Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1912-08-15

certain trunk line roads is paid by the
state. The principle OF state aid Is
lnat the state contribute to road Inn
provement ont of q general fund to
which all taxpayers contribute. The
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 exa
pecting them alone to shoulder the en-
tire expense and responsibility OF
building country roads. The residents
of cities have signifed greater will
ngness 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
eanalize the burden of taxation. I
Every one who uses highway or
receives any benefit from 1t should con-
tribute to the cost Of its Improvement
The farmer is not the only one 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 doc
FOR, the commercial salesman, by the
wheel1nan and the automobilist, and to
a greater or lesser extent by the en-
tire people. The city dweller cannot
dive without his daily supplies from
the farm, and he must pay daily and
N cash the greater share Of all extra
cost attending their transportation.
Some Of the state highway depart
uents are operated on purely poiiti-
sal basis, and it very frequently hap
pens that the highway commissioners.
as we'll as their subordinates, are re-
moved from Office for purely politica
reasons, no matter how efficient or COM
t.etent they may be. This Is the most
serious defect in our state aid system.
ANY law providing for state super
vision and state aid should be so
trimmed as to remove its administra-
tfon as far as possible from the in
6uence OF partisan politics. A plan
that seems to be meeting with general
approval is one which provides for a
nonpaid, nonpartisan and technically
competent commission that consists,
for instance, Of professor Of civil en-
cheering from one of the leading uni
versites or colleges of the state. the
state geologist and one civilian mem
Der to be appointed by the governor.
A commission thus constituted has q
majority Of its members selected be-
cause Of their training and ability and
without reference to their political af-
citations. The civilian member APP
pointed by the governor should bring
to the commission the business ability
essential to the proper and economic
organization and prosecution of its
work. At the same time. so long as
the governor could appoint only the
minority Of the commission and the
same being nonpaid. there would be
little inducement to make the position
one Of political prpferment.
The actual work Of state highway
department should be under the direc
ton of one man. possessing technical
qualifications. experience and eHe"u-
tive ability. This official should he ap-
pointA! by the commission. He should
be civil engineer. Skilled and expert
euced in road construction and main
eenance, and his salary should he fixed
or the commission. His position Should
be permanent. ard hp should not be re
moved except for Incompetence or NAL
feassa nee IN office. ...... Il .....- .