New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-01-23
AUTOMOB|L|STS OPPOSE
D|X'S HIGHWAY PLANS
1ne Hundred Thousand Said To
Be Ready to Fight for
State Commission.
PRESSURE ON LEGISLATORS
Governor Contemplating Chang
ing Original Scheme and
Favoring Single Headed
Commission.


albany. Jan Automobile clubs all
u.r the state and. aiding them, automobile
...rufacuring interests, have begun a
.y.tematic campaign against the abolish
r,nt NJ the state Highway Commission
=, recommended by Governor Dox They
,,ke tho ground that road building. so
,r,,ortant 10 them. never has been done
80 well in the history Of the state as
,.r5sr the Highway Commission. They
a.. vigorously against having this work
,,,,sfcrrcd to the state Engineer, not on
an, nolitical grounds. but in the interests
n good roads and the public which uses
rem.
Tho New York state Automobile Club
,,ok the lead in this campaign Working
IN local legislators are the automobile
,rbs Of Albany. E'mira. Utica Syracuse,
ro,bester and Buffalo. The automobile
rade associations Of various cities and the
ASSOCIATION Of Licensed Automobile Manu-
f,rfprers are takins keen interest in the
c-ht II is said that about one hundred
,tou,and mcu-owncrS, manufacturers.
s,lf,nen and ch8ufjeurS-are concerned in
this movement i'm opposition 10 Governor
pXS scheme.
letters Of this type are being sent out 10
members Of most Of the big clubs in the
SHE. and their members are responding:
"WiH Won please write or wire Governor
Fix. your senator and Assemblyman, dis
ouproyius placing state highway work in
nh, hands If tho State Engineer. and ask
f.- retention of the state Highway Com
MISSION.
you Of course. appreciate that road inn
movement under the state Highway Com
mission has been much more satisfactory
than when tho work was in the hands OF
m. state Engineer. and as Governor Dix
f, seriously considering abolishing the state
Highway Commission it is very important
that We bring all tho pressure possible 10
Induce him not 10 Dc so.
BE sure and give this prompt attention
and induce as many OF your friends as
ycl can 20 do tho same thing"
As result. it was learned tonight that
Governor Dix is contemplating the aban-
comment in part Of his original plan. one
tfH 10 meet his recommendations already
had been prepared. wipinE out tho Highway
Commission and placing its work under the
Jurisdiction Of the state Engineer Now
another version has been drawn. retaining
he good roads bureau under a single head
ed commission There are three members
NJ the present commission. one of whom
~ tho law must be a member Of the minor
iy Marty.
This second measure is most unsatisfac-
tors TO Tsmmsny. Tho Governors recon-
m,ndatior is said here to have been in
Sirod originally by adrot suggestions
ic1 emanated. not from any desire that
The state save money, hut that tho great
power over contracts be put into the HANDS
Of somebody friendly 10 Tammanv Hall
Tsmmanv men are hungry for contracts,
and there has been much Joy over the
Governors action in holding up the award
Ing NJ nearly SiOoNN Of good roads con-
tracts by the Highway Commission and
submitting the matter to state Engineer
RerSel. who is preparing new contract
forms The Tammsny contractors. though,
have notion that if the single commits
~oncr were substituted for the present
ures-headed commission the Governor
would appoint some upstate Democrat, Of
the type of Thomas Mott Osborne and
William Church osborn. They much pre-
fe- % have all contract matters handled
through tie state Engineer. Under Skene
,Tsmmanv. according 10 the records in the
skene trial. had full opportunity TO see
business chances i'm the State Engineer
and'ng Of good roads matters.
4 careful canvass Of the situation shows
y fair chance that the Governors recon-
Jeudation may not be met i'm any form.
The Republicans are going 20 vote i'm
body cor tine retention of the Highway
Commission. not only as a matter Of par
tsanship. but because they say the COM
3 s,iou mas more than made good. II is
, understood that several upstate Democrats
! re much douUt about the wisdom of
EDoiiShuc tine commission. They have had
practical opportunities 20 compare the pres
ont method Of state road building with that
\ lrsled under the Skeue administration.
band don't want any rcturrl 10 that system.
llso t.,y think the state Engineer, aside
lIon any alcst.ou of politics and contracts.
has erou..H ON his hands without the road
WORK
ThF r.mua5au Of the automobile people
Nil Nave q powerful effect i'm sondifyinS
'tGse MON m fhe.r opposition 20 the Dix
Recommendation. and only I'VE Democratic
f-.e, added q, t.r tNoutN-onc Rcpub'i-
cans would 70, necessary 10 block the
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