Judith Gap journal. [volume] (Judith Gap, Mont.) 1908-19??, 1912-04-19

STATE AID ROAD IN SEW JzRsnY.
OQ1ain trunk line roads is paid by the
af2te. The principle Of state aid In
0iat the state contribute to road I'M
oeovement out OF general fund to
which. all taxpayers contribute. The
md does not come from farmers
Stone. but from all the people, and
especially from those that are more
1apndantly able to bear the burden OF
oaxation. great injustice has been
Ohm the farmers Of this country in ex-
DNe4ing them alone to shoulder the en-
1fIe expense and responsibility OF
6ullding country roads. The residents
IL Cities have signified q greater will
QRgness to contribute to this fund than
06pse who live in the rural districts.
notwithstanding the fact that prac-
Ideally all the state aid laws prohibit
09ia use Of the money within the limits
It. cities and towns. State aid TENDS to
0@alize the burden Of taxation.
Every one who uses a highway OF
0Gceives any benefit from 1t should con-
1i3bute to the cost Of its Improvement
G6e farmer is not the only one who uses
O1Sa country roads or receives benefit
2fom them. They are also used by the
0unntry merchant, the lumber dealer.
a6e itinerant peddler. the village doc
Cor. the commercial salesman. by the
Wneelman and the automobilist. and to
e greater or lesser extent by the en-
1lko people. The city dweller cannot
10e without his daily supplies from
o6e farm. and he must pay daily and
n cash the greater share Of all extra
edbt attending their transportation.
Some Of the state highway depart
u1epts are operated on purely politi-
ca basis. and it very frequently hap
Dons that the highway commissioners.
ID we'll as their subordinates. are re-
showed from office for purely political
SEASONS, no matter how efficient or COM
4etent they may be. This is the most
SERIOUS defect in our state aid system.
Any law providing for state super
Vision aud state aid should be SO
framed as to remove its administra-
11on as far as possible from the in
chat seems to be meeting with general
approval Is one which provides for
0Qnpaid. nonpartisan and technically
GQmpetent commission that consists.
4pf instance. of professor Of civil ell
01neering from one Of the leading uni
xorsities or colleges Of the state. the
0tate geolOgist and one civilian menu
Der to be appointed by the governor
Il commission thus constituted has q
Gpajority of its members selected be-
clause Of their training and ability aud
without reference to their political af-
uliatiOns. The civilian member ap-
-Uointed by the governor should bring
% the commission the business ability
essential to the proper and economic
organization and prosecution of its
work. At the same time. SO long as
che governor could appoint only the
minority Of the commission and the
same being nonpaid. there would tie
little inducement to make the position
cue Of political preferment
The actual work of a state highway
department should be under the direc-
t3on Of one man possessing technical
qualifications. experience and execu-
: 'Aiz4 ability. This official should be ap-
no1n1ed by the commission. He should
8 elyn engineer. skilled and expert
pacod d road construction and main
oAnance. and his salary should be fixed
" the commission. His position should
- permanent. and he should not be re
moved except for Incompetence or NAL
0easance in Office.