| Show Bateman's Batemans Charges Should Shoud Be Checked Dr E. E Allen Bateman state superIntendent superintendent superintendent super super- of public instruction has made some serious charges relative to the operation operation operation op op- op- op of the states state's car pool which furnishes state state owned automobiles for use of state officials and at a a. claimed substantial saving Dr Bateman contends that the car carpool carpool carpool pool operation is so inefficient that repeatedly repeatedly repeatedly re re- re- re vehicles have mechanical de de- de- de He listed a number of defects found by his department in a week six period period brake brake failure on a mountain road dangerously thin tires brakes ineffective ineffective ineffective in wet weather defective windshield windshield windshield wind wind- shield wipers no second gear faulty heater no freeze anti-freeze no front door lock complete car breakdown on two occasions occasions occasions occa occa- requiring towing to P P. H H. Mulcahy chairman of the state finance commission to whom the criticism criticism criticism cism was directed denied Dr Batemans Bateman's s 's charges and defended the operation of the car pool He promised however that thata a thorough investigation would be made While this argument may be simply a continuation of the standing long-standing feud between the state administration and the state department of education the charges of mechanically unsafe state cars cannot just be shrugged off as of no consequence State vehicles are inspected at state road commission sion shops and repairs are usually made there The state ought to tobe he be just as able to maintain its vehicles in safe condition as any private motorist and and if anything the state has a greater moral responsibility for setting an example example example ex ex- ex- ex ample on vehicle safety Dr Batemans Bateman's charges certainly should be investigated to determine whether they are just or not It would however be preferable if the investigation tion could be carried out by some independent independent independent inde inde- pendent agency not associated with either eith eith- er the finance department the state department department department de de- de- de of education or even with the state administration Why not ask representatives of the Salt Lake City Ogden and Provo police traffic divisions to make a check of the mechanical condition of state cars They have the experience to do a good job and they would probably be as unbiased as any competent group of investigators in Utah |
