Los Angeles herald., 1908-06-18
HIGHWAY COMMISSION
TO REPORT SHORTLY
WILL RECOMMEND EXTENSIVE
IMPROVEMENTS
Work on Three Hundred Miles OF Road
Expected to Necessitate Bond
Issue of Three Million
Dollars

The report of the county highway
presented to the board of supervisors
in May, but was delayed because of the
large amount of work its compilation
involved, probably will be filed with the
supervisors next week. The engineers
calculations practically are fiished and
there remain but few minor details
before the report will be ready for pre-
sentation.
Three hundred miles of highways
will be recommended for improvement
This will necessitate a $3,000,000 bond
issue.
The following communication TO
Chairman Daggett of the highway COM
mission was issued by the district at
torney and explains the relations be-
tween the highway commission and the
board of supervisors relative to the
Improvement of highways:
Mr.. c. D. Daggett, Chairman High
way Commission-Dear Sir: In re-
Spouse to your request for statement
as to the relative functions of the high
way commission and the board of su-
peryisors in connection with the I'M
provement of highways under the high
way commission act of 1907, l beg to
submit the following:
Under the act the initiative of all
matters connected with the improve
ment of highways lies with the high
way commission. The power OF the
board of supervisors is negative. They
may at any time block or stop the pro-
ceedings, but they cannot take any
affirmative action. The highway COM
mission is to determine and report
what highways should be improved and
the board of supervisors may either
adopt this report or refer 1t back to
the highway commission. but cannot
amend It, If they adopt the report
they must without delay call bond
election. If bonds are voted and sold,
the proceedings are to be used only for
the purposes specified in the report or
the highway commission unless there
is a surplus, which may be used on
other highways under the direction or
the commission. No money can be
paid from this fund without first re-
ceiving the approval of the highway
commission, and also the approval of
the board of supervisors. The COM
mission has the preparation of plans,
specifications. etc, for the work to be
done, but before these are used they
must be adopted by the board of SUI
pervisors, who may reject them, but
cannot amend them.
The supervisors are charged with the
letting of the contracts, but are re-
quired to let them to the lowest bidder,
or if the bids are too high, they may
authorize the highway commission to
purchase materials and do the work
without contract. The commission
employs all the necessary engineers,
inspectors, ETC., but must have the con-
sent of the board of supervisors to
such employment. The work is to be
done under the supervision of the high
way commission, but it's final accept
ance is to be made by the board OF
supervisors.
From the foregoing review Of the
act it will appear that while the final
decision upon all important matters is
with the board of supervisors, yet they
must in all such matters either adopt
or reject the proposals which the high
way commission makes to them. They
are not authorized to engraft new mat
ter upon such proposals.
Yours very truly,
J. D. FREDERICKS,
District Attorney.
By Hartley Shaw, Chief Deputy.