An investigation into allegations about the administration of the Department of Transportation by the chairman of the commission should already be underway. Support for the DOT and for adequate road funding could be jeopardized in the Legislature if questions about improprieties and incompetence are allowed to persist.

DOT Commission Chairman Tee Hooper believes the problems are so substantial that executive director Elizabeth Mabry should resign. Ms. Mabry has denied all of Mr. Hooper's allegations and suggests that malcontents in the department have gotten his ear.

Regarding one particularly troubling charge that DOT missed a chance to obtain tens of millions in additional federal funds, Ms. Mabry countered that Mr. Hooper apparently doesn't understand the finances of the department.

Ms. Mabry, who has held her job for eight years, appears to have the backing of the rest of the highway commission. Nevertheless, the chairman's allegations are so serious that they should be either substantiated or dispelled. And coming from the chairman, who is the governor's at-large and sole appointee on the commission, the charges have special weight.

Mr. Hooper says that employee morale is a problem at the department and cites reports that some high-level employees have been provided state-owned vehicles for personal use. The reports contend that two management officials may have been pushed out by Ms. Mabry, presumably for expressing unfavorable opinions about her leadership.

As Mr. Hooper observed in his letter to Ms. Mabry, additional funding for DOT is at issue. One legislative plan would ensure that all gas taxes are used for road projects. Other legislators have said a gas tax increase is in order.

Mr. Hooper wrote that he wouldn't support "asking the Legislature for more tax money when I don't feel we appropriately spend what we do have."

The chairman's charges could take the steam out of funding proposals. At the least, the charges say that either the chairman or the rest of the commission is ill-informed about the department's operation. All but the chairman are appointed by state lawmakers from the state's six congressional districts.

The Legislative Audit Council serves as an investigative arm of the Legislature and has broad experience examining the performance of the Department of Transportation. Most recently, it investigated the highway department's paving contracts and suggested improvements.

The LAC would provide an even-handed review of the allegations, issue its findings and make recommendations to the agency if shortcomings are discovered.

Turnabout is fair play. If there is no substance to Mr. Hooper's complaints, the chairman should apologize and resign his position on the commission.

But surely matters won't be left where they are.