New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-04-22
DANGER In WEST BILL.
MANIPULATTON FEARED.
WOuld Make Po1Cerful Democratic
Machine Possible.
IBy telegraph to The Tribune.J


viding that the state shall bear the entire ex-
pense of good roads work under the HigbIs-
Armstrong law. lies the possibility of political
manipulation having for its object the de-
moralization of the Republican organization
throughout the rural sections Of the state and
the building up Of powerful Democratic ma
chine. None Of this is contemplated IN the
measure itself. which is designed 20 relieve the
farmers of taxation for this good roads work.
It's possibilities centre in the great power con-
ferred on the State Engineer who in the present
case is surrounded by political agents keeuly
looking for every stray crumb Of political pat
ronage
Despite the fact that Republican introduced
the bill and that Republican Observation-Disclosures
enced by the demands Of Republican farmers for
improved roads without cost TO themselves-are
demanding its passage. influential Republican
leaders are opposing the West bill at every Op-
portunity. They declare privately that 1t would
place in the hands of their political enemies a
weapon of tremendous pOvver. besides having In
Itself principle concerning whose wisdom there
is great doubt
This BILL briefly amends the Higbie-Arm-
strong law governing the building and financing
OF state roads by providing that instead Of bear
ing so per cent Of the total expense OF such
work. the state shall bear the whole To un-
derstand it's operations, summary OF the pro-
cedure necessary for the improvement OF a road
under the existing law is necessary. The super
visors of a county having decided to build
improve certain roads under the Higbie-Arm-
strong law. confer with the State Engineer
who. after surveys makes maps and estimates
for the work, If approved by the supervisors.
these are adopted. and the county files an appli-
cation for this work. This application is listeds
and. other things being equal. the work Is taken
up in the order in which the applications were
filed by the counties. Payment is made. 80 per
cent b. tne state S5 per cent by the county
and 10 yer cent by the town or towns.
The significant feature Of the West bin. in the
minds Of Republican legislators who for years
have studied the good roads question. is that it
would leave the State Engineer practically tho
sole arbiter of good roads work throughout the
state. since he would have entire disposition OF
the money which was building the roads. With
this must be taken another fact. to appreciate
the views held by Republicans who realize the
far reaching nature OF this situation: Stephen
Ryan appointed a supervisor of roads by State
Engineer Skene. is favoring the West bill
Stephen Ryan is a Hearst-DenOcratic membe-
~ the Democratic State Committee. and Stephen
Ryan Is a practical politician who. his neigh
bcrs IN Chenango County say. misses few tricks.
He is only one prominent example of this type
Of activity
The county is practically the unit in state pO-
HticaI affairs. WlthTi the upstate ceztrtS. ses-
peeiaIIy the entirely rural county nothing ap-
prOaches in Importance the general question OF
highways. Any man who could grant or with
hold state funds under this law could in almost
every ease win to himself the political support
of a great majority of the voters in the average
agricultural county when the question of patron
age incident 10 the building OF state road is
concerned. Heretofore the supervisors of the
counties and the town boards, varying in poll
tics according the section of the state. have
been in a position to have a great deal TO say
about the roads and all the questions incident
10 building them. If the West bill became law,
the plant of the Republicans is that the state
Engineer. because of his disbursing power.
would have the entire say.
over this situation brisk factional fight is
being waged. Some weeks ago Senator Dunn, OF
Rochester introduced bill creating a commits
sion which should take over the control oe
future good roads work under the Higbie-ArIn-
strong law. This with the bills proposed by the
Senate Finance Committee 'a5OIshtng the Canal
Advisory Board and substituting for it board
appointed by the Governor. which should con-
troll all canal work. has been gall and worm
wood TO the Democrats here. They insist
that the Republicans are seeking to cUrtail the
power OF a Democratic state official and az times
there have been shown evidences OF much bad
blood over the subject.
On the other hand. some Republicans main
tain that subject to the control of a Cassidy or
a Corners. this power lodged in any one man
must Inevitably be swayed 10 political ends.
The State Engineer. under the Higbie-Arul~
strong act is authorized To pass on the question
oF the necessity for good roads work in any spe-
cfdc case. Whether that work should be taken up
,r,n,edfatev or deferred until all the other work
listed In the formal batch OF applications for
state aid was completed would depend COM
pIeteIv on his will Legislators cOncede that tE
has taken an object lesson to demonstrate the
bad features of this condition. even as the Demo
Gratis charge. But they declare emphatically
that they are alive to the effect of this now, and
determined to limit wherever feasible any chance
for political manCeuvTings in the road building
with state money
Last year the state spent some $5OOO0O for
road work on the 80 per cent basis On the
same easis a larger amount would be spent this
year II is one of the current pleasantries that
a good upstate county worker related last year
with much emphasis
The Democrats are pOOr-blamed poor. Why
neighbor they are So poor that you'd actually
be surprised how far SO would go in my
county
An adequate realization of this fact Is furnish
ing part Of the opposition to the West bill. which
many Of the good Republican farmers attribute
To a disinclination spend the states money for
their benefit.
WORKING HARD ON BILL.