Los Angeles herald., 1910-05-24
JOS. SCOTT HEADS )
PROBE COMMITTEE
Six Men Secured to Investigate
Charges Filed Against the
Highway Commission
3 ENGINEERS IN. THE BODY
Experts of San Diego and River
side Counties to Pass on
the Conditions Here
3 ENGINEERS IN. THE BODY

The county supervisors yesterday
managed to get together an investiga-
tion committee to probe the county
good roads scandal resulting from the
charges of incompetency, mismanage-
ment and faulty workmanship recently
filed by the advisory committee
against the highway commission.
The committee named yesterday con-
sists of Joseph Scott chairman. presi-
dent of the chamber Of commerce: Rov
z. Hillman. president Automobile Club
of Southern California; Perry w
Weidner, president Park bank of Los
Angeles; Henry Hawgood. consulting
engineer; George NJ Pearson, county
surveyor of Riverside county: Austin
B. Fletcher, highway engineer of San
Diego county, who will act in an ad-
visory capacity.
Mr.. Scott in accepting a place on
the committee. said:
II am very diffident about accept
ing this appointment, for / have little
time to spare and it would not be
fair to sign report unless I can per-
sonally investigate it. = 1t is possible
that there are matters in connection
with this investigation concerning
which a man with executive ability
might be Of assistance to you, in addi-
t1on to the services of the experts, and
the chamber of commerce will be glad
to pay the expense Of one of the mem
berS to serve on this committee"
SAN DTEGAN TO ASSIST
Roy P. Hillman took a position SINH
lar to that of Mr.. Scott, but consented
to aid in the investigation If it was
necessary. C. H. Plummer, president
of the Merchants and Manufacturers
association. positively declined to
serve on the committee. Perry w
Weidner was appointed to the commit
tee in Mr.. Plummer's place Austin B.
Fletcher, highway engineer of San
Diego county, said in a letter to the
chairman of the board that he could
give the matter no great attention, for
lack of time, but that if he could make
a report from the notes of other mem
bers of the committee and engineers,
he is willing to do so.
''Tuss" Eldridge said he thought Mr..
Hillman and Mr.. Scott were bashful
and moved that vote of thanks be
sent to them and their services ac-
cepted. which was done. Henry Haw-
good and George NJ. Pearson filed no
tices of acceptance.
Mr. Fletcher's services were accepted
on the terms stated by him in his let
ter, which means that as an engineer
he will make his report from the notes
of other members of the committee.
The four members of the committee
who were present then organized by
electing Joseph Scott chairman, and
after comforting they asked that the
engineers who were on the committee
be paid S35 a day for the time they are
employed outside of the city investi-
eating the county highways, and $25
day for the time they are in their
offices within the city. The business
men on the committee will serve With |
out compensation, except for their ac-
tual expenses.
The committee it is said is anxious
to expedite the investigation, so far as
possible, without sighting any of the
details of the work before them, and
will begin work next Thursday. They |
asked that Mr.. Fletcher be so notified. |
Mr.. Scott suggested that the Los An
geles highway investigation should re-
veal some facts valuable to San Diego !
county, and this fact may induce Mr.. |
Fletcher to give the investigation some
of his personal attention and time, for
his own benefit as engineer Of San
Diego county.
ENGINEER FLETCHERS LETTER
Mr.. Fletcher's letter. setting forth the
conditions under which he has con-
sented to serve on the committee, is as
follows:
II have given the matter much con-
sideration and have concluded that I
will not be able to serve on the COM
mittee. You understand, of course, |
that the San Diego county work is
now in formative condition, and
that my time is completely occupied
in the work, both in and out of office |
hours. 1t would be impossible for me
to attend any lengthy series of hear
ings at Los Angeles. Such an investi-
cation as is contemplated invariably |
extends over a long period Of time, |
and my participation in it as a mem |
Der of the committee is impossible un-
der the Circumstances. If, however, |
I can give ally assistance which will |
not require NV attendance at the |
hearings, by making a report based on
transcripts Of records, stenographic |
notes, etc, it may be that I can be of
some little assistance to you"