The Newtown bee., 1909-12-24

copy of an article by Attorney Charles M. Robinson of New Haven, who crltieises Commissioner Macdonald and his methods pretty sharply. In referring to Commissioner MaeDon- aids replies to his previous charges, Attorney Robinson declares that they only cloud the real issue and that so far absolutely nothing has come from MT Macdonald or his friends that ex- plain the charges which have been made. MT Robinson says 1t is now time to act and he recommends that an investigation be started which shall collect data and information re- gardlng the roads in the State and the expense incurred in constructing them. Attorney Robinson calls at- tention to the fact that no charge of dishonesty has even been hinted, al- though Commissioner Macdonald comes forward to declare that he is ready to answer any such charge. The real charge is that the State Is spending large sums of money for in- ferior roads and that nothing is be- ing done, in comparison with other states, to keep the roads in repair after they are built, one of the most important necessities in the mainte- nance of good roads. Attention is called to the fact that Mir Macdonald complains of not having enough mon ey to make repairs. He is then re- minded that he has been able to get
 large appropriations for new roads, increased salary with allowance for expenses and an automobile for him self ana increased appropriations for his office, and yet he has made no ef- fort to get sufficient appropriations for repairs. It is shown that other States eXpend from $500 to $500 a mile for repairs, while Commissioner Macdonald secures put $50 a mile. Attorney Robinson claims that this is a situation which needs immediate attention and he holds that it is time to ca. a halt. There are other charges against the Highway Depart ment, 13 in all, and some of them are serious. For instance, it is held that our highways, cost, age and traffic considered, are inferior to those of adjoining states. Then the new high ways instead of wearing down and remaining solid, as in other states, "unravel' after a few months wear. Again, highways are too narrow and the crown is too high. Still another charge is that the oiling is done at the wrong time and is useless. The use of screenings is condemned and the work of the inspectors is criti- cised. Then it is asserted that the Highway Department is political machine and that men utterly un- acquainted with road making are hired for services that ought to com mand the attention of experts. Here you have the management of the city street departments duplicated in the State Department. Attention is called to the fact that in Europe, where they make the finest roads in the world, road building is consid- cred an art and only experts are en- ployed. It is asserted that Commits sioner Macdonald has so little knowl- edge of the requirements of his De- partment that he talks of picking up assistants as he would laborers. In conclusion, Attorney Robinson holds that the system existing in Connecti- cut is obsolete and the State is ab- solutely throwing away money on its roads. He shows how the automobll- ist suffers, because he is twice taz- payer and he :dsists that it is time something was done to correct the existing conditions. .:a