Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1929-04-05
Friday Morning........"Apr | S. 1929.
Report Clears Commission In
Road Thefts.


properly were given as the basic causes If
populations totaing $4,000 from the
State Roads Commission is the unanimous
report OF findings submitted to the grand
inquest committee of the Maryland Legis-
lature by its counsel
The report stated that the suggestion or
charge that such expenses and long dis
honesty on the part Of the commissions
employees could not have existed without
the fault Of the members OF the commits
sion or its chairman was radically IN
just"
They (the members of the commission,
including John N. Mackall. chairman) relied
and were entitled TO rely, so long as no
facts were brought to their attention which
aroused their suspicious, upon the auditing
of the accounts Of the officials charged with
that duty" the report stated.
THAT is to say, in the first instance and
primarily by the office auditor and also, as
we have said by the State auditing de-
partment."
The chairman of the commission, who
also was the chief engineer of the commits
sion, the report continued, "manifestly had
no time to play the part of auditor or de-
tective on the work Of the Office force"
The report. which was submitted to Sena-
tor S. Scott Beck, chairman of the Grand
Inquest Committee, was signed by Joseph
C.France, Charles McHenry Howard and
Alexander Armstrong. The first two at
torneys are regarded as Democrats. Mr.
Armstrong was the Republican candidate
for Governor in 1928 against Governor
Richie.
These attorneys recommended that. if the
State Roads Commission were to remain
body Of three members. each of the men,
bers should be paid an appropriate salary
and be charged with the assumption and
discharge of his full share of the labors
and responsibilities of the State Roads De-
partment.
The attorneys asserted that it was not
their desire to increase salary expenditures
unnecessarily, but they pointed to the
Public Service Commission and the State
Industrial Accident Commission as illus
trations 81 the desirability of having COM
missions!@i,hail members paid.
The report added that there has been
no difficulty in securing men of high char
acter and ability for these positions.
Under the heading of Charges of AL
legged Petty Dishonesty Against Mdckall, a."
the attorneys asserted that the accusations
concerning top soil which had been placed
on the former chairman's lawn and the
testimony that he had given friends desk
sets were relatively trivial incidents.
However, the attorneys regarded these
charges as illus trating the importance Of
the necessity OF "a rigid compliance with
all legal requirements and prophecies so
that even such minor subjects of criticism
may not occur hereafter in connection with
anyone holding public office"
The attorneys found nothing to criticize
in the celebration Of the opening of the
Grain Highway. They pointed out that two
celebrations had preceded this one which
seemed to have been more generally APP
proved than criticized.
However. this celebration became the
special subject Of inquiry due to the dis
covery of the dishonesty of the commits
sion's employees. the report continues.
The attorneys gave it as their opinion
that the law does not authorize such use
of the States money for such purposes
without special appropriation or authori-
cation from the Legislature"
The report recited the facts in connec
tion with the proposed gifts of silverware
to Governor Richie. Mr. Mackall, Mayor
Broening and the late Robert Grain In con.
nection with the Grain Highway opening
II was pointed out that Mr. Mackall haC
acquiesced in this arrangement, which
later was halted by the Governor No par
ticular criticism is made of the proposed
arrangement.
The attorneys devoted eight pages o.
their twenty eight-page report in discuss
ing the awarding Of contracts and over
runs. They found charges that Mr.. Mack
all favored certain contractors had no
been sustained by the evidence presented
to the Grand Inquest Committee.
In referring TO the extending of con
tracts without competitive bidding, tn,
attorneys pointed out that this was prac
tice initiated and carried on by admins
trations prior to that Of Mr. Mackall anC
was ended in 1925. when Judge Stanton
ruled that such practices were contrary t
the law. Since then, the report continued
the practice has been discontinued.
The attorneys discussed each of the
general charges made against Mr.. Mackal
or the commission. They pointed out that
the committee has heard the evidence o.
all witnesses who they had any reason t
think might have any information which
would assist the committee in its investi
cation or who desired to appear before it.
The attorneys asserted that it had been
.'conclusively shovn''that Senator Mitchell
had not acted for the commission in tn,
awarding of any contract or the obtaininl
of rights Of way for proposed highways
The attorneys also found that the charge.
made by Joseph A Wilmer, Republican
floor leader Of the house, that Senator
Mitchell had used political influence in
awarding contracts in which he had a
financial interest, had not been sustained
by the testimony
The report was adopted by the House
by vote OF 70 to SO.
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