Los Angeles herald., 1910-05-31
HIGHWAY PROBERS
To RESUME TOURS
Will Be Ready to Hear Testimony
on Highways by End
of Week
TAXPAYERS SAFEGUARDED
Advisory Committee Intends Con-
tinuing Its Duties Regardless
of Investigators Report
SAFEGUARDED

Early this afternoon the investiga-
ton committee appointed by the super
visors to prefer the charges of mis-
management and incompetency filed by
the advisory committee against the
highway commission, will resume its
tour of inspection and will go more
thoroughly into the details of con-
struction employed in several stretches
of roadway specifically cited by the
advisory committee.
Joseph Scott, chairman of the inves-
tigation committee, stated that at least
one more automobile trip over the
highways may be taken this week, and
that very soon thereafter the commit
tee would delve into the technical fea-
lures of the work. At present the COM
mittee is merely seeking to obtain a
general knowledge of highway con-
struction without entering into specific
particulars.
The good roads advisory committee,
which first preferred the charges now
| under investigation, let it be known
yesterday that although the commit
| tee has brought about an official inVes-
tigation of the highway project and
the manner in which it is being con-
Quoted, the committee does not intend
to relax in it's efforts to safeguard the
taxpayers and do it's duty to the pub
J
committee was specifically created.
The advisory committee, it was
stated yesterday, probably will hold
a meeting this week to consider several
new phases of the highway situation,
and will be in readiness to assist the
inqusitors whenever it shall be called
on. The members of this advisory
board say they hope that conditions
will be improved as a result of the in
vestigation now under way, and be-
lieve that regardless of the report of
the investigation committee, Skeptical
forecasts Of which are commonly heard
in public places, the work will progress
more rapidly and much more satisfac-
torily to the taxpayers who are putting
up $3,500,000 for good roads.
One of the members of the advisory
committee said, last night: "The du
ties of the advisory committee will
continue long after the present inves-
tigation is ended and the committee
will go on just as it has done, keep
ing an eye on the highway work, and
constantly in touch with its progress,
and with the methods employed, quail
ity of construction and general details.
IT do not know to whom we should
attribute the manner in which our
committee is being treated, but of
late, for some peculiar reason, the ad-
visory committee is not receiving cop
les of specifications and other docu-
ments connected with the highway
work. Some time ago, without con-
sulting with the advisory committee,
the supervisors ordered that copies of
all highway specifications and tnfor
nation concerning actions taken re-
lative to the highways be furnished to
the advisory committee. Later on, A.
M. Mcpherson, clerk of the board of
supervisors, told the board that the
highway commission had not sent
him enough copies of recent documents
to furnish one to the advisory COM
mittee. This was right after the ad-
visory committee filed its charges
against the highway commission.
Chairman Nellis of the board of
supervisors stated that the original
order of the board was still in force,
and he directed that all documents be
sent to the advisory committee as
Heretofore F. w. Blanchard, secre-
tary of the advisory committee, says,
however, that he has not received cop
les of any highway documents since
that time"
The preliminary investigation of the
roads probably will be completed by
the investigation committee next Tues
day, and after that date the commit
tee will begin taking testimony.
The highway commission is keeping
in constant touch with the highway
project through an engineer. Hereto
fore Daniel S. Halliday has been act
ing as the advisory committees en-
gineer. but most of his time now is
taken up with outlining Orange coun-
tvs highway project, and, although
he will continue to act as consulting
engineer with the advisory committee,
a new engineer will be employed by
the committee to do the necessary
field work