The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1940-08-21
Executive Head
Continued from Page one)

III, Continued from Page One)
Mr.. McKinnon when Intercepted by a
legislative committee, W. W. Howse
fourth assistant postmaster general,
gave McKinnon a letter to James Far
ley, postmaster general and he was
shortly assigned to work. While it
does not appear in the record of the
investigation, private Investigation
made, is said to have disclosed that
Mr. Howse, the fourth assistant post
master general at one time was a
party to a sizeable, unsecured loan
made by bank in Sioux City of
which Mr.. McKinnon's father was at
the time. president.
Changes having taken place in the
state highway commission and DR..
McGregor being chairman in 1885, it
is interesting to note that Mr.. McKin-
non states that he had not met DR..
McGregor until the time when Mr..
Farley made a trip through Montana
in that year, and in June, 1885, Mr..
McKinnon, despite his clouded record
and having been disqualified by pre-
yious board, was again named chief
engineer of the Montana Highway De-
partment, and holding the position I'M
til removed by Governor Holt who
discharged McKinnon, Donahue and
w. o. Whips, secretary of the COM
mission.
,asIt is even more interesting to note
that Governor Ayers re-employed Nc
Kinnon and Whips and placed DON
ahue as engineer in the water con-
seryation organization, and that their
salaries have been advanced; all, I'M
doubtedly according to the governors
announced policy of efficient business
administration.
1t is also interesting to note that
McKinnon, prior to his marriage lived
in the home of his fiancee and paid
the rent on the house occupied by
McKinnon, his fiancee, her father and
her brother; that his fiancee's father
was and still is employed as director
of planning survey and on Mr.. Nc
Kinnon's own statement was en-
ployed for that position without any
references given to him; that he en-
ployed an engineer as assistant under
his fiancees father who had no engi- |
neering experience. This, is probably |
evidence of some more of the mysteri- |
Gus qualities of Governor Ayers "effi-
cient business administration as
none of these things could be carried |
on without his sanction.
While McKinnon was living with
his fiancee's family and paying the
rent for the house occupied, his fl
ancee was employed as secretary of
The Montana Contractors Association.
However, Mr.. McKinnon has testified
hat discussions of anything pertain
ing to the common interests of the
department and the highway
contractors was always 'tabu" be-
smplary record of Mr.. McKinnon as
IN engineer and the high standard of
efficiency he apparently insists upon
IS evidenced by his employment of
lis fiancees father as director of the
planning survey and supplying a COM G
,etent engineer to do the work under Z
lis fiancee's fathers direction, it must $
fODd NC dSSullcu that ut WOulu
e equally ethical in connection with !
ny interests of his fiancee.
An engineer who was employed by 9
Governor Holt to delve into the rec n
rds of the Highway Department 1
yhen the odors became too strong,
tated to a representative of The s
'oice, that while the new engineers
yere in charge in place of McKinnon
nd the others discharged by Holt,
ne contract was let at figure ST. h
90 under the estimate made by Nc o.
.innon and his engineers, the speci- II
cations of the job being Identical 81
another instance, according to this Fl
,gineer, an Omaha contracting firm, "
IT members of the Montana Con- d.
actors Association had been dis e.
lalified on the suggestion of McKin- 81
N on the basis that they were not sc
alfied and financially responsible, W
len less than a week later this firm m
Is awarded contract in Denver, OF
to seven million dollars. si
Under the system in vogue in the ad