The Chronicle-star combined with the Moss Point advertiser., 1946-02-08
House Asks
Changes In
Road Laws
Bill Passed To
Change Set-up Of
Vehicle Group

Sensational charges of embez-
element and racketeering in the
administration Of state highway
laws came to a head in the legis-
lature this week with passage Of
a House bill providing for q
sweeping reorganization of the
present Motor Vehicle Commits
sion.
The bill was passed by the
House Wednesday by a vote o.
IO7-16 but will be called up once
more for reconsideration on the
motion of Rep. Jesse Shanks OF
Lamar county, an opponent Of
the reorganization. Members al
the house expected, however,
that the measure would be up
held substantially IN its pres
ent form and would be sent to
4he Senate for final action.
The bill embodies many of the
recommendations of the legisla-
lures recess investigating COM
mission, headed by Senator Os-
car Wolfe, which recently made
public charges of widespread em-
bezziemcnt and corruption a.
mong highway enforcement Of
ficers and Justices of the peace
in Gulf Coast counties" Mem
beers of the committee have new
er publicly given specific names
and details of the charges, but
have announced that Jackson
county was not included in the
charges of corruption.
The chief purpose of the reor-
ganization bill, according to its
supporters in~sthe house, ~ TO
clarity and separate the duties
OF the various departments in
the meteor vehicle organization,
reducing opportunities for graft
ing and embezzlement. and Civ
ing more olear-cut authority and
responsibility to various officials
of the department.
Mice Out
The bill abolishes the pres
ent office of Motor Vehicle Com
missioner Frank Mize who has
been the center of a political
controversy and a target OF the
recess committee for many
months.
Mics supporters in the house
got through an amendment pro-
viding he should hold office un-
til May |, l946, but thereafter
the Governor shall appoint q
motor vehicle comptroller to re-
place the present motor vehicle
commissioner.
In addition to this, the bill
would create the office of as
sistant comptroller. director OF
gasoline tax collection, and di-
rector of privilege tax collec-
tions.
The recess committee eharg-
ed that considerable evidence
of grating was uncovered in the
collection of privilege taxes from
interstate transport trucks travel
ing across Mississippi, IN the &C
ceptance of cash bonds and fines
by highway patrolmen which
they pocketed; and in irregulari-
ties in filming practices BY unnam'
ed justices of the peace.
Highway Patrol
The most controversial issue
OF the reorganization bill or
iginally had provided for remov
ing the present highway patro.
from control Of the Commission
er of Public Safety and placing
it under the jurisdiction of the
new office of motor vehicle comp
troller, with the highway patro
chief subordinate to him.
The bill was at first defeated
with this provision in it, 64-6;
Supporters of the bill then a
greed to the compromise measure
of leaving the highway patro
as it is and removing all pro
visions pertaining to it from th'
bill. With these changes th'
measure passed on the following
day 107-l6.
Left in the bill. despite stronl
opposition, was a provision call
ed "the little Hatch act which
prohibits employees of the mo
tor vehicle comptroller's officI
from engaging in any politica
activity other than to cast thei
own votes in an election.
Much Politics
Debate on the bill REVEALED
swift cross-currents of politica
interests which We're frankl'
acknowledged by members IL
the eloakroom gossip. though no
so frankly expressed on tn.
floor.
Much Of the opposition to IN
bill came from political allie
Continued on Page 81