spring
asked Edwin G. Baetjer of Baltimore.
special counsel for the governors COM
mission, whether it needed any help of
any kind, and the letters said that
much OF the work of the committee
was not to be done at public hearing,
but largely involved Office Investigation,
He said that the commission ought
10 have power to summons witnesses
and to punish for perjury, and Speaker
Lee said that he would be glad to rec
ofnmend the passage of this legislation
as an emergency jacts
Mr.. Baetjer said that the suggestion
that the grand inquest take testimony
IN the roads investigation, and that the
Michigan commission examine the con-
tracts, would be quite impracticable.
He said, for instance, that If some one
gave testimony before the committee in
regard to particular contract it would
mean nothing. and it would be found
that much of it would be mere hearsay
and runor. The particular testimony
on contract might require further in
vestigation, and even study and report
py competent engineers. He said he
ulon see any common ground on which
the two investigating bodies could 20
ahead.
Discussing the road-extension con-
tracts-that Is, where contractor was
given work under an agreement and
tnen performed an additional amount
without competitive bidding, he said
That ne was not quite sure at this time
tnat 1t was legal. However, he added
that where, for instance, five-mile con-
tract was given and an eighth-mile ex-
tension was authorized that would not
be serious, but where mile contract
was given and five-mile extension
granted the committee was going to
look in to it very thoroughly.
Close Check Suggested.
Mere testimony is not going TO do
any good, Mr.. Baetjer said. It must be
closely checked. He could not estimate
the time 1t was going to take until il
had been decided just what contracts
were to be gone into. but he said he
would have much valuable information
in two months. He suggested that q
committee of the grand inquest attenc
the Michigan hearings.
Senator Lansdale G.. SasScer of Up.
per Marlboro, Prince Georges County
moved that the grand inquest tender
its assistance and cooperation to the
Michigan commission in any matter II
which 1t might be Of assistance. Thi.
committee, he said, should co-operat.
and not attempt to compete with tht
governors commission, adding that th(
latter had the intricate machinery fo
investigation, and there should not bt
a dual expenditure of funds. The reso
luton was passed.
Joseph C. France of counsel for tn
grand inquest suggested that that boo,
detail certain members to take a NOR
active interest in various phases of tn
investigation, some sitting with tn
Nelligan commission, others keeping il
touch with the work of States Attorne
O'Connor, in Baltimore, in the gran,
Jury investigations. He said that it wa
impossible for all the members of tn
grand inquest to do this and urged tn
special committee plan.
You have got to start with rs iAe
ef trusting somebody" he said.
This is fact-finding committee, h
said. 1t could hold hearings for thos
having grievances. who wanted to ap
pear before 1t. But others should g
before tie Michigan committee. Tn
1arEnItts. might want to get the au
ditors bt,ore it, and even States Attor
h.