Evening star., 1943-06-13
Federal Government
Lacks Any Legal Ban
On Official Car Use
Byrd Urges Law to Curb
Misuse of Autos Here;
Towes Case Cited
By JOE RICHMAN.

There is no law to prevent Gov
ernment official from using a Fed
orally owned car for pleasure trips,
a check-up revealed yesterday as the
State of Maryland moved to prevent
such thing from happening again
in its own official family.
Only varying departmental regu-
lations and the threat of Office of
Price Administration punishment
under the pleasure driving ban
stands in the way of such trip by
Federal Car.
Senator Byrd. Democrat, of Vir-
ginia, said yesterday he is hoping
bill which he introduced March 5,
designed to halt all use OF Federal
cars for pleasure will be passed
soon. At present the bill is in 4
subcommittee of the Senate Judic-
ialy Committee.
Provides Heavy Penalty.
The bill would punish persons
who use Federal cars for other than
official purposes. 1t provides that
they be "summarily removed from
office" and shall, on conviction
thereof, be fined not more than
$1,000 or imprisoned for not more
than one year, or both"
Senator Byrd said he had no
comment to make on the case of
Maryland State Controller J. Mil
lard Tawes, who is charged with
miSusing gasoline rations in driving
a State-oWned car to attend his
sons wedding in Georgia.
AS result of the Tawes trip,
an order was issued yesterday in
Maryland forbidding all personal
Use of State-oWned automobiles.
Byrd Says Bill Needed.
Senator BAld. who is chairman of
the Joint Committee on Reduction
OF Essential Federal Expendi-
lures, stated he believes there is great
need for passage of his bill.
Under the present set up, each de-
partment head is responsible for the
cars under his jurisdiction. After
numerous complaints tour months
ago that Federal cars were being
used Tor Wlnlng and dining eXpedi-
tons ana TO transport officials to and
from Work, many departments moved
to tighten their control over cars
assigned 10 them.
But the chief complaints which
moved Senator Byrd's committee to
sponsor the bill now before the SEN
ate still exist Each department
keeps check over its cars in diff
.trent manner, some more rigidly
than others.
Ii an official or employe is known
TO have used a car for purposes
other than official business a report
is made to his department head.
who may reprimand the guilty
party, Under the present system.
however, no form of punishment for
Sucn acts is provided.
Restricts Use Of Cars.
The Byrd legislation provides
that no appropriation be made
available to any Government agency
whose vehicles are not used for offl-
clal purposes. The term official
purposes, 1t states, shall not in
cluoe the transportation OF officers
or employees between their domiciles
and places Of employment. except
IN the case Gl medical officers on
out-pa tent medical services and
offlcers and employees engaged in
held work. the character of whose
duties make such transportation
necessary and then only when such
transportation is approved by the
head OF the executive department
independent establishment or
agency concerned
Other things provided in the bill
are passenger automobile pool to
be operated by the Budget Bureau
in the District for the duration to
serve Federal officials and certifl-
cation by each agency to the Budget
Bureau 80 days after bill is passed
uf the names of officials and en-
ployeS eligible to use Federal We
hicleS.