New-York tribune., 1911-01-08
AWARD HELD UP BY DIX
Action on Highway Contracts
Delayed at His Request.
THEY TOTALLED S3,750,O00
Result of Delay That Tammany
Official Will Have Settling OF
s4.000,000 of Contracts.
Az rclerrarh q NC rribun.. J

Albany Ian. AT the direct request VI
Governor Dix the State Highway CornI"9
sion has held up the award Of good roaoS
contracts amounting 10 $3,,50ooo. bids tor
which were 10 have been opened on jan
uarv .. II and 12. While Governor DIX mas
- .utbori,v 10 compel this action, he as
eunes fun responsibility for it. lie to'"
the commission that he thought 1t oniS
rroper that as this work would ne doho
under his administration and by the S'a'e
Engineer under his recommendation loi
The sbolishment OF the Highway Comnlis-
sion Mr. Bensel should have a chance u
look over the plans and specihcauons'
from what he said the Governor eNden'N
thinks II will be only ten days or so oeiorc
The LEGISLATURE does his bidding.
Whether or not delay in building these
good roads results from this action de-
p4nds on two things One is the hine
necessary TO enact the new legislation
winning out the Highway Commission. the
other is whether the State Engineer makes
changes in the good roads plans and speci-
ncations prepared by the Highway Com
mission before letting the contracts.
This action by Governor Dix has caused
much excitement Contractors who pre-
10 considerable trouble and expense. Now
the lettins is held up indefinitely and they
have had their trouble for their pains
Moreover. another series of contracts
which the commission planned to let along
In February, amounting 10 about &,cn,""'
seems far away to them now.
This Hrst series OF contracts was adver-
tised last December The commission was
tryins 10 get the contracts for the next
years work awarded early, 50 that actual
work could ne begun as soon as weather
conditions permitted The net result OF
the Governor action is that a Tammany
Hall Stale Engineer will have the award
ing OF about $4,000. 600 Of contracts which
otherwise would have been let under a nom
partisan commission appointed by Governor
TughcS.
The Governor has taken the same course
regarding the building Of the new state hos
rital for the insane al Lake Mohansic, in
westchester County. This is scheduled 70
cost about s. 00O. 600. Mr. Dix wanted an
opportunity TO look over the plans before
the Iunacy Commission committed the
state 10 the expense.
senator Prackett. the new minority
leader. was mere To-Day lot lIc III 81 liIH'
since has election to that place. He eX-
pressed himself as distinctly opposed to the
elimination Of the state Highway Commits
sion. as recommended by Governor Dix.
He said the commission had made good
in every respect.
THE people Of the state have not for
gotten the last Democratic administration,
said he. when this good roads work was
uart ~ the state Engineers duties. One
SEone vas State Engineer then. Later he
faced indictments for occurrences in his
,nice and his lawyer got him of on the
1'ea that while admittedly there had been
rr9okodnss in the department. Tammany
and not Skene was responsible.
senator Bracket called on Governor Dix
In the morning He told the Governor he'd
10 whatever he could TO help him secure
good legislation in a non-partisan, nom
political way.
j, is understood that Senator Bracket
and some Republican Senators will favor
tle selection of James NJ. Wadsworth, for
nor Speaker Of the Assembly. as the Re
publican candidate for United States Sen
ator Others believe this empty honor
should be bestowed on Senator Chauncey
NJ Depew.