The record-union., 1897-07-22
ILLEGAL PROCEEDINGS.

Our local columns recently gave an
account of the work the members Of
the Department of Highways are do
ing, and are scheduled to do, for the
Board of Public Works. That is, the
Highway Commissioners are busying
themselves with river work, with ex-
animation of shoals, borings to ascer-
lain deposit depths, making trips up
and down river inspecting levees and
river banks. estimating costs of pos
sible river work, and incuiring into
plans for drainage and control of food
waters, and so on.
Who ordered, or had any authority TO
order, the Department of Highways to
neglect it's own affairs and go to work
for the Public Works Commission? By
what authority do these Highway Com
missioners draw down salaries for duty
doing prescribed in the law of their Gre
alton, but engage in the work Of a
department having no relation to their
own, and provided for as to equipment
and cost by the law creating it?
The members of the Department of
Highways took solemn oaths to support
the laws and the Constitution. That
means that they are to discharge the
duties imposed upon them by the law
of their creation, and no others. They
have no more right to draw salaries as
Highway Commissioners while doing
the work of department to which they
are in no wise related than they would
have If ordered by some supposed au-
thority to trot down to Stockton and
hold autopsies on the late tuberculosis
cows of the insane asylum. or devote
their time, or any of it, to the business
of the State Agricultural Society or the
Ingleside race-course.
They are commanded by the law that
erected the department to do certain
;hings. and do it well, and in all proper
working hours, for which they are paid.
If that Act does not give them enough
TO do ii is not their fault, and no one
would blame them for resting upon their
oars. But the law does give them
enough to do. The road question is as
broad and big as it ever was, and the
need for the education of the public to
the true economies of that question is
as pressing as ever.
The words of the Act" giving them
official existence are, They shall not
actively engage in any other pursuit
while serving as Highway Commission
ers," and again, They shall devote
their entire time to the service of the
State 1t then proceeds to say that
the board shall examine into existing
highway conditions in the State of CAL
ifornia, and shall, furthermore, make
such Investigations within the State as
will put at the service of the State the
most approved methods of highway
Improvement" 1t is to collect and
collate data relating TO the geological
formation of the State. in so far as
it relates to material suitable for high
way construction, and make analyses
and tests of such material as it may
deem suitable for highway uses, with
the view to determining the value of
the same for such purposes" 1t is to
prescribe forms and styles of books
for use by officials, in which to keep
the account of the expenditure of high
way money! etc. 1t is to supply in
formation relative to highways re-
quired by any county or district Off
cial having care of and authority over
highways within the State" etc.
1t is said that the idea is that economy
can be conserved by letting the road
question rest for a year, and turning
over Engineers Manson and Price TO
the work of the Public Works Depart
ment, while Commissioner Ashe is left
TO keep shop and hold down the office
chairs during the brief periods he takes
from his own affairs to visit the De-
partment office. 1t is farce be-
ing played at the expense of the
State? Is there any distinction be-
tween drawing salary as
State official for one thing, and deyot-