The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-07-21
SENATE FL.AYS
POLYTECHNIC OF
SAPP AND AIDS
Highway Department Is Too
'MeddJeSome,' Is Cry
of LEGISLATORS.

Indiana highway commission po-
litical activities were scored today,
with introduction of a resolution in
the state senate demanding politics
be erased from the department.
The resolution was accompanied
by evidence of political manipula-
tions, including the letter which
Commissioner. Arthur Sapp sent to
a Wabash manufacturer, offering to
oil his road if he would help pre-
serve the commissions $24,O00,00O
fund in the special session road
committee. The resolution was re-
ferred to the senate.
After action on the resolution,
battle flared when Senator William
Dogs DEM, Cannelton, made
vain attempt to withdraw his name
from bill splitting gas tax funds,
returning one-half to cities, towns
and counties, rather than give the
commission free rein. He said resi-
dents of his county wanted him to
do it to guarantee road work.
Get Rid of Them"
Senator Walter Chambers (Dem.)
Newcastle, demanded to know
whether the legislature or the
highway commission is making the
laws" He deserted the power of
the commission forcing legislators
to withdraw their names from bills
and taking positions in which they
do not believe"
Senator Jesse F. Wade (Dem.)
Mt. Vernon, urged the legislature
to take those internal gamblers
by the throat and get rid of them
The Sapp letter was presented by
Senator Charles L. Strey (Rep) !
Wabash.
Another document was the cir
cular letter soliciting funds for the
state committee, sent each employe
of the state highway department in
May. The letter was cited in the
resolution, signed Jointly by Strey
and Senator Russell P. Kehoe !
Dem), Jeffersonville.
The resolution called attention to
the political contributions sought by
the commission and charged this /
action places the commission clear
ly as political machine"
Such actions hereby are con-
demned and the letters should be
diSregarded by the employees. and
the commission directed to cease
any and all further political activ-
tiles, relative to advancement or as
pirations of any political party"
the resolution concluded.
FavOrs Popular Move
In his letter to Harley Gamble.
president of the Wabash Baking
Powder Company, whose road he
said he would oil, Sapp urged him
to bring pressure on Strey.
Long a foe of the commission.
Strey favors the now popular move
to restore to cities, counties and
towns one-half of the automobile
license and gasoline tax which
makes up the bulk of the $4,000, 900
the state highway department has
to spend.
Sapp offered the following written
explanation of his stand today:
Il thought it might be wise to
give Strey some of his own medicine.
He has been trying for some time
to bring pressure in one way or an
other on the highway department
and the commission. He has made
threats of what he would do if GER
tain of his political friends were not
taken care of and certain political
enemies were not dismissed from
the employ of the highway depart
ment.
For Best Interests
II have been working with the
Chamber of Commerce and the citi-
zens of Wabash to obtain for them
certain highway Improvements to
which 1 think Wabash county is
entitled.
Through my efforts Road 10
through Wabash county was taken
over by the highway commission, as
we'll as certain other roads crossing
Wabash county. This has saved the
taxpayers of Wabash county many
thousands of dollars annually.
L think that the citizens of Wa
bash county who know me and
know Strey are capable of passing
Judgment on this whole situation
which he is seeking to stir up.
LAS a member of the commission,
and reasonably cognizant of the
road needs of the state, am most
emphatically in favor of the reten-
ton of the gasoline tax and the au-
tomobile license fees in the hands of
the commission, to the end the COM
mission eventually can take over all
the county highways for mainte-
nance and carrying on a reasonable
program of construction.
This I believe to be for the best