New-York tribune., 1911-02-18
MURPHY ANGRY At DIX
OVER HIGHWAY CHANGE
Resents Amendments to EIImI-
nate Tammany influences
in Commission.
GOVERNORS BILLS HELD UP
Decided After Conference to
Give Bensel and fireman Only
Advisory Powers in the
Highway Board.
rRr Telegraph 70 The Tribune. ]

rPv Telegraph 70 The lrlounc-
Albany. Feb. 11.-Because of the vig-
orous opposition manifested 10 the DIX
scheme Of "reorganizing" the Highway
Commission. important amendments VIII
be presented next week TO the Mur-
taugh- Collin bill abolishing the present
commission These amendments VIII go
far toward eliminating the "Tammany-
ization" Of the Highway Board proposed
in the bill as originally introduced, and
rspresent a considerable concession 10
public opinion They are said 10 have
the approval of Governor Dix and the
support Of the insurgent Democrats.
Boss Murphy. of Tanmany. is reported
"a be distinctly incensed with the Gov
ernor ana to he planning various
schemes Of retaliation.
Senator Murtaugh. after consultation
with Charles A. Collin, the Governors
bill-drafter- in extraordinary. said to-day
that he would, present amendments to
his measure making the state Engineer
and the superintendent of Public Works
merely advisory members of the pro-
bill stands the state Engineer would have
charge Of plans and contracts, and he
and the Superintendent Of Public WORKS
would be OF equal Importance with the
Superintendent OF Highways in every
thing exce1t administrative work. This
Sc entirely contrary to the tenor OF the
Governors special message, which is the
ostensible reason for the changes. III
the amendments are made the Superin-
iendent Of Highways will have full au-
thority in ;he preparations OF plans and
contract specifications through his own
engineering stef This will he subject
20 the advice Of the state Engineer and
the Superintendent of Public Works on
matters Of policy.
Conference with Governor.
Prior to. Senator Muttaugh's announce
rnent Of the proposed changes in his bill,
Thomas Mott Osborne. William Church
Osborn, the Governors legal adviser,
and Senator Roosevelt, insurgent leader,
had discussed fully with the Governor
the application Of his theory Of concen-
tration OF responsibility to the highway
reorga nization scheme. II is known that
the two Osbornes were not faNorably
Impressed with the merits Of the Muir
faueh- Collin measure Senator Roose.
vcit il is understood, told the Governor
rh~t The insurgent Democrats weren't
lse'y 80 vote for it unless changes We're
Ta.r
rhe inslrgent Democrats, in and out
90 the Legislature. laid much stress on
fe possibility Of a repetition to some
q, gree. OF the scandals of the Skene adj
'nistration if the proposed commission
81 ere "Tamma nyized" and engineering
tails left 70 man nominated and
,'ectcd through Tammany influence.
,nong them. they brought the Governor
around 10 their way of looking at it,
Chsrles A. Collin had to be labored with
considerably before he could perceive
the advisability Of making any changes
from the original draft OF his bill. Event
uaily he consented 70 the ctlrbing of the
powers of the state Engineer in the
proposed commission.
that he approved heartily Of the Gov
ernors scheme Of one-man responsibility
AS outlined in his messa 60. He did not
approve. though. Of the present form of
the highway bill.
Osborn FaVors Dix Plan.
What the Governor recommended is
all right" said he. What the present
bill proposes is all wrong. The differ
ence is this: The Governors suggestion
contempates making the new Superin-
tendent Of Highways solely responsible
for all branches of the highway work.
He is 10 be the supreme head Of the de-
partment. Only on matters of broad pol
icy are the advisory members Of the
commission TO be allowed to interfere.
Under the bill now before the Legislature
the State Engineer would have power to
draw UP plans and specifications and in
practice, even 10 the naming Of subordi-
mates, the Superintendent Of Highways
would have only one vote in three. Also
the bill provides that important func-
tions Of the State Engineer aud the SUI
perintendent OF Public Works could be
left 10 deputies. That is not part Of the
plan as outlined in the Governors mes
age"
II was learned to-day along this line
that Harold Parker, the Massachusetts
Highway Commissioner to whom Gov
ernor Dix has offered the place of Super
intendent Of Highways, yet TO be created
by the Legislature. had told the Gov
ernor he would not consider the matter
IL the law did not give him complete
authority 10 do the work. without any
interference by two other state officials.
When Boss Murphy heard Of this
check about TO be put on Tammany and
realized that IL was due in part at least
10 activities Of ntiTammany Demo-
Gratis in and out Of the Legislature, he
was stirred TO mighty anger. The story
runs that he Immediately began 10 look
for some means Of lacking up" the Gov
ernor-a process Of serving notice on hin,
that he was merely Tammany's Gov