Evening star., 1943-06-11
0'Conor Backs
Inquiry on Use
Of State Autos
Towes Case Brings
General Study Of
Vehicu|ur TRIPS
BY the Associated Press.

DIAL 44MOfIc, June 1l.-A survey
OF gasoline rations held by all State
owned vehicles will start next week
with the approval of Gov. O'Conor,
the Maryland Once of Price Ad-
ministration announced today.
The request, made by State OPA
Director Leo H. Mccormick, was an
outgrowth of the investigation of
State Controller J. Millard Tawes'
trip to Georgia to attend his sons
wedding
The State OPA also announced
that its hearing Monday into pos
sible misuse of c ration gasoline on
Mr.. Tawes trip will be conducted
along the lines of court-martial.
Miles Made Auto Gar.
In Annapolis. meanwhile, State
Treasurer Hooper S. Miles was
named by Gov. O'Conor as supreme
authority over assignment and use
Of State-owned motor vehicles.
Gov. O'Conor said that under his
order Mr.. Miles was empowered to
eliminate any automobiles found to
be unnecessary. He also will have
the responsibility of determining
policies for establishing conditions
under which cars may be retained
in the possession of State officials or
employees for the performance of
necessary State work.
ANY executive order which
Miles finds necessary to enable him
to carry out his plans. after he has
canvassed the entire situation, will
be approved by me-" Gov. O'Conor
declared.
The new arrangement will not
conflict with the gasoline ration
survey.
O'Conor Welcomes Examination.
Mr.. Mccormick said Gov. O'Conor
had welcomed the examination"
and that the survey would be con-
Quoted by j. William Eggleston,
State rationing officer, and Capt.
Andrew T. Conner, State mileage
conservation administrator.
Cornelius P. Mundy of the State
OPA enforcement office said the
prosecution would summon what
ever witnesses are believed necessary
to bring out all pertinent informa-
ton.
The hearing will be held in the
Baltimore Post Office Building at 2
pm. Monday before a three man
OPA panel.
Mr.. Mccormick said yesterday the
hearing would be concerned only
with the possible misuse of gasoline
allocated for essential purposes. A
previous OPA statement. retracted
by Mr.. Mccormick. said the hearing
also would be concerned with the
pleasure driving phase on which
Mr.. TaWes was exonerated Monday
night by the Somerset County
Ration Board.
Ickes Comments.
In Washington. Secretary of In
terror 1ckes took official notice of
the case when he told newspaper
men at press conference that high
officials should be particularly
scrupulous" IN abiding by the pleas
ure driving ban. ''All officials ought
to set an example for Others" Mr..
Ickes said.
The Secretary said he had ex-
pressed the same views in letter
to Rives Matthews of Princess Anne.
who originally brought the charges
against the Maryland controller.
Mr.. 1ckes emphasized, however,
that he had made no comment on
Mr.. Matthews charges since he
did not know the facts of the case.
Mr.. Ickes had been asked to COM
ment, on the criminal libel action
pending against Mr.. Matthews. who
is publisher and editor of the weekly
Somerset News. Mr.. Matthews is
being held Under $4,000 bond for
action OF the county grand jury,
charged with libeling Mr.. Tawes in
the June issue of his paper.
In Baltimore, OPA officials said
Mr.. Tawes, who has said that he
made the trip from Crisheld to
Georgia not only to attend his sons
wedding. but also to transact off,
cial business, would be permitted to
bring to the Monday hearing as
many witnesses as he desires to call.
OPA regulations also provide for
an appeal to a hearing commissioner
If the respondent is dissatisfied
with the findings.