The Colville examiner. [volume] (Colville, Wash.) 1907-1948, 1909-01-16

reservation where no previous board was ever able
to get roads. In this connection it should be
stated that Clair Hunt furnished valuable assist
ance to the commissioners.
But few people realize the hard work and small
pay of commissioner. And besides this he gets
all the blame. The actions of the past board have
been credit to the members and of great value
to the county. The new board takes office with
the determination to conduct matters to the best
interests of the county, and in this it should have
the assistance of all the taxpayers
49,
Visitors at the courthouse Monday could see
that the new board was beset by troubles which
democratic board would perhaps not have had For
instance the editor of the paper which claims to be
the representative republican paper of the coun-
ty' was almost the first caller on the new board
with an old bill of nearly 5000 which it had not
cared to present to the past board. 1t was pre-
sented without vouchers or any O. K. by any
county officials. The tall gent who presented it
hung around the outside until he finally heard it
was ordered paid, and then left fearing he might
encounter Commissioner Beggs. The board now
states that it will call for bids on printing Ev-
IDENTIFY the "representive republican paper etc.
hasn't been able to make arrangements with the
board which it fought so strenously in the
primaries. When the country becomes more civil
lied, the old idea may pass away that partisan
board should give members of that party a license
to receive personal perquisites
In his biennial report to the governor submitted
by State Highway Commissioner Joseph Shaw he
recommends the abolishment of the present high
way board, composed of tre state auditor, state
treasurer and highway commissioner He points
out that it is impossible for the auditor and treas
urer to make personal inspection of the work be-
ing carried on in the field and that if a highway
board is to be maintained it should be composed of
engineers who can devote their whole time to the
duties of the department. Mr.. Shaw doubts if the
results obtained would justify the additional ex-
pense of a highway board of engineers, and as the
highway commissioner is held entirely responsible
for the execution of the details of construction
work, he recommends that all matters connected
with the department be placed in the hands of the
highway commissioner He also recommends that
the salary of the office be made $4,000 year and
that an increase be allowed in the office force.
In his report Mr.. Shaw says there are two road
destroyers, the narrow tired wagon and the auto
mobile when driven at high speed. He urges a
law requiring wide tires and the regulation of
automobile speed, and the payment of an annual
license by the latter to assist in the maintenance
of the expensive roads which they use for speeding
purposes Mr.. Shaw recommends an amendment
providing that the maintenance of state roads
shall devolve upon the state and be paid for from
the public highway fund and that road fines be
paid into the public highway fund At present
the state has 1081 miles of state road established
and surveyed. The estimated cost of building
these roads is $4 50O 00O With the present reve-
nue. of 1914 900 per annum, one-half of which goes
to state roads and the other half to state aid roads,
it will take approximately "a years to complete
these established roads. Mr.. Shaw therefore rec
ommends that the levy for the highway fund be
increased to one mill
From 400 to 600 men have been availing them
selves of the offer of Billy Sunday in Spokane to
sleep in the big tabernacle during the cold nights
and a good fire is kept up for their benefit. This
is genuine form of Christianity and is certainly
appreciated by the homeless of Spokane during
these republican good times
The report of the state bar association nvesti-
eating committee concerning their findings in the
Root-Gordon scandal finds that Judge Root had
correspondence with M. J. Gordon, attorney for
the Great Northern Railway Company, concerning
money transaction; that Judge Root accepted
from the Great Northern, through NJ j. Gordon,
and from other railroads. free transportation; that
Judge Root filed as the opinion of the supreme
court an almost verbatim draft of an opinion die
tated by M j. Gordon, attorney for the Great
Northern, in the case of Harris against the rail
road company The committee is unable to obtain
any facts to substantiate the rumor of the giving
out of advance information concerning the deci-
sions of the supreme court. The committee de-
clares that the action of Judge Root in the Harris