The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-02-06
MOTOR CLUBS
CHARGED WITH
LICENSE GRAB
Accused of Collecting Large
Sums of Money in
Notary Fees.
INQUIRY is PROMISED
Funds 60 to Organizations
Instead of Roads, Says
Representative.

Charges that thousands of dollars
are being collected from motorists
throughout the state for notary
seals on automobile license applica-
ton blanks and being kept by the
Hoosier Motor Club, other motor
clubs, or doled out as political
plunder," was made today by Rep
resentative Newton Busenbark
.Rep) Charlottesville.
He announced that he is going to
make further inquiry into what be-
comes of this money, at the. Office
of Secretary of State Otto G. FL
field, and prepare necessary legis-
lation to put 1t into the road fund
"or keep it for financing something
besides motor club and political pa
tronage."
First intimation of his plans was
made public at the weekly Indiana
Farm Bureau Federation legislative
meeting at bureau headquarters
Tuesday night.
Application Refused
The legislators and farm leaders
having discussed various measures
of interest to farmers, Busenbark
took the floor and jerking an auto
mobile license application from his
pocket. with money attached and
the forms filled out, declared that
he intended to find out why 1t had
been refused.
II would like to get to the bottom
of this business of refusing applica-
tions because the notary seal wasn't
that at the sub-station for plates
operated by the HooSier Motor Club
at profit of $4,000 or more a year. p
he declared.
In explanation he added that &
25-cent charge K made for each
notary seal and that the motor club
uses this money to operate the sub
stations and reapS a handsome
profit.
Explain Situation Elsewhere
ain some counties, where the local
chairman is hard-boiled, this money
goes for patronage Busenbark
continued. THAT is better than CIV
ing it to motor clubs, but 1t really
should go for roads for the motorists
who are paying the toll"
Others present explained tie
method CO plate distribution In their
home towns. Some said 1t went as
political plum and others that it
was on the motor club plan. In the
northern part of the state it goes
to the Chicago Motor Club, it was
asserted.
Senator John L. Niblack, Indian
apolis, who was present, asserted
that these disclosures explained,
perhaps, why Todd Stoops, Sec
retary of the Hoos!er Motor Club,
and other motor club lobbyists, were
SO interested in keeping the state
police department under the super
vision of the secretary Of state in
stead of putting appointment OF the
chief in the hands of the Governor
as his state police bill provides.
Has Armful of Affidavits
"It looks like it's sort of a log
rolling contest" Niblack declared.
Busenbark asserted that he had
an "armful of affldavits" from per-
sons refused licenses because they
didn't pay the notary tribute to the
Hoosier Motor Club at their Craw-
fordSWlle Sub-Station.
"I'm going to take the whole lot
to Fifield and see what he has to
say" he declared. 1T is true that
the daughter of our local chairman
worked at the plate distribution
place, but she got a salary Of $la
week and the seal sales netted
about $4,000 gross for the Hoosier
Motor Club"