B-118653, OCT. 18, 1960
Highlights
MARTIN: THIS IS IN RESPONSE TO YOUR TELEGRAM OF OCTOBER 11. TO ASK THE UNITED STATES ATTORNEY GENERAL TO HAVE THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION MAKE APPROPRIATE INQUIRY INTO ALLEGED IMPROPRIETIES IN EXPENDITURES MADE IN PARK COUNTY. AS YOU ARE PROBABLY AWARE. ARE CONCERNED PRINCIPALLY WITH THE NEED FOR IMPROVEMENT IN CERTAIN POLICIES. IT IS THE POLICY OF THE GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE TO PROMPTLY REFER TO THE APPROPRIATE CRIMINAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY ALL MATTERS WHICH HAVE CRIMINAL IMPLICATIONS NOTED DURING THE PERFORMANCE OF OUR FUNCTIONS. WE ARE NOT NOW IN POSSESSION OF ANY SUCH INFORMATION CONCERNING THE HIGHWAY PROGRAM IN MONTANA. WE TRUST THAT YOU WILL FIND THE ABOVE COMMENTS RESPONSIVE TO YOUR INQUIRY.
B-118653, OCT. 18, 1960
TO MR. FRED J. MARTIN:
THIS IS IN RESPONSE TO YOUR TELEGRAM OF OCTOBER 11, 1960, IN WHICH YOU CALL ATTENTION TO RECENT INVESTIGATIONS OF INTERSTATE SYSTEM HIGHWAY EXPENDITURES IN PARK COUNTY, MONTANA, BY THE MONTANA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND BY THE SPECIAL SUBCOMMITTEE ON THE FEDERAL-AID HIGHWAY PROGRAM, COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC WORKS, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. YOU SUGGEST THAT IT MAY BE WELL, IN VIEW OF THE PUBLICITY GIVEN TO THE RESULTS OF THESE INVESTIGATIONS AND THE APPARENT LACK OF ANY DEFINITE LEGAL ACTION BEING TAKEN AGAINST RESPONSIBLE PARTIES, TO ASK THE UNITED STATES ATTORNEY GENERAL TO HAVE THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION MAKE APPROPRIATE INQUIRY INTO ALLEGED IMPROPRIETIES IN EXPENDITURES MADE IN PARK COUNTY.
AS YOU ARE PROBABLY AWARE, THIS OFFICE SUBMITTED A REPORT DATED OCTOBER 4, 1960, TO THE CONGRESS ON OUR REVIEW OF THE FEDERAL-AID HIGHWAY PROGRAM AS ADMINISTERED BY THE BUREAU OF PUBLIC ROADS IN THE STATES OF MONTANA AND OREGON. DURING THE COURSE OF OUR REVIEW OF THE HIGHWAY PROGRAM IN MONTANA, WE EXAMINED A SELECTED NUMBER OF RIGHT-OF WAY AND OTHER TRANSACTIONS INVOLVING THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE INTERSTATE SYSTEM IN MONTANA. COMMENTS IN OUR REPORT ON MATTERS RELATING TO PROJECTS LOCATED IN, OR WITHIN THE VICINITY OF, PARK COUNTY, MONTANA, ARE CONCERNED PRINCIPALLY WITH THE NEED FOR IMPROVEMENT IN CERTAIN POLICIES, PROCEDURES, AND CONTROLS WITHIN THE BUREAU OF PUBLIC ROADS AND THE MONTANA STATE HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT. WE DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THESE MATTERS WOULD NECESSARILY BE APPROPRIATE FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION BY THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION.
IT IS THE POLICY OF THE GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE TO PROMPTLY REFER TO THE APPROPRIATE CRIMINAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY ALL MATTERS WHICH HAVE CRIMINAL IMPLICATIONS NOTED DURING THE PERFORMANCE OF OUR FUNCTIONS. ACCORDINGLY, SHOULD THIS OFFICE OBTAIN INFORMATION INDICATING THAT A FEDERAL CRIMINAL LAW HAS BEEN VIOLATED WITH RESPECT TO TRANSACTIONS PERTAINING TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE INTERSTATE SYSTEM IN MONTANA, OR ANY OTHER STATE, WE WOULD IMMEDIATELY REPORT THE MATTER TO THE COGNIZANT LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY. WE ARE NOT NOW IN POSSESSION OF ANY SUCH INFORMATION CONCERNING THE HIGHWAY PROGRAM IN MONTANA.
WE TRUST THAT YOU WILL FIND THE ABOVE COMMENTS RESPONSIVE TO YOUR INQUIRY.