Evening star., 1934-12-01
ROAD BOND ISSUE
TOPAY Up STUDIED
Maryland Road Workers
Laid 0ff-May PenaIize
OverdraWn Areas.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
BALTIMORE, December IA So
100000 bond issue to "straighten out"
the finances of the State Roads
Commission-now 1882 800 "in the
red''-was being considered here to-
day.
AS State authorities studied the
bond-issue plan and other possible
ways of getting the commissions ac-
counts balanced, Maj. H. D. Williar,
jr., chief engineer, announced that
about one-third of the road force
throughout the State would be fur
loughed and the remainder placed
on a part-time basis 1t was esti-
mated that about 1000 men would be
severed from the pay rolls, at least
temporarily.
These drastic steps are essential
economy moves designed to help the
commission get back on It's feet
financially" by saving $4,000 q
month, it was explained
Counties May Be Hit.
Under the bond issue plan of put
ting the commissions house in order,
S64l ,539 would be used to meet out
standing bills, s726,08l used to
liquidate county overdrafts, similar
amount distributed as fair share"
to counties which were not over
drawn, and Baltimore City allowed its
usual 80 per cent share, or about
S897,000.
As an alternative to the bond issue
proposal, it has been suggested that
the State completely withdraw from
participation in road work in the over
drawn counties until the allotments
they normally would receive are suffi-
cient to take care of the overdrafts.
This would shift the task of financing
the debt service and maintenance of
their roads back to those counties.
1t also has been suggested that the
overdraWn counties be given the in
stallment payment privilege.
Baltimore city and the counties that
are not overdrawn are watching the
situation closely to make sure that
whatever scheme is adopted by the
authorities does not discriminate in
favor of the overdrawn counties.
There appeared to be widespread
sentiment in favor of penalizing the
overdrawn counties by curtailment of
highway activities.
Although he said he was unable to
place the blame for the Roads Com
missions plight at the door of any in
dividual, Gov. Ritchie noted that
budgetary allotments to the counties
hac been virtually ignored by the COM
mission, and that it had failed to
abide by an agreep ent to have all fu-
ture commitments given prior approval
by its chief auditor. These two fac
sible for the shortage.
Bruce's Warning Recalled.
In connection with the current diff
culties of the commission it was re-
called today that Howard Bruce, who
resigned from the commission in May,
1881, issued warning at that time
that unless continuous pressure is
kept upon the organization to improve
efficiency, think that eventually it
will drop back into rut."
The "rut" to which he referred was
the 1928 roads commission scandal.
Mr.. Bruce and John K Shaw were
named members of the commission
after an investigation of the depart
ment. They made a substantial re-
organization and invited an investiga-
ton when they stepped out in 1881.
E. Brooke Lee and Robert Lacey were
appointed to succeed them.
Except for Kent and Montgomery,
every county's account had been
brought into balance when Mr.. Bruce
and Mr. Shaw retired. BY September,
1888, however. 16 counties were in
the red to the extent of more than
$500,000. On September 80, 1884, this
number had been reduced to nine, but
the total overdrafts had increased to
S726,081.
In commenting on the overdrafts,
Gov. Ritchie said there is no State
officer to keep track of the expendi-
lures of the various Departments