The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-02-27
HOUSE PROBERS
FAIL TO BARE
IRRECULARITY
No Fault Found With Use
Of Revolving Fund, Not
Authorized by State.

Another whitewashing has been
accorded the highway commission
by the special committee of the
house of representatives empowered
to investigate the manner in which
the commissions affairs are con-
Quoted.
The committee this time, with
out going into legality of the ex-
istence of a revolving fund or
whether payments are being made
by sworn voucher as provided for
by statutes" decided that there is
nothing the matter with the man
ner in which the highway depart
men conducts the revolving fund.
This report was made few
minutes after Representative John
w. Scott of Gary expressed dis
satisfaction with the manner in
which the fund is being conducted
and after the house passed the
gasoline tax increase from 3 to 4
cents by vote Of SO to 81.
Williams Is Admired
The committee, composed of Rep
resentative George w. Freeman of
Kokomo, chairman. j. Glenn Har-
riS of Gary, and George L. Saund-
ers of Bluffton, had been appointed
a few weeks ago to investigate the
matter of overhead.
Its report then expressions of adj
miration of John D. Williams, high
way department. director, declared
that everything was\o. k. with the
department.
Representatives who want infor-
nation as to what is being done
with the millions appropriated for
the highway commission then asked
for investigation of the revolving
fund"
The committees report declared:
Your special committee of three,
appointed to investigate overhead
expenses of the state highway COM
mission, and later by special author
ity of the house continued for in
vestigating data and information to
be submitted in writing, relative to
the revolving fund of the highway
commission, begs leave to report
that no information has been sub
mitted which would lead your COM
mittee to believe that irregularities
existed in connection with said re-
volving fund"
Legality Not Probed
eve did not investigate he le-
gality of such fund, becat.se no
question had been raised concerning
1t" Freeman later declared.
"The only report we have re-
ceived in writing was that of Albert
j. Wedeking, chairman of the high
way commission.
I'VE could not see anything ir-
regular from his report and so we
had to bring in a report declaring
no irregularities exist" Freeman
said.
Shortly before the report was sub
mitted, Scott had declared:
Il am not satisfied with the way
finances are being handled and in
this I refer to such things as the
revolving fund.
Il question its legality. The state
finance board was authorized to adj
vance money to the highway COM
mission whenever there was an
emergency. There is no such thing
as a continuing emergency.
Fails to Abolish Fund
Il sought to abolish this revolving
fund by amendment last week, but
the house did not see fit to pass it.
Il repeat that something should
be done about a fund which resulted
in expenditure of more than $1,000
600 in 1927"
Scott showed in his speech that
the people of the state are not de-
sirous of an added gasoline tax.
A plea against giving the highway
commission more money which
would result from the increased tax
was voiced by Representative Frank
E. Wright of Indianapolis.
Fears Waste of Money
After citing the hardship that the
increase would work upon business
using trucks, Wright said:
II believe that our highway COM
mission is somewhat like an in
dividual and if too much money is
raised, it will be come easy, go easy
and We will not get value received
for the millions turned over to this
body.
Neither farmers nor other tax
payers are demanding the increase.
1t is the interests which would
benefit by selling materials with
which to construct our highways. ="
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