The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1914-05-13
Holding Up Highway Department.

There Is bound 70 be q dslogs Of protest
over The condition Of the highways
throughout the state this year and 1t is
only fair to the people that they should
know the circumstances, says the Harris
burg Telegraph Il WAS clearly under
stood at the last SESSION Of The legislature
that the revenues from automobile liceu-
ses, amounting now n about q million
dollars, should De used for The recon
structiOn and maintenance Of The public
highways under the Jurisdiction OF the
com No one expected when
the bill was passed after the previous con-
troversy that there would be the slightest
question as 10 the availability Of these
funds for the purpose covered by the sci.
Highway Commissioners Bigelow and bis
entire department figured confidently up
on active operations this year aud ar
rsngements we're made accordingly.
Suddenly, however, Auditor General
Powell raised question a. 70 his right TO
issue vouchers on this account, holding
that under the specific appropriation &C,
be could not mske the payments. His
position was declared to be untensble by
the attorney general and thus the eontro-
versy has proceeded with no solution Of
the problem.
AS last resort Attorney General Bell
sought with q writ Of mandsmus to COM
pei the auditor general and state treasur, r
to honor warrants drawn upon the auto
license fund TO cover the cost Of highway
repairs. Auditor General Powell asked
for further pOstponemeni, but this was de-
MED by the Dauphin county court and
the whole matter has now been set for
trial mex; Monday, when it is hoped there
will be q final decision Of the question.
Il has been charged against Auditor
General Powell that be has resorted to
teehnieslities in sn effort to proloug the
controversy and avoid paying out the
money which the legislature msnifesily
intended for the use OF the highway de-
psrtment He comes back with the ex-
plsnsiIon that be has been exercising only
s1E bAAAAaA- kAE-aAAAAl Va NAlElhl
charged with responsible duties. Attorney
General Bell charged in the argument last
Friday that the sudiior general had re-
sorted 10 petit Jogging and techuicslities
and that there had been constant trihipg
with this question, which involves the in.
teresls Of 80 many Of the people of the
state.
Il is too bad that the political stmos.
phere has been permitted TO obscure the
more important features Of highway i'm
provement 10 Pennsylvsnis Almost
from the beginning the opponents Of the
state administration have in every way
thrown barriers in the path Of the work
which the people are demanding shall be
done. It would seem that under sll the
conditions and without any reference 10
politics al officials would stand united 10
8 proper presentation Of the whole matter
70 the courts that the question 10 dispute
might be determined once and for ell. IL
ought to have been possible TO reach an
adjudication Of the matters involved be-
fore ihe opening Of spring and it is re-
greiisble that We sre nov in the midst Of
the season ofoutdoor work With the whole
subject sill up in the air.
Highway Commissioner Bigelow is tied
hand snd foot by the legal tscbnicslities
thst bsye been raised and without funds
be Is unable to go ahead with The con-
structiOn Of rOsdwsys which have been
tsken over by the state, and has not even
enough to repair those for which the com.
monW Wealih is now responsible. Unless
something shall soon be done the high
ways Of Pennsylvania before the summer
j. over will be joke aud byword But
lt is not fair 10 place this responsibility on
the bead OF the department charged with
the msiuteDatce aud repair Of the roads.