Evening star., 1955-07-10
MARYLAND:
Roods Quiz
Opposition
Buckfires
BY GENE GOODWIN

| leg1SlaC1ve mVeSugatlon OF
the State Roads Commission.
Developments of the past
few days seem to make some
sort of investigation impera-
tive If public confidence in the
commission and the McKeldin
administration is to be re-
stored. There is need for the
public to be given the truth
behind the disturbing facts
being disclosed about the giant
State agency in newspaper re-
ports.
Gov. McKeldin's opposition
to an investigation of his Re-
publican roads commission by
the Democratic Legislature was
understandable. He felt that
the Democrats would use it as
a sort of political hayride.
The roads probe measure
was defeated by one vote in
the State Senate although it
passed by a large margin in
the House.
1t is true that the Demo-
cratic assault on the roads
commission began in last
years political campaign. The
Democratic candidate for
Governor, DR.. H. c. Byrd. de-
voted most of his campaign to
a series of attacks on the COM
mission, particularly the con-
tract for acquiring the land
needed for the $3.50 million
Baltimore tunnel approaches.
It also is true that a legis-
lative Investigation probably
would do harm to the 12-year,
multi-million-dollar roads pro-
gram, of which Gov. McKeldin
and Commission Chairman
Russell H. Mccain are 80
proud.
Dangerous Implication
But the Governor surely must
realize that the implication in
recent newspaper disclosures
Of right-of-way speculation
and high expense accounting
by commission officials is that
he and his commission fought
the legislative investigation
because they had something to
hide.
Many thoughtful Mary
landers are beginning to
wonder now whether there
wasn't more truth than politics
in DR.. Byrd's charges Of
"extravagance, favoritism and
waste" in the roads commits
sion. The tunnel deal, espe-
cially, takes on new sig
nif1cance.
You will remember that DR..
Byrd said-and this later was
confirmed by commission Of
flcials-that two Baltimore
realty firms. one headed by
former Roads Commission
Member David M. Nichols.
were given the contract to buy
up the land the State needed
for the tunnel approaches.
Under the terms of this
novel contract. the two firms
are to get 71a per cent Of
whatever the approach right
of-way costs. Estimates are
that the two firms split about
$720, 900 on the deal.
The Legislatures Senate FL
nance Committee discovered
that Mr.. Nichols, a big Balti-
more and Eastern Shore real
estate man, resigned from the
commission in April, 1854, Just
two months before his firm
was given the controversial
contract. Negotiations on the
tunnel land project had started
almost a year before Mr..
Nichols resigned.
Bramwell Kelly, whom the
Governor appointed to sue
coed Mr.. Nichols on the COM
mission, previously had been
associated with Mr.. Nichols in
a real estate business in Bal
timore.
Shoke- Up Due
Public fears about the COM
mission were not allayed even
slightly by reports from asso-
ciates Of the Governor that he
is preparing to make some
major personnel changes in
the agency. The shake-up is
said to be due any day now.
Gov. McKeldin repeatedly
has decided to oust Mr.. Nc
Cain, a fellow Republican, as
chairman and replace him
with Russell S. Davis, a Dem
ocrat and at present the State
commissioner of personnel.
Commissioner Edgar Ben
nett. a Republican, is to be
offered new post in another
agency to make room for Mr..
Davis, who has built up a repu-
tation during his 20-odd years
IN State government as a top
notch administrator.
Under the Governors re-
shufhing plan, Mr.. Mccain.
1t is understood, will be asked
10 stay on as a member of the
commission. Whether Mr..
Mccain would accept such a
step-down. is a question yet
to be answered.
1t would not be unusual for
Gov. McKeldin TO appoint a
DemQcrat to such a high State
office. He has done so before.
That is part of his secret of
political success in Maryland.
But observers are wondering
whether he might not be
favoring a Democrat in this
instance in the hope that
Democratic legislators will
then be less anxious to in
vestigate the commission in
next years session.