Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1929-01-11
Loosely Managed Business.

An inefficient and slipshod" sytem of
handling business, which has made for
'deplo7able state of affairs. was declared
Monday by Herbert r. 0Conor, States
Attorney fo' Baltimore, to have been dis
closed in his study of the accounts receiy-
able" statement of the State Roads Com
mission. He said he had found nothing in
the accounts on which to base criminal
prosecution.
More than 1000 open accounts were
found by Mr. 0Conor on the commissions
books. Nearly 800 of these were from rs
cents to $40. while in fifty-six Of the others
more than $240,000 was represented as
owed to the State. The total found in the
accounts was $254,386.28.
Many of the charges were against coun-
ties and Incorporated towns throughout the
State. Mr.. 0Conor said. while others we're
against individuals for private work or
materials for which the State has not yet
collected. Many of the accounts, the States
Attorney said, were found to be current
matters and on some Of them he was told
that payments had been made, but in
others he declared Satisfactory explana-
tons" were not made.
In one account, Mr.. OConor said, he
found contractor charged with approxi-
mately $4,000 outstanding for six years,
and on investigation found that the same
contractor had handled more than thirty
jobs for the commission, totaline more
than $2,000.000. during the last eight
years. In another, he said, a contractor
who has been doing work for the commits
sion all along owed more than $2,70O.
This latter item was paid after agitation
arose concerning the accounts receivable"
A certain contractor. who has been paid
more money and has been awarded more
contracts than any other contractor in
Maryland" has owed SIG since 1927, Mr..
OConor said the accounts showed.
Approximately fifteen automobiles and
trucks sold by the commission to employees
and outsiders are understood to be among
the items which are considered less hope
full of collection.
Although Mr. 0,COnor said he had found
nothing in the accounts on which to base
criminal prosecution, he asserted he would
turn the statement over to the Governor
to make such use of the information con-
tanned therein as he might think best.
Taking issue with Mr.. OConor in his
analysis of the accounts receivable" state
meDt Of the State Roads Commission, Gov.
Richie declared that approximately $780,
900 OF the $254,O00 total was in items
either not yet due or owed by responsible
debtors.
County Commissioners of Montgomery
County owe STOCKHOLDERS.
The Governors statement in connection
with the accounts is in the form of a letter
to Thomas H. Robinson, Attorney General,
in which he suggested that efforts be made
to collect the outstanding items.
Governor Ritchies action came at the
end Of day crowded with the Greatest
number of developments in the roads case
since the scandal broke eleven months ago.
Other developments Of the day were
Release by the Governor of the details
OF the accounts receivable" items.
Arrest of the last two of the eleven men
presented Friday in the 1919. 900 shortage.
Surrender by the grand jury of the au-
ditors final report, indicating that more
presentments in the case are hardly likely.
Publication by Governor Richie Of this
final report.