Madison County Democrat. (London, Ohio) 19??-1958, 1951-10-09
WetzeI Scores
Road Collapse

= n EMEIN1 OF Clarence l..
Wetzel, State Representative, Co
lurnbiana CountytR): Coincident
with business trip to Colum-
bus. ] noticed naturally the shock
ing story in the evening papers
of Tuesday. Sept, 25, dealing
with the Farcial Highway 1lnlapse
near New Philadelphia the same
date.
To ay that I was dumfounded
is putting 1t mildly. My record
IN the Ohio Legislature has mar
ked me as a consistent adversary
of Highway Department Politick-
ing; and if I ever felt substanti-
ated on my charges that q
thorough housekeeping is need
ed in this division of Ohio Govern
ment, l feel it now.
Not only has this particular
breakdown served to point up
my contentious that we have a
feeble Highway Administration
in this state. but has happen
ed in my own backyard Division
F. Eleven of the Highway Depart
ment-and / for one call now for
a thorough statewide examina-
ton of this Departments policies.
More so, / think it is necessary
in view of the fact that Legisla-
ton which passed both Houses of
the Last General Assembly and
demanded such an investigation
died under the veto of our Cover
nor, an hypocritical individual
who tells the public from one
side of his mouth that we must
have improved highways and
from the other, by such vetoes,
denies the Public from the other
side of the story that h is sad
died with one of the weakest.
most politically-packed Highway
Departments on record.
Why did this Primary Thorough
fare, in one of the heaviest trave-
led areas i'm our state, collapse
within 10 minutes after it was
opened TO both passenger anC
commercial traffic?
Why was Director Kauer so
prompt in generating 10 to u
individuals he summarily suspend
ed for 30-day periods: leaving
only two assistant division offic-
ials holding the bag?
Why is there no mention
throughout Director Kauer's re-
ported investigation of the top
Supervisory Agent of the Ohio
Highway Department Division
Engineer Dawson Smith? Where
was Mr.. Smith when t he appro-
val was given TO a sub-contractor
to place top-dressing o n faulty
eight-foot fill and base substance
which fell apart-top dressing and
all-under its first traffic flow?
How many other Ohio roads
for which many reasons have
been advanced as to deterioration
had somewhat the same sloppy
workmanship approved by even
more haphazard State Officials?
I demand the answer to these
questions as an elected member
Of the Ohio House of Represen-
tatives and as a member of The
House Highway Committee and
House Commerce and Transporta-
ton Committee, both of which
conscientiously listened to the
prolonged appeals of the State
Highway Director for additional
funds to. as he put it do his job.
For the life of me, cannot
see that the Administration of
Gov. Lausche was sincere in stat
ing its case-which at every turn
demanded additional Public Taxes
To make IS alleged program
workable. AS 4 member of Com
naittees which did submit to GER
tain demands presented b Y Di-
rector Kauer, representing the
Governor at all times, / certain
~ feel duped.
For instance, we allowed the
Highway Department 715 million
dollars under one bill and placed
at his disposal S244-nillion for
new c obstruction and mainten-
ancc-in the reasonable good faith
that he intended to provide the
better roads system this great
State so sorely needs. But after
New Philadelphia's experience,
what can we believer
I believe the members of our
committees certainly can feel
satisfied that-despite the Post
Legislature abuse heaped on u s.
we were absolutely right in re-
fusing to fall for such Pork-Bar-
rel Revenue-Raisin Program as
the Governors demands for tom
mile taxes, heavily increased IL
censed fees, substantially boosted
gasoline taxes. and rise in
liquid fuel levies.
In the light of he New Phila-
delphia Divisions reported appro-
val of the fill and base over which
Contractor poured his top-dres=
sing, / fail to see howsthe i High