The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-02-27
HUGE WASTE
CHARGED TO
ROAD BOARD
100000 in Funds Tossed
Away. Allegation of
Attorney Kivett.
POLITICIANS ATTACKED
Money Is Squandered in
Relocating Highway Sc,
Says Lawyer.

Charge that politicians we're sue
cesSful in jockeying the present
state highway commission into re-
locating State Road Sc, between
Madison and ScottSburg, at a met
waste of 100000 in state highway
funds, was made before the SEN
ate highway investigation commit
tee today
The charge came from Silas c.
Kivett, Martinsville attorney, who
minced no words in making it. He
did not spare senator's feelings in
regard to what he thinks of poll
ticians OF both the Republican and
Democratic varieties.
Both Republican United States
senators, but particularly James A.
Watson; two congressman, and
William Storen. Democratic state
treasurer, had hand in the mat
ter, ne charged.
Storen comes from Scottsburg
and the relocation will increase
traffic there. Kivett alleged.
Change Laid to School
Chairman Albert j. Wedeking
and other members of the state
highway commission previously had
testified before the senate commit
tee that the relocation was brought
about by trustees and friends OF
Hanover college, who want the road
to run by the school.
Since the state took over Road
Sc in 1923, the highway department
has spent $136,51750 on nainte-
nance, $14101204 on betterments
and Improvements and $48, 408.39 on
bridges on the route through the
town of Kent, which now is to be
abandoned" Kivett testified.
Yet this highway could be hard
surfaced for another 100000, while
the pew location will cost S5O0,O00.
The new route is through an unin-
habitated section, while the old one
is a highway with 100 years of con-
slant use.
Proposes to Halt Action
Bids already have been accepted
by the state highway department
for grading the new route and the
lowest bid was $215,311.T6. Contract
has not been let and 1 propose to
halt the project by injunction.
1.-THE state highway commission
has exceeded its powers in this
case"
Kivett said he represented certain
citizens in and near the town Of
Kent.
He testified that Hanover already
has a north and south state road
and is not in need of one running
east and west. The principal point
is that ScottSburg might suffer from
Kent traffic being diverted to the
town of Austin, he contended.
The present state highway law
should be changed so that citizens
are not at the mercy of the depart
ment in the matter of routing or
abandoning roads," he advised.
Politicians Are Assailed
In pointing out the political pres
sure in the matter, Kivett termed
Democratic and Republican politi-
clans "all alike" This brought re-
buke from the committee members,
two Democrats and one Republican
being present at the time.
Don't you think the politicians
are in the forefront of most COM
nunity enterprise?" Senator Will
liam p Dennigan Dem, Daviess
and Knox, inquired
Unfortunately that is true, - Kivett
countered. But wouldn't say that
these enterprises Of the politicians
always are worthy"
A case in point later was cited
Kivett testified that he had seen
letter from Senator Watson set
ting out that he favored the old
route to save expense.
slaps at Watson
"Of course 1 do not know what
he had written to persons on the
other side" he said
At the close of the hearing, Sen
ators Charles L. Strey rep, Kos
ciusko and Wabash, and Anderson
Ketchum Dem, Bartholomew, De-
catur, Franklin and Union, an
that the findings of the
committee will not be ready for an
other twenty-four hours
They will be presented in the
senate as an argument for passage
of the Strey-Ketchum bill, provid-
ing for full-tine state highway
commission.
Strey is chairman and Ketchuin
chief inquisitor of the senate COM
mittee.