Los Angeles herald., 1910-06-14
BOARD ANGRY At
PR0BERS' TACTICS
Advisory Branch Highway Com
mission Rebels at Star
Chamber Session
WILL MEET THURSDAY NIGHT
Argues That Public Should Be AL
lowed to Know All About
the Charges

Following an all-day secret session
last Saturday afternoon at which the
members of the advisory committee of
the highway commission were cross
examined by Joseph Scott, chairman
of the investigation committee, ap-
pointed by the supervisors to probe
the charges of acknowledgement pre-
ferred by the advisory committee
against the highway commission, it
was stated yesterday that another
meeting for the further examination
of the advisory committeeman will be
held next Thursday night.
The various members of the advisory
committee, who insist that the public
should be allowed to attend these
meetings, evidently are destined to
lose in this important contention, as
the investigation committee shows no
inclination to conduct the hearing
openly.
The advisory committeeman yester-
day indulged in considerable criticism
of the methods employed by their IN
quisitors, stating tnat as the value
and power of the investigation COM
mittee's report will depend on the con-
fidence of the public in the good inten-
tions and method of this committee 1t
should let the public into it's conf
dence in the matter and that public
confidence is likely to be lost if the
committee continues to observe such
secrecy.
The public also, or at least that con-
siderable portion of it which is mani
Testing a lively interest in the high
way investigation, seems to be greatly
disappointed at the action of the in
quisitors and some sharp criticism has
been offered wherever the affair is dis
cussed The public is severely criti-
cising the manner in which the high
way commissioners are letting con-
tracts for grading and thus rendering
unfit for travel long stretches of road
that are much used, for these private
contractors are unable to rush the
work or to open the roads in reason
able time.
This condition was previously attrib-
uted to the shortage in the rock sup
ply, but it is now learned that it is
due, of recent months, to the letting
OF contracts to private concerns. Some
of the roads, it Is commonly known.
have been closed to travel for two or
three months, and in a few instances
even longer.
1t is now apparent that the highway
investigation will be dragged along for
some time, and this is also criticised
by the public, because this is the sea-
son when the rock should be laid rap
idly. and the controversy should be
quickly adjusted to expedite the con-
struction work.
A communication was filed by the
Los Angeles Improvement association
with the board of supervisors yester-
day calling attention to the urgent
need of the harbor boulevard and ask
ing that this boulevard be opened for
travel as soon as possible.
The boulevard was graded last year
from Gardena to Wilmington, but it
was stated then that the fills ought to
be settled by the winter rains before
the macadam was put on. Months
have gone by, it is pointed out, since
the rains settled the fills, and nothing
has been done TO complete the boule-
ward
The supervisors passed the commun-
ication on to the highway commission,
admitting, however. that the boule-
ward "ought to be finished as soon as
possible"
At the meeting Of the investigation
next Thursday night it is said the
same secrecy will be observed.
1t is understood the members of the
advisory committee, and more espe-
cially f. w. Blanchard and A. P.
Fleming, will be cross examined as to
their specific charges in tie complaint
filed with the supervisors.