Morris tribune., 1911-02-10

I
road commission such discretion in
the matter, where one railroad reaches
| competing point by circu1tous
! route and another reaches the same
point over a straight line, as to allow
| the long line to meet the short line
rates and reduce it's rate to interVen-
ing. points correspondingy Senator
eastman, as l understand is willing
to consent to such an amendment if it
can be framed without breaking down
the basic principles of his bill, that,
+ where other things are equal. for equal
distance rates ought to be equal.
=. 4 /. +
!. At the hearings which have been
held this week interest was centered
! on the argument made by Mr.. Eaton,
recently chairman of the Iowa railroad
( commission, against the infeXible
!, characteristic rigidity-of the Iowa
/ rate law in the matter above referred
! to. 1t was his opinion that it throttled
! competition and at many points result
ed in disaster. At the same time he
! specifically disclaimed at the hearing
on Friday opposition to a distance tar
! if if the features of infleXibility and
! rigidity could be removed. above
ALL" he said, there should be no dis
! elimination. Every man and every
city in the state and every section of
| the state is entitled to equality OF OPP
! portunity No commissioner on the
! face Of the earth" he added, ought to
! be permitted to allow any unfair or
! illegal discrimination" He went on
| to explain that he meant by illegal
! discrimination that discrimination that
would build up one town or one local
ity at the expense of another. He fur
Their gave it as his opinion that an
! amendment which would remove its
rigidity would not break down dis
ta1ce tariff Jaw.
:. !. !.
It is not often that so high a tribute
| is paid to a public man as that in
volved in the endorsement by the
house of representatives of the good
roads bills framed by R. G. Dunn of
Princeton. These bills, taken together,
contemplate practical revolution in
the method of roadmaking in this
state. Yet they were adopted by the
house by all but a unanimous vote.
The first bill provides for a consti.
i tutiOnal amendment increasing the
general state tax for roads and bridges
from One-Quarter Of a mill to 1 mill.
in NlaiT Nv col
"YOu can't have your omelet without
breaking your eggs. If you want good
roads you must be prepared to pay for
them" The tax, of which, however,
the people must first approve by vote
at the general election, is expected to
/ add to the state road and bridge fund
something over a million of dollars
, annually.
The principal change in the general
road law at present in force in the
: state involved in Mr. Dunn's bill is
In respect to the supervision of the
construction of roads. He proposes
the appointment of a sufficient num-
! Der of deputy road engineers-prac
teal road builders-to supervise the
work done on all the roads of the
state They are to be paid by the
state but their services are placed at
the disposal of county and township
boards. It is not made mandatory
that the boards consult these engi-
neers They can build the roads un-
der their own supervision their own
way if they want to. But in case they
prefer to have expert advice, as it is
natural to expect that they would, all
they have to do is to call in one of
these assistant state engineers With
out additional cost to the county he
will make plans and specifications for
them, consult with them as to mate
rails, etc, and supervise the work
while it is being done. and this may
be either by contract ors by days
work, as the county or township
board, as the case may be, may pre-
fer. Payment can only be made for
the work done, however, after the en-,
gineer has certified that it is accord.
ing to contract.
= g.! + :. >
These assistant engineers. are ap
pointed under civil service rules and
can only be removed for cause Only
$4,000 Of the $4,000 appropriation
made. by the bill is for the necessary
expenses Of the highway commission
at St. Paul The balance is to be used
to pay the men who are constantly in
the field. I'VE want no drones on this |
job" said Mr.. Dunn, "no ornamental
wall: flowers. The men we employ !
will have work to do and they will be |
kept at it. You may" he concluded,
''at this session enact laws that you
ought not to enact, and you may fail |
to enact laws that you ought to enact, |
but if you pass this bill all your sins |
will be forgiven YOU" ..r
!. I. 4
One never knows what is going to