Evening star., 1931-05-13
MONTGOMERY PAYS
6-YEAR ROAD DEBT
S27s,e23 Check Is Turned
Over to Commission by
Brooke Lee.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch 10 The Star.
BALTIMORE. Md, May 13.-When
the reorganized State Roads Commits
sion met yesterday for the f1rst tlrne'
r Brooke Lee, newly appointed mem
Der, presented that body with a check
for S278. .62342, drawn to its order by
the treasurer of Montgomery County:
The presentation revealed for the
first time the existence of an account
of $50, ,623.42, said to have accunu-
lated against the county since 1928.
This sum, 1t was said. represented an
accumulation of construction costs IN
excess of the estimates on Montgomery
County road projects.
The county periodically has been
settling for highways constructed Ior
it by the State Roads Commission
which were to be financed through
county funds The highways were built
in advance Of the actual receipt OF the
money by the commission.
Taken From 1929 Issues.
The difference between the total ac-
count Of S510. 0.623.42 and the check rep
resents 1922, 900, the amount OF the
1881 road ALLEGATION to the county.
This sum was credited to the account
a. the request of the county commits
s,oners.
Lacy Shaw, president of the Mont
Conerv Board of County Commis-
sioners. said the amount paid by check
was taken from the balance of 1929
county bond issues.
At the meeting Of the outgoing COM
mission last Thursday, William A. Codd,
auditor for the roads body, was In
structed to collect the money or refer
the matter to the attorney general.
Robert H. Archer, assistant attorney
general, who was present at the meet
ing yesterday, said such action was ur-
necessary as the settlement had been
made. q
Settlement Accepted.
The settlement was accepted by the
new cornmissioners-Mr Lee and Robert
Lacy-on a motion by @. Clinton Uhl,
chairman. Mr.. Lee and Mr.. Lacy sue
ceeded Howard Bruce and John K.
Shaw, who had served since January IS,
1929
The minutes of the commission for
O meeting April 28 said the roads body
''had no knowledge Of any substantial
Indebtedness by Montgomery County
until a detailed audit was completed
in February, 1891, by the commissions
auditor, which discloses this balance due
of $275, 0.72 for road construction OBJ
legations UP to December 81, 1928.
Mr. William A. Codd, the commits
sion's auditor, due to fragmentary. in
sufficient and inadequate records in
herited by this commission, had no
knowledge Of the exact amount of this
Indebtedness although he appreciated
the fact that there was some small
balance due upon the completion of
several contracts. The completed audit
brought to him his first definite knowl-
edge of the extent of the Indebtedness.
Indebtedness Listed.
he r1nirt,faa continued
"that the balance Of $225, 1000 now due
should have been paid to the commits
sion from proceeds of bonds issued by
Montgomery County under authority of
chapters 346 and SAT of the Acts of
1929 in accordance with monthly bill
ings Of the cost Of construction which
were forwarded to the county commits
sioners"
A summary Of indebtedness to the
State Roads Commission follows:
Amount due for road construe-
,d9a t9a ,agE dggEEinE the. years 1925 ,,z, ..o
dufhr fHs i2a he 5ssa Tssfs fSRsiSS 1925 snd
AFSass iddtgai s gi;e9 aSfId: S;,:
ds' With the s''iea letter Of the thSs0e0f county
commissioners dated August ~.
Amount due as total costs Of labor O'''O'
sewer in center OF parking on
4itR bni dated February SS'ii ii.
1880 .'..'.,.....'....'...... 2,e33.70
IotN ....s...............s.s. SolO,623.42
John X. Shaw said last night that
II had been known the county was
obligated to the commission, but in
adequate records had kept the latter
from knowing the extent Of the debt
until the audit in February. Several
attempts to collect the money had
been made, he added.
Notified Of Debt.
Lacy Shaw said the only definite
statement the county had received
from the State roads body was q let
ter in February notifying the COM
missioners Of the debt.
In a letter accompanying the check,
Lacy Shaw said 'Inclosed find checks
of the treasurer Of Montgomery County
TO the order Of the State Roads Com
mission in the amount Of $278, ,623.42,
which are rendered in payment of the
account Of $510,623.42, submitted by
your commission for the first time Feb
ruary 81, 1881, and covering new State
highway construction, which construc-
ton is to be paid for by Montgomery
County bond issue or tax funds.
The amount of the within checks,
together with the $232, 900 1881 allo-
funds for expenditure in Montgomery
County. equals the amount due the
State Roads Commission as per your
letter of February 81, 1881. Such a
credit in the amount of 1892 900, rep
resenting this years State road con-
struction ALLEGATION. is herewith oficial-
~ and unanimously asked by all seven
members Of the Board of County Com
missioners Of Montgomery County.
Audit Not Made.
I'VE desire to officially advise your
commission that we never have been
eforded a sufficient opportunity to
audit or check the records of your
commission covering the charges made
against Montgomery County for the
State road construction with county
funds during recent years, and we re-
spectfully request your commission to
allow us such an opportunity in the
not too distant future"
The president of the board said the
crediting Of the 1881 road ALLEGATION
would not mean that Montgomery
County would be without road pro-
gram for the coming year. A 100000
bond issue was authorized for that pur-
pose by the recent Legislature, he said.