The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-11-12
Relieved of Authority by
Highway Director as
Probe Result.
UNIT ALSO ABOLISHED
DepoSed Head of Transport
Section Continues to
Manage Garage.
BY DANIEL NJ. KIDNEY

Omer S. Manlove, chief of the
Motor transport division of the
state highway department, has been
shorn Of his authority and the
motor transport division no longer
exists as a separate unit of the de-
partment.
Announcement of this change In
department administration was
made today by Director John J.
Brown.
Manlove and the motor transport
division were the subject of a series
OF articles last August in The In
dianapolis Times which disclosed
departmental ineff1ciency costing
taxpayers thousands of dollars.
The entire division now has been
transferred TO the maintenance de-
partment. of which A. H. Hinkle is
head. In all major matters, deci-
sion will be made at a conference
between Hinkle and Brown, the lat
ter asserted.
Good Man on Job
Manlove remains in charge of the
garage and is not likely to be re-
placed at this time, the director de-
clared. He stated that Manlove is
doing a better job in this position
than any previous holder Of the
berth.
This shift of the motor transport
to the maintenance department was
required under the appropriation act
which became effective last month"
Brown explained. Il feel that 1t is
a good move in that the fewer de-
partmentS we have, the less friction
there will be.
'Manlove is a good man with ma
chinery and we are not going to
replace him so long as he does his
Job as superintendent of the
garage"
1t is reported. however, that a
change may be made and that Gov
ernor Harry G.. Leslie has become
interested in the matter.
In 1927, the legislature ap-
propriated 81 ,48O 900 for biennial ex-
penditures sof the motor transport
division. In 1929. it included the
division in the $4,400,000 annual
appropriation made for the main
tenance department.
Cent Put on Tax
This was done when Manlove and
the motor transport division be-
came the target of legislative attack
and proved an obstacle in the effort
to add another cent to the state
gasoline tax by which the highway
department largely is supported.
The cent was added. The depart
ment also draws revenue from the
sale of automobile licenses.
With the Manlove demotion, a
new system of checking expendi-
ttIres, both in the central garage
here and the branches throughout
the state, is being worked out
under the direct supervision of Ross
Teckmyer, field examiner for the
state board of accounts.
A complete inventory is being
made for the first time in two years.
Teckmyer was in charge of a group
of garage employees working to COM
plete the inventory when the place
was closed Armistice day and cleo
ton day.
Million Dollar Value
It is estimated that the stock
value of parts and equipment for
the highway motor feet will total
more than $1,000,000. Value of the
motor transport fleet and garage
equipment is estimated at between
S5.000000 and 100000.
The Central garage is equipped
completely as an automobile factory.
having straight-line production for
making over motors. 1t is estimated
that thousands of dollars can be
saved by overhauling and repair
ing If efficiently carried out.
Under the new system, installed
by Teckmyer, each motor is to be
charged with the exact time and
material consumed in repairing 1t
and all stock will be invoiced an
nually.
Under the old system, as dis
closed by the "work-sheet," which
never reached the highway director
or the legislative committee which
investigated highway departments
costs, repairs mounted to high fig
ures on antiquated trucks and pas
senger cars