Evening star., 1960-06-03
Road Chief Denies
Politics in Custer
Pritehett Case
Triggers Row
In Maryland

In Maryland
BALTIMORE. June 3 (AP).
= State Roads Commission
Chairman John B. Funk said
today there was mo political
inspiration" in the removal Of
the commissions chief engi-
neer, Norman M. Pritchett.
Mr.. Funk said the commits
sion had merely exercised its
right of appointment" in nam
ing David H. Fisher. chief of
the division of administration
to the post.
The surprise announcement
last night brought immediate
criticism from State Senator j.
Raymond Burlington. jr., DEM
ocrat of Baltimore. He limited
political motives may have
been behind the change and
said he would call on the Legis-
lative Council to investigate
the hidden motives"
Senator Burlington is close
friend of Pritchett," Mr.. Funk
said today. II can understand
why he may be upset"
Mr.. Funk pointed out there
have been five chief engineers
in the last 20 years, and that
it was almost normal" for a
new commission to appoint a
new chief engineer.
The roads chairman said one
of the seven commissioners
Suggested that the commits
sion exercise its right of ap-
pointment, and after a dis
cussion of about two hours
decided to make the change.
Longer Than Average Term
Actually, Pritchett has had
a longer tenure of Office than
the four-t five-year avergae
term of recent chief engineers"
Mr.. Funk said. "Hc has been
in Office since 1883"
The original commission an
nouncement last night said the
50-year old engineer had re-
signed the $14,200-a-year post,
which will be raised to $16,500
July /.
Asked if he considered the
commission action a discharge,
Mr.. Pritchett said. anytime
you're replaced and don't re-.
sign, it is tantamount to the
same thing"
Mr.. Pritchett has been a
commission employe since 1928
and chief engineer since 1858.
"The Commission was en-
tirely within its prerogative in
asking for my resignation" Mr..
Pritchett said today.
Asked if he had any advance
notice of the action, he an
swered:
mo. 1t would seem that
would have been a little more
proper"
Asked about Senator Buff
flngton's hint of possible poll
tics involved, Mr.. Pritchett con-
ceded, That's possible but
there's no indication of it."
He recalled that although he
is a registered Democrat, he
was appointed by a Republican,
former Gov. McKeldin. in 1858.
Three Job Offers
The commission offered him
a post as consulting engineer"
until could get adjusted" Mr..
Pritchett said.
II had three job offers when
I got home from the ball game
last night" he said. IT haven't
decided yet what my next move
will be.
During the eight-year tenure
of Gov. McKeldin the roads
commission was a frequent tar
get of criticism by some mem
bers Of the Democrat-controlled
Legislature.
After Gov. Tawes, a Demo-
crat, was inaugurated last lear,
the Legislature revamped the
commission makeup, expanding
it from three members to seven.
One Of the criticisms of the
commission under Gov. Nickel
din'S administration was that
the chief engineer was gwen too
much responsibility.
| Z Served With County
Mr.. Fisher, 46, took a post
with the State agency last year
after he had served with John
B. Funk on the Baltimore
County roads department. Mr..
Funk resigned as head of county
roads to accept the post of SRC
chairman.
At the General Assembly
earlier this year the lawmakers
rewrote much of the States H.
year road program. The new
program emphasizes building
Of main highways and pushes
secondary roads to a lower
priority rating.
According to Attorney Gen.
eral c. Ferdinand Sybert, there
is a substantial difference in the
pension benefits an official gets
according to whether he re.
signs or is dismissed. 1t is about
twice as great if he is dismissed.
cod AZ, Ctx,ta,.k