Milford chronicle., 1953-01-23
Name Culver
IN ew R a d
Board Head
Delmar Democrat Takes
Post Vacated By ]. H.
Tyler Mcconnell; Dick
Haber, On Party Vote,
Continued AS Chief
Engineer For Year.

Following an hours caucus in
the office of Gov EIbert N. Car
vel, the four Democratic members
Of the State Highway Commission
last week elected one of their
group, Samuel N. Culver Of Delmar,
as chairman to succeed J. H. Tyler
Mcconnell, Democrat, of near Will
mington.
Is The election of Mr.. Culver-by
voice vote but not unanimously
came after the three Republican
members of the commission tried
in vain to have Mr.. Mcconnell re-
consider his resignation as chair
man.
The cOmmission-also by strict
party vote of four Democrats for
and three Republicans against
named Richard A. Haber to con-
tinue as chief engineer for the
calendar year of 1858; also Leroy
+. Hawke as secretary, and Harold
III. Keller of Laurel as motor We
hicle commissioner.
Last months motion to have
these men, also Superintendent Of
State Police Harry S. Shew and
Delaware Memorial Bridge Super
intendent G. Lester Daniels on a
month-tO-mOnth basis was rescind-
ed.
And so Colonel Shew and Mr..
Daniels continue in their posts at
the pleasure of the commission.
It was announced, in the course
of the meeting, that Robert Wether-
all of Wilmington Manor, who has
been with the Highway Department
for about 13 years, has been named
acting divisional engineer for New
Castle County, to succeed John 1.
Catalan of Wilmington who re-
Gently resigned.
The Republican members of the
State Highway COmmissiOn-biding
their time until they take over con-
trol of the Highway Department in
May when there will be four Re-
publicans to three Democrats on the
commissiOn-raised the question of
the legality of the year appoint
ments.
uC OCCAClaAy W NAAC COAAllAAo0lOAA
and the motor vehicle commission
er, according to the law, are sup
posed to serve at the pleasure of
the commission but the law also
states that the commission "shali
employ a chief engineer, for such
time, not exceeding one year. as
may be determined by the depart
ment," etc.
Mr. Culver whose term as high
way commissioner runs until 1856,
was at one time speaker of the
State House of Representatives
and has been a Sussex County
Democratic leader for a number
of years.
While he may continue as chair
man, at least until April, in the
meantime, he has inherited the i'm.
portant job of helping to guide
through a Republican controlled
General Assembly, the biennia
highway department road con
structiOn program.
Just how much of surprise thu
election of Mr. Culver was to tn,
Republican members of the High
way Commission is unknown, sincl
by this time, all the commissioner
have learned how to put on poke,
faces,
These decisions took place behinl
closed doors; in fact, it was on,
Of the rare executive sessions o
the Highway Commission in tn
past year.
AS the commissioners assemble,
in their meeting room on the sec
ond floor of the Highway Building
in Dover, Mr.. Mcconnell took tn
chair. A broad but firm hint wa
given to the press, that perhap
they might want to be outside.
No sooner had the reporter
cleared the room, than the decision
Of the caucus held with GoVernO
Carvel began to be implemented-
however with one bit of delay.