Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1914-04-24
QUESTIONS

We're Agricultural Interests in Full
ton County Boosted By The Meet.
ing of Last Thursday? Or Was
it boost for Governor Cox?
Does speech in the defense of 9
governors administration delivered
on a so-called Farm Crop Boosters
Day directed and managed by one
of the same governors commission
make that speech non-partisian anG
of value to the farmers in raising
larger and more profitable crops? Is
it a square deal to have commission
appointed by the governor and draw
ing large salaries from the state
treasury, travelling over the state
advertising boosters meetings in the
interest of agriculture, all at the
states expense, and under the this
disguise have as the primary object Of
that meeting an opportunity to ad-
vance persons campaign for the
nomination of governor? These are
only few of the questions that are
being asked by those who heard Gov.
Cox deliver his two speeches here
Thursday of last week. listened to
Gov. Cox's speeches and failed to
find any thing in them but q defense
of his administration. It is proper
and right for him to make these
speeches, but it seemed to me, they
should have been delivered at a meet
ing advertised as a political meet
ing rather than at meeting called
for the promotion of agricultural in
terests If he meant to be square with
all the political parties. 1t also APP
pears to me that the expense of hold
ing the meeting should have been
borne by the party in whose interest
the meeting was held rather than by
the state. A committee drawing q
high salary from the state treasury,
should be attending to the business
for which it is receiving pay rather
than promoting any persons cam
paign for the nomination of Cover
nor.
Good Roads.
In his address Thursday Gov. Cox
discussed the road laws which were
enacted by the legislature last year
and gave his approval of them. In
looking over these laws find on
page 449 of the session laws of 1913
section No. 1882 which the governor
failed to mention. am sure this sec
ton of law is important to the peo-
pie of this state as it refers salaries
and he appointment Of persons to Of
fees.
By comparing this section Of the
law with the section Of the same num-
Der Of the old law which Gov. Har-
mon approved and which was repeal
ed by the enactment of the new, q
suspicion is aroused that all this cry
about Gov. Cox building up a poll
teal ring" is made with good deal
of truth in it.
The Harmon law, page 334 of the
session laws of 1911, reads as fol-
lows: Section 1882.
Section s., The state highway COM
missioner may also appoint the fol
lowing division engineers. Not more
than four in the bureau of construc-
tion and not to exceed two in the bur-
eau of maintenance, and not 70 ex-
ceed two in the bureau Of bridges.
Each Of said division engineers shall
be paid salary to be fixed BY the
state highway commissioner, not TO
exceed $1,000 per annum, and each OF
whom shall be paid in addition to
his salary his actual travelling ex-
penses not to exceed 81 900 in any one
year. Said state highway commits
sioner may also appoint chief clerk
who shall receive salary, fixed by
the highway commissioner, not to ex-
ceed 81 500 per annum. Not to ex-
ceed sixty per cent. of the above
appointees shall be of the same poll
tical party. He may also appoint
eight additional clerks or stenograph-
ers. and four of said additional clerks
or stenographers shall each receive q
salary fixed by the said highway COM
missioner not to exceed $1,000 pei
annum, and four of whom shall each
receive q salary fixed by said high
way commissioner not to exceed $500
per annun.
This same section as approved by
Gov. Cox reads as follows: "Sec
1882. The state highway commits:
sioner may also appoint the following
division engineers: Four in the
bureau of construction, two in the
bureau of maintenance and repair
and two in the bureau of bridges. He
may also appoint as many additional
division engineers as may become
necessary to carry out the provisions
of this chapter. Each of said divis.
ion engineers shall be paid a salary
to be fixed by the state highway com
missioner not to exceed $2500 per an
mum, and each of whom shall bs
paid in addition to this salary his ac
tual travelling expenses. Said stat'
highway commissioner may also ap
point q chief clerk who shall receive
q salary, fixed by the highway com
missioner, not to exceed $20O0.00 pei
annum. Not to exceed sixty pei
cent of the appointees shall be of thu
same political party. He may alst
appoint secretary, who shall receive
a salary fixed by the highway com
missioner not to exceed 100000 PEI
annum and his actual travelling ex
penses, not to exceed $6O0.O0 per an
mum, AND AS MANY ADDITIO
AL CLERKS OR STENOGRAPH
ERS, AND SUCH SUPERINTEND
ENTS, INSPECTORS AND OTHEI
employees, and he may purchas
such equipment, as he may cOnside
necessary to carry out the provision
Of this chapter. Each of the sal,
employees shall be paid a salary to b
fixed by the state highway commits