The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-08-15
STATE WILL
TIGHTEN UP
AUTOCOSTS
Highway Director Considers
Order TO Check High
Repair Bills.
FIGURES NEW TO HIM
Report Shows Democrats
Hold Best Posts in Trans
port Office.
FIGURES NEW TO HIM

klOl 0tiIOSs
Disclosure Of excessive repair
costs on state highway department
motor equipment, made in The
Times Wednesday, served today TO
focus closer scrutiny on the motor
transport divisions expenditures.
While Omer S. Manlove. transport
division chief, blamed the dis
closures on "disgruntled former en-
ployes," who, he said, are trying to
get him." John j. Brown. highway
director, made the pronouncement:
There shall be no eXorbitant
amount Of money expended for up
keep Of highway department equip
ment."
Indications of inefficiency and
mismanagementi in the division were
contained in a report for the fiscal
year which ended Sept. 80, 1923, but
which had not been submitted to
the highway director, highway COM
mission or Governor.
Data to Go to Leslie
It showed one-year repair costs
as high as $1,032 on a single Ford;
an average annual repair cost ap-
proximating 1925 on the divisions
800 Fords, and other figures as high
as $4,000 on trucks and nearly SIS 900
on tractors.
The data became available when
it was learned that Manlove's critics
are preparing to submit it to Gov
ernor Harry G.. Leslie when he re-
turns from his vacation in Canada.
''AS this occurred before April 4,
this year, when I became director, I
naturally am not much interested"
Brown said, except in so far as it
bears on the present maintenance
and repair costs. There shall be no
exorbitant amount of money spent
for upkeep."
Admitting he had never seen the
report, Brown said he was inquiring
into the costs with a view of order
ing that all major repair operations
be appraised and approved before
begun, 80 that the utmost economy
will be practiced."
TT would be inimical to the states
interest" he said, Ito use equipment
that is obsolete where the main
tenance Of the equipment is so eX-
cessive as to go beyond original cost
Of the equipment
At the time Fred Huddleston, di-
vision accountant, who prepared the
report, and Harry A. Hitzelberger,
purchasing agent, summarily we're
discharged by Manlove three months
ago, rumors of Encouragement
reached Browns ears, but he and
the commission were absorbed in
laying out the years road building
program and dismissed the matter
by directing Manlove to set things
right in the state garage.
Statehouse discussion of the new
flareup included the comment that
Democratic members of the high
way commission might be expected
to favor flushing up" any official
inquiry into the transport divisions
affairs.
This because the minority party
has been well rewarded at the CEN
trail garage in Manlove's alleged eff
fort to strengthen his bi-party hold
on the division.
Democrats Hold Jobs
At the garage it is understood
that the five best positions are held
by Democrats.
These job-hoIders and their ap-
proximate monthly salaries are:
Stanley L. Stokes, 1905 Lawrence
avenue, shop foreman, $240; John
Boren of Fountain City, equipment
Inspector brother of Robert B. b.
rem, Democratic highway commits
sioner), $3.50, expense account and
use of car: j. r. Gardner, pur-
chasing agent, $3.50, expense account
and use of a car; Miss Mary L.
GlaSka, 1920 North Meridian street,
bookkeeper, S145, and j. H. Win
ter, 429 Bancroft street, stock man
and accountant, $155; the latter two
holding the highest paid positions in
the Office.
OF the dozen foremen in the GEN.
trail garage, most are Democrats, 1t
is said.
Cite Evidence of Waste
AS evidence of wastefEl expendi-
ture-not wasted however without
regard for political patronage-it
was divulged that william A.
Gremelspacher, husband of Mrs.
Jesse Gremelspacher. president of
the StatehouSe Women's Republic
an Club and former president Of the
Indiana League of Women Voters,
has been drawing a salary of S45
week as day Waterman, under title
of foreman" at the divisions
warehouse at White River boule-
ward. West Drive. and Eleventh
street. Mrs Gremelspacher is chief
Of the state women's department,
serving at the pleasure Of the in
dustrial board.
Gremelspacher had two aids, ac-
cording to the story. another day
man receiving S25 week and a
night man. at the same pay, making
a total pay roll Of about s425
month for their watching.
With warehouse rent at $500 a
month, the division paid approx
mately $3.50 in a year to watch"
war surplus materials that recently
were sold for S12,500.