New-York tribune., 1908-05-20
NEW HIGHWAY CODE
Gouernor Hughes Signs Merritt
Bill portant Legislation.

Albany Nav 1o-Governor Hughes this afternoon
signed the bill Of AssembIymsn Merritt creating
a new highway code for this state and replacing
the Higbie-Armstrong and FuIIer-Plank laws unds'
which highway construction and maintenance are
now carried on.
The most radical change in the highway system
OF the state made by the new law is the transls
of Jurisdiction construction and nlaintenancs
from the State Engineer and Surveyor 70 sfats
highway commission The changes are sweeping
along the line supervision. district SUPER
vision, county supervision and town supervisor
all are revoutionized, the elective OFFICE OF Hsn-
way Commissioner is abolished and succeeded N
a new office to be known that of town super
fntendent that official To be elected for a term
OF two years; and gigantic system or trunk nsn.
ways. ramifying through all important sections OL
state is laid to be entirely constructor q
the expense of the state. In addition. hundreds OF
minor changes are made which relate to the prac-
teal work Of highway construction Important
among these changes is the final abolition OF us
ancient labor system" OF road work and the SUD
sttution of the money system OF the 95+ towns
OF the state. more than two-thtrds had alreaO5
by vote adopted the money system. and the near
ings before the joint committee developed the lAe.
that practically all the remaining towns taVofsa
the change.
The administrative responsibility under me new
law is vested in State Commission OF HIGHWAYS
which will succeed the state Engineer and sur
veyor. as far as highway work is coheelleu' y"
January 1. 1909 The act says that 'Ou or osLo's
the 10th day of January. 1909 the Governor SHd4
appoint three commissioners Of highways, oy anu
with the advice of the Senate. who shall consttuls
the Commission Of Highways, and shall devote an
OF their time 10 the duties Of their office ut 'n'
commissioners first appointed one shan ne dss.s-
mated by the Governor as chairman during US
term office OF the commission. one of them sna'l
be practical civil engineer. who shall have hAd
actual experience the construction Of hish"a!s
and bridges" The commission is required 70 De u
partisan, the law requiring that at least one sn1'
be member of the minority party in the stae
The terms of the commissioners are 10 be six years.
except that those first appointed shall serve t"0.
four and six years. respectively. The salary u
the chairman is TO be s6.0o0 year. and the o'ns'
Will receive $5OHo a year Each must give
bond of $500. Provision is made for two depuuss'
both of when shall receive $3.50 year and ooiN
OF whom must have had experience IN road ouio-
ing The first deputy is to be in charge OF sta''
and county highways: the second. of highways
and bridges.
Provision made for four distinct classes OF
highways-trunk highways. TO connect important
cities and be built entirely by the state. county
highways TO connect the important points IN eacl
county to be constructed the joint expense OF
the state. county and town. town highways 10
county highways. to be paid for by the state anu
tirely by the town. The new feature is the ouAd'
ing OF the main state roads the cost of the sd'
The act takes over the essence OF the Hsoe-
Armstrong and F'uIer-PIan laws. and the 81
called Grange sliding scale enacted last year