The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-02-25
HIGHWAY BILL
GIVEN SUPPORT
OF AUTO CLUB
Reorganization Plans Also
Boosted by Hint of
Startling Report

impetus was given Sne highway
department reorganization bill to-
day by promise of a startling re-
port" from the senate investigation
committee in regard to the present
highway departments failure to
collect federal aid, and by formal
backing from the Hoosier Motor
Club Of Marion county.
The committee report is expected
10 be given the senators Thursday,
it was announced by Senator
Charles L. Strey (Rep., Kosciusko
and Wabash. chairman of the
highway investigation committee.
Meanwhile, the bill, which was
introduced in the senate by Strey
and Senator Anderson Ketchum
Dem, Bartholomew, Decatur,
Franklin and Union, chief inquis-
tor Of the committee, was ad-
vanced to third reading in the
cenate Tuesday afternoon with little
effort to halt it. The bill now
waits final passage
Urged Bill Be Kept Alive
Under its provisions the present
tate highway commission and di-
rectorship would be abolished and
a full-time, partisan, four man
commission would be substituted.
Commissioners would be appointed
from each of the four present high
way districts Appointments would
be made by the Governor, with sem
ate approval.
Senator John G. Sherwood (Rep.,
Lawrence, Martin and Orange),
moved to indefinitely postpone the
bill on second reading Tuesday.
Ketchuln made a short talk urging
that it be placed on third reading
and kept alive, at least until the
highway investigation committee
presents its report"
Sherwoods motion promptly was
tabled
Directors Vote Approval
Approval of the bill was voted at
a special meeting of the directors OF
the Hoosier Motor Club Of Marion
county Tuesday afternoon.
Principal reason for support Of the
bill, as given by Secretary Todd
Stoops of the club, is to try and
save the $6,5OO,0O0 for state high
ways that the senate already has
voted to put into the general fund.
This money is derived from the sale
NJ automobile licenses
For the last several years there
has been much criticism of the state
highway commission" Stops as
serted. ct is felt by the directors
of the Hoosier Motor Club that our
state highway CO. mission might
function better if composed of men
devoting their full time to its pur-
pose.
Called Highway Robbery"
There is much justification for
some criticism of the present state
highway commission and its present
director, John j. Brown. Many
legislators feel that the present
highway commission system is
faulty or that the present commits
sioners and directors are incompe-
tent. For this reason they are plan
ming to reduce the funds available
for the state highway system, re-
turning it to the state for reduc-
ton of the state tax levy"
This fund diversion was termed
highway robbery" and the directors
of the club went on record as will
ing to try out any sensible method
of administering the highway funds
in order to save them for the state
highway system"
A statement was issued by the
Hoosier State Automobile Associa-
ton, which functions outside Of
Marion county and of which Jesse
Murden. Peru, member of the pres
ent state highway commission is
director, upholding the present
law