The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1939-05-16


Cole was indicted by Thurston
county grand jury on charges that
he used state trucks and other
equipment to work on his farm.
Arrest OF f. Pat Kelly. director
of labor and industries. on charges
of misuse of $500, 900 in state funds
and "chiseling" on his garage bill
has tossed scare into numerous
other officials and caused them to
check back over their hotel bills
and meal checks while on state
business trips.
The state owns LIZA cars
and trucks, most of which are
In the hands Of officials "a
hours day and often are
used ON private M well rs
public business trips.
Just how widespread the prac-
tice of using the state cars for
their own pleasure trips is cannot
be estimated, but 1t is common
knowledge that the public pays for
many miles Of trips. Officials all
admit it is practically impossible
to stop the practice or check up
on its abuses.
The last legislature appropriated
about $1,500,0O0 to pay the cost
of running state cars the next two
years, pay mileage on private cars
used by state employees at the rate
Of four cents a mile and pay rail-
road or ferry fares.
OF this more than half million
will be in mileage allowance for
privately-owned cars. Many off
cials drive their own cars because
they do not like to be seen out at
nights driving cars with state
exempt licenses, even though they
are on legitimate state business.
State Auditor Cliff Yelle
has never had state car, hut
contended the recent action
cutting the mileage allowance
from five to four cents makes
II q liability to drive his own.
Gov. Clarence ID. Martin
travels In his own sedan. as
docs Agriculture Director
Walter j. Robinson.
Some state officials living five
or 10 miles from Olympia drive to
and from work, while some living
in Seattle or Tacoma commute
daily in state-owned cars. Whether
this sort of travel is state business
never has been settled. opinions
differing on the question, but the
practice is common.
Some employees with access to
state-owned cars repeatedly drive
to Seattle or other cities for their
week-ends and operate a sub-rosa
bus service" for other employees.
although the state administration
several times has clamped down
on such practices when it could
find them.
Only one state in the union
Montana-has tried to solve the
travel problem by operating a
state garage into which all state
cars are checked each night. Bills
have been introduced in past
Washington legislatures. but never
got far, toward putting this state
into a similar business. They were
opposed by private garage owners
and officials of the state alike.
Washington is one of four states
paying the lowest mileage allow
ance in the United States on pri-
vate cars used on state business.
Others paying four cents a mile
are Mississippi, New Jersey and
Oregon.
Twenty-Five states pay five
cents. Nebraska pays ia cents
a mile and Louisiana is most mag
unanimous with 10 cents. Figures
compiled TO show cost of operating
car and including depreciation
showed the average cost runs from
three to five cents. according to
the size of the car.
Since the state cut Its al
lowance to officials and em-
ployes to 81 q day for meals
and hotel room. numero sub
terfuges have cropped up by
"chis~lers" trying 10 beat the
restriction. Some put In hotel
bills. but stay at friends
homes while on trips. Others
repeatedly put in bills from
expensive hotels, but stayed
ut cheaper ones and pocketed
the difference.
One high official, who lived in
Seattle although working in Olym-
pis. put in hotel bill for every
night he was in the former city.
using the defense that IL would
save the state more that way than
putting in a hotel bill for every
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