The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-10-10
HIGHWAY BODY
SEEKS help IN
POLITICAL TILT
Taking 900 Miles of Roads
Into State System Bid
for Power.
ADVANTAGE TO ENEMIES
Management and Expendl-
lures Provide Easy Target
for Democrats.
BY BEN STERN


BY BEN STERN
Somewhere back in the dim era o.
antiquity, Johnny Stone-hammel
held out some edible dainty to tht
creature he desired to trap and ther
when the dinosaur or whatever il
was reached for the sweet-socko or
the head.
Politicians have used this same
trick through all of the ensuing
centuries and this week found the
Indiana state highway commission
offering a sop to its critics in the
form of an announcement that SOC
miles of locally maintained roads
will be taken into the state system
The commission based its propose,
to take over the mileage on the fact
that most of the roads are located
In districts which maintain the ap-
pearance Of desiring to throw of the
Republican yoke, or is in bailiwick;
of men who will serve in the next
legislature when the question of a
full investigation of the highway
department is sure to be raised.
Includes Strey'S Road
A case in point is that after two
years of delay the commission an
nounced that it would take over the
Hills and Lakes highway, asked by
State Senator Charles Strey of Wa
bash.
Senator Strey recently declared
that he would propose a probe OF
the department in the 1881 legisla-
ture and would also favor passage
of a statute recognizing the body
and setting up a full time three
man commission.
Highway moguls authorized inclu-
sion of Strey'S road but the senator
has announced that he will go
through with his program.
While the commission is franti-
cally endeavoring to find friends, its
own records have provided ammuni-
ton for the critics.
Highway department overhead ex-
penses have increased 81, 226, 239.12
in the past fiscal year and this
boost can, in the main, be attributed
TO the orgy of salary raises and
reckless spending Of money in the
maintenance department.
Inability of department heads to
do simple arithmetic has resulted in
bankruptcy and mounting debts, it
Is charged.
Salaries Much Higher
Salaries have been increased
80 1-3 per cent during the first fiscal
year of the John j. Brown regime
while taxpayers over Indiana, dis
tressed by poor business and drought
are clamoring for tax reductions.
If the opposition party would not
use the inef1ciency, gross misman-
agement and extravaganza of the
highway commission as campaign
material. it would be guilty of poor
political judgment.
Democratic strategistS meeting
here at noon today decided to Level
attacks at the highway department
expenditures from the Governors
emergency fund, gas tax collection
scandals and oil inspection short
ages.
I'VE will let the Republicans wage
q campaign on national issues
Present conditions of the nation are
the best answer to the G. o. P
arguments-this is a state cam
paign and the voter should become
acquainted with conditions i'll the
state under Republican control" one
leader said.
Depression Theory Adopted
Plans for the final weeks Of the
campaign were discussed by Re-
publican candidates at a meeting
with State Chairman Rogers, Thurs
day. 1t was decided that a vigorous
defense of the state administration
will be made, but to stress as most
important the fact that the national
administration is Republican and
the state should remain in line.
In support of waging the cam
paign along national lines, outStand-
ing G.. o. P. leaders have been
called upon to speak in the state.
The two most important party
leaders, outside of the President
Vice-President Charles Curtis and
Senator Simeon d. FeSs, national
chairman, speak at the National
Guard Armory here tonight, and will
discuss national issues.
The burden of the defense of the
state administration has fallen on
the shoulders of the candidates and
they confess themselves inadequate
to the situation.
From all reports and appearances
national issues will not win the cleo
ton in Indiana, so far as an appeal
to support the President goes.
The HooSier laborer and farmer
can not find any bond of sympathy
Between the national administration
and his own sore straits, despite the
appeals of oratorical rhapSodistS.
They do not want to hear about
the tariff and this is evident in the
First district where several weeks
ago it was conceded that the Demo
cratic congressional nominee, John
Boehne, would defeat the incum-
bent, Harry Rowbottom.
But Boehne. his own friends de-
clare, has one set speech-on the
tariff-and he isn't getting any place
with it.
If Boehne wins, it will be because
the Republican organization is en-
gagged in war within its ranks.
MotorcycliSt Killed
By United Press