Semi-weekly herald., 1912-10-17
DEMOCRATIC PROMISES
AND THEIR RESULTS

Inc Two democratic platforms
promised, among other things the Gre
alton of a state highway commission,
the districting of the state for the
construction of good roads, and the
turning over of the internal improve
ment fund to the state highway COM
mission. They also promised to con-
struct good roads throughout the en-
tire state.
At the present time the state high
way commission is body of men
with absolutely nothing to do save to
assist Governor Shafroth in his ef-
forts to reach the United States SEN
ate. The good roads districts have not
been been created and the internal
improvement fund is in the state
treasury, with no law providing for
it's expenditure. The exact details
Of how this occurred can not be re-
lated, because there was an appar-
ent violation of gentlemen's agree
ment between Governor Shafroth and
the members Of the general assem-
bly,. Governor Shafroth wanted the
internal improvement fund given to
the highway commission for expendi-
ture. The commission could use II
is forcing county officials to sup
port him in his contest for the Unit
ed States senate. The members of
the legislature were willing to en-
act the law transferring the funds to
the highway commission, but they
wanted the law to take effect after
the fund that was then in the treas
ury, which amounted to approximately
$250,000, had been distributed among
the counties. The majority of the leg
islative members favored some one
else for the United States senate, and
their plan would prevent Governor
Shafroth from using the influence OF
this fund, through his highway COM
mission, for himself. The members
Of the legislature maintained that
there was a gentlemen's agreement
between the governor and themselves
that their plan was to go through
The law giving the money to the
highway commission was to be en-.
acted, to take effect at some future
date, and also the "pork barrel" bill.
were to be enacted and signed by the
governor, thus distributing the ther
available money as Of old. While ths
transfer bill was going through, {
section was slipped into it which pro
vided that all available funds of tn,
appropriation not otherwise appropri
ated should go to the state road
fund" The section reads as follows
provided that all moneys remain
ing in the internal improvement per-
manent fund and the internal i'm
provement income fund after the pay
ment or provision for payment of al
appropriations made by the Eigh
teenth General assembly, shall be
and are hereby transferred and ap
propriated to the state roads fund
The members of the legislature dis
covered that, il the bill was enacte'
with that provision in it, all tina
Governor Shafroth need do would b
to veto all pork barrel" bills an
the fund would then be transferre
to the highway commission and coul
be used by him in his contest 70
the United States senate. They evi
IDENTIFY thought the governor woul
do just this, for Immediately ther
occurred one Of those things that s
often occurs in a Democratic legis
laturc-a roll call either disappeare
or the officers Of the senate forge
(?) to call the roll. Every offici,
connected with the senate blames q,
cry other official, so that the exat
facts concerning this shady affair al
similar to the facts In connection wit
the alleged "gentlemen's agreement
they are hard to get. Nevertheless
the result was that house bill 90
the state road fund bill, was kille
by this failure TO have . roll ca
show in the senate minutes and u
internal improvement fund lies do