The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1912-04-24

certain trunk line roads is paid by the
state. The principle of state aid Is
that the state contribute to road I'M
provement out of a general fund to
which all taxpayers contribute. Inc
fund does not come from farmers
alone, but from all the people, and
especially from those that are more
abundantly able to bear the burden OF
taxation. A great injustice has been
done the farmers Of this country in ex-
pecting them alone to shoulder the en-
tire expense and responsibility OF
building country roads. The residents
of cities have signified a greater will
ingness to contribute to this fund than
those who live in the rural districts,
Notwithstanding the fact that prac-
tically all the state aid laws prohibit
the use of the money within the limits
of cities and towns. State aid tends to
eoualize the burden Of taxation.
Every one who uses a highway or
receives any benefit from it should con-
tribute to the cost of it's improvement
The farmer is not the only n who uses
the country roads or receives benefit
from them. They are also used by the
country merchant, the lumber dealer,
the itinerant peddler, the village doe
tor, the commercial salesman, by the
,wheelman and the automobilist, ana to
a greater or lesser extent by the en-
tire people. The city dweller cannot
live without his daily supplies from
the farm, and he must pay daily ant
in cash the greater share Of all extra
cost attending their transportation.
Some of the state highway depart
ments are operated on a purely polltl
col basis, and it very frequently hap
pens that the highway commissioners
as we'll as their s~ubordinates, are re
moved from office for purely politica
reasons, no matter how efficient or com
petent they may be. This is the mos
serious defect in our state aid system.
Any law providing for state super
vision and state aid should be ST
framed as to remove its administra
ton as far as possible from the in
huence of partisan politics. A plal
that seems to be meeting with genera
approval is one which provides for
nonpaid, nonpartisan and technical.
competent commission that consists
TOR instance, Of a professor Of civil ell
cheering from one Of the leading uni
versities or colleges Of the state, tn
state geologist and one civilian mem
her to be appointed by the governor
"A commission thus constituted has
majority of its members selected be
cause Of their training and ability an,
6hations. The civilian member al
pointed by the governor should brin
to the commission the business abilit
Essential to the proper and economi
organization and prosecution Of It
work. At the same time. so long a
the governor could appoint only til
minority Of the commission and tn
same being nonpaid, there would h
little inducement to make the positio
pne of political preferment.
The actual work Of a state highwa
department should be under the dire
lion Of one man possessing technic;
qualifications, experience and exec1
tive ability. This official should be a
pointed by the commission. He shoul
he a civil engineer, skilled and expel
onced in road construction and mali
tenance, and his salary should be Axe
by the commission. His position shoul
he permanent. and he should not be r
moved except for incompetence or ms
6easance In Office.