The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-07-22
 SOL0NS REBUKE
 HIGHWAY HEAD
Lower mouse Orders COmmis- sioner to Furnish Copy of Road Contract in the Town of Greenwich

| Hartford, Conn.,, July 22.-By a vote of 75 to 5S. the House of Representa- tives Thursday afternoon decided that it still owns the highways of Con- l necticut and that Highway Commis- sioner James H. Macdonald is sim ply an official who must do the bid- ding of the law making arm of the State government. For some time past people within and without the State have severely criticized condi- tions in the Highway Commissioners office, which has control of millions of dollars for highway improvements which are not yet noticeable.
 Chairman Magee of the Committee on Roads, Bridges and Rivers, to-day called from the table the resolution introduced by Representative Elliott of Greenwich, ordering the Highway Commissioner to furnish him copy of the highway contract in the town of Greenwich. The chairman asked Mr. Elliott if he was making the re- quest for himself or for someone else.
 MT. Elliott replied that the, informa- tion was wanted for the use of the Greenwich Board of Trade, which de- sired to investigate the matter. Ev- cry one in Greenwich was interested, he added.
 Mr. Magee declared that the job dates back two years, when the con- tract was let to one Clark Later certain citizens decided they wanted brick road instead of macadam and asked the Highway Commissioner to contribute s5O,O0O.. He answered that he had only 1000 for the job and that they could have this amount to- ward a 'tgood road" if they wanted it.
 COPY WAS REFUSED.
 That's not so.'' said Mr. Elliott. ''Mr. Seitz of the New York World sent a reporter to the Highway Com- missioner for a copy of the contract He was refused. He then went to the Attorney-Genera1 for an opinion that the Commissioners must furnish a copy. The Attorney General decid- ed that the Commissioner could not be made to furnish copy of the con- tract"
 MT. Elliott denied that the contract had anything to do with the New York World. He wanted to get the road finished.
 To MT. Donovan Mr. Elliott said MT. Seitz was resident of Greenwich but he did not know whether he was a voter or not. He believed he was MT. Donovan retortedl that he hoped that the State would not grant the request from person not even a res- ident of the State.
 ''It is a funny condition of affairs that a town which is contributing to the cost of a road cannot get a copy of the contract" declared MT. Tin gier. 'rThe selectmen had copy and sent it to the Railroad Commission CTS, and they cannot get it back. The Highway Commissioners should have the decency and the courtesy to give copy of the contract to the town which it binds"
 Mr. -Magee said the Selectmen sent back the contract and washed their hands of it absolutely. The contract 4l.@ s~ H. ,Yr 1r~~, but the Commissioner has no power that the law gives them. They (the Selectmenl will not exercise the pow CT that the law gives them. They are following plan of obstruction, he charged.
 MT. Phillips of Stamford said the people entering the State from New York came over the dividing bridge at Port Chester at the rate of mile minute. The people have held mass meetings but cannot get relief, adding, whether the people have any pecun- their town and they should know what the Commissioner intends to do.''
 CALLS HIM INCOMPETENT.
 MT. Tingier referred to Macdonald as an incompetent commissioner. MT. Elliott said he had to send an auto mobile over the road every day in the week. He not only wanted the road fixed, but wanted to pass any legisla- tion that would help the Commission CT.
 On an aye and nay vote the resolu- tion was declared defeated, but a ris- ing vote showed it was carried by 75 to 5S. There was applause, and MT. Elliott moved immediate transmission to the Senate under suspension of the rules There was objection and the rules were not suspended.
 Later in the day MT. Magee as chair man of the Committee on Roads, Bridges and Rivers, called up a bill that will give the Highway Commis- sfoner the same rights in regard to trunk lines, including the right to shift trolley tracks. He said it would beat the Greenwich situation.
 MT. Hyde of Manchester declared the matter very important, and nov ed that it be tabled because of the small number present. The motion