Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-11-10
Senate Group Probes
Enforcement Of Law
For Pooling u. 5. Cars
BY DON s. WARREN.

by DUN ). WARkEN.
The question of who should inves-
tigate and enforce provisions of ex-
isting laws against the use of Gov
eminent cars for private purposes
such As carrying high officials to
and from work-Was explored today
by the Senate Judiciary Subcommit-
tee considering the Byrd mandatory
car-pool bill.
Senator Murdoch, Democrat. of
Utah, the subcommittee chairman,
suggested there had been fragrant
violations" Of the provisions car
ried in appropriation acts. Senator
Revercomb, Republican, of West
Virginia termed it an existing evil"
and Senator Mcfarland, Democrat.
OF Arizona, emphasized that exist
ing law carries no penalties against
the individual violator.
This would be changed however,
| if the bill of Senator Byrd passes as
now drafted, for it provides that for
unauthorized use of Government
cars the guilty official shall be sum-
marily removed from Office and
shall, on conviction, suffer a fine of
up to 81 900, or Imprisonment up to
one year, or both
The delicate" part Of the enforce
ment problem was stressed when the
subcommittee questioned s. B. Tul-
loss, chief of investigation Of the
General Accounting Office. as to
what steps his agency had taken.
Found Some Violations.
Mr.. Tulloss said his Office had
made a number of investiga tons of
violations and had called them to
the attention of the departments.
generally with good results He ad-
mitted that in some cases there had
been no corrective measures taken
| by the departments.
| Mr.. TulloSS insisted that most cars
are used for lawful purposes. but
that undoubtedly there were some
viola tons
/ Chairman Murdoch asked him if
he knew whether it was prevailing
practice for officials to ride in
t limousines driven by chaufuers,
going to and from work Mr.. TulloSs
replied that in the cases his office
had Investigated he didn't find that
to be true.
Did YOU ever drive through Rock
Greek Park about the time to go to
work." Senator Murdoch asked
Il don't go to work that way"
Mr. TulloSS replied.
Il suggest that you do that" the
Senator said.
The GAO investigator then said
he couldn't detect such violations by
auditing OF books and accounts.
Asked if that was the limit of his
work. his answer was
no but added that 1t was a Ques-
ton of what to assign his staff to do
Up to Department Heads.
When Chairman Murdoch again
suggested that violations were
rather fragrant and right under our
nose" MI Tulloss said he thought
enforcement was responsibility
that belonged TO the heads of the
departments themselves.
Members OF the committee then
made the point they were not irving
10 criticize the AGO. but trying to
find how to cure the evils.
Mr.. Tulloss suggested that the
penalties proposed in the Byrd bill
perhaps would be too drastic" that
summary removal from office in
those cases would be heavier pun
ishment than fine and might
job.
Earlier il was brought out that. in
the opinion of the General Account
ing Once. the language eXempting
heads OF executive departments"
applies to cabinet members but not
to heads of independent establish
mentS
The subcommittee had intended TO
question Donald Stone of the Budget
Bureau about details of the leasing
of the Capital Garage for storing
and servicing Government cars, but
he could not appear today, and is
scheduled to be heard later.
High Powered Craftsmanship"
Ernest Hall executive officer of the
Federal Works Agency, has sub
mitted data to show that progress
is being made to cut down the cost
of operation of Government cars.
He declared FWA has hopes the
Capital Garage would be put on an
economical basis by the end OF this
fiscal year, as more cars are brought
into the Federal garage service.
When he said he felt the depart
ments should be charged for storage
OF their cars in the Capital Garage,
Senator Mcfarland declared the
FWA would have to employ high
powered salesmanship' to get Gov
eminent cars into this garage if
storage charge were made.
Wallace Brewster, head of the
Government mileage conservation
program for the OPA, voiced ap-
proval of section of the Byrd bill
which, he said. would strengthen the
OPA's conservation program.