New-York tribune., 1911-02-03
DIX FLAyS ROAD BOARD
Accuses State Highway Commits
sion of Playing Politics.
SEES WELL-0ILE0 MACHINE
Governor at Albany Condemns
Government by Commission
and Urges Conservation.

AIbarv. Feb. 2-Declaring himself "a
strenuous advocate OF good roads Gov
ernor nix at the annual dinner Of the Al
bany Chamber of Commerce tonight. gave
his reasons for desiring a change In the
method Of the construction Of the state $
highway
The Governor in his annual message
recommended the abolition Of the present
highway commission. and bills TO that effect
are now before the Legislature. Tonight
ne declared himself against government by
commission. as such a government he said.
did not conform 10 the will Of the people az
expressed az popular elections.
NY attention has been called" said the
Governor. 10 q number ot letters sent out
by so-called advocates of good roads. bu;
which IN reality are briefs for the reten-
ton IN Office OF the present Highway Com
uissloners. In these communications the
idea IS endeavored TO be conveyed that |
am not IN advocate or good roads because
am Of opinion that the prevailing practice
can and should be changed FOR the better.
Continuing, Governor Dix said:
As a matter Of fact. l am a strenuous ad-
roads and better roads are needed. NY
efforts on this line will. I think, secure this
result In the first place ] take issue win
auy one making the statement that the
n ghwsv Commission IS not IN politics. The
partisan activity Of employees or this com
mission during political campaigns give
clear evidence Of well oiled machine IN
the background. and the more recent meth
ods used 10 influence legislative opinion
only confirms this statement When / THINK
~ existing conditions it seems 10 me- tna'
= change ~ the nature OF the commission
Is desirahl and that the best form or q
commission 70 change 70 Is 10 commission
responsible % the people.
am against government hv commission
n seems 70 me- a ridiculous proposition ina
work should be prosecuted IN this state oy
irreS SpOnSible commissions that owe no ale
glance 70 any authority outside or them
selves and that are endowed with powers
which render them impossible of control by
the officers Of tho state WHO are elected ny
the people. and who are held responsible
for the work which is done
desire that the building ot The roads
should he IN charge Of q commission re-
sporSihle 70 the people. desire 70 aP-
point subject 70 removal for cause. an
expert 70 have the active supervision and
control OF the construction. desire nN
Use Of rational specification n construct
the roads in the different parts Or the
state suitable for the Use ~ which they
viii be put. and 10 secure By the use OF
local material a construction which be-
lieva will allow for the doubling in a yeal
OF the amount of road which has been the
| practice Of the present Highway COmms
sion 10 build
Further. T am of tho opinion that r. Is
absolutely imperative and necessary thai
the state should ne free from the contro
. Of commissions created I'm many instances
( for partisan purposes and whose ressor
for existence Is simply the desire 10 holl
office
have met in my criticism or the vo~I
/ Of the Highway Commission no adequate
answer 10 the criticisms which T have
made. nut 7 am TO-DAY flooded with tele
/ grams and circulars showing the eXten
/ OF the machinery political and personal
which seems 70 be In operation for tn
retention IN Office Of the present Highway
/ Commission.
The Governor dwelt at considerabl
/ length on the problem of the outstanding o
/ the states vast natural resources, which H.
said were now being "extrava gantly waste
/ and destroyed with a ruthless zeal that i
/ wicked beyond measure" This he declares
was one Of the most important problem
4 that confronted the present generation.
/ The Governor cited The floods which an
nuallv Ieopardize lives and property sloni
/ the Hudson River "as strong argumen
/ for the scientific regulation Of not only nm
Hudson River. but of every other impor
. tant water course IN the state.