The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1914-04-30

u OF TOduS Ill the department VI =
4 Agriculture and an acknowledged +
!. expert on expenditure. This is +
!. the second Of two articles dealing +
i with his views. We counsel our +
4 readers to study it. 4
4 +
i. !. !. !. !. + K !. !. !. !. !. !. + !. +
N7ATlONAL aid road Improvement
I'M is one of the plans proposed, and
| have no doubt this plan will
be inaugurated in the near future.
State aid is already well under way,
and has been constantly growing since
1891. when New Jersey first embarked
on the plan of having aid granted
directly by the state, and measure
Of state supervision provided. Counties
and states are bonding themselves to
build hardsurfaced roads, and this is
helping to some extent, but to my
mind the primary necessity is so to
reform and revise our existing road
systems as to insure the efficient con-
struction Of the roads. continuous and
adequate maintenance and honest and
capable handling Of our road rev.
enues.
l had hoped that when the states as
units took hold of the road problem
they at least would eliminate to a very
great degree the baneful influence of
politics, but the history of the changes
in state highway departments during
the last 10 years would indicate that
politics is as active there as in local
subdivisions. During the past 10 years
there have been changes in the con-
trol Of the engineering work in the
state highway departments of Arizona
Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Mary
land Michigan, Missouri, New Hamp-
shire, New Jersey. New York, Ohio
Pennsylvania, Washington and West
Virginia. In the state of New York
alone there have been nine changes
made in the state highway department
in the last Is years. While it would
not be fair to character all of these
changes as uniustifia BILE. it is evident
that the tenure of office is, as a gen
Ci al tultt luSttutC. tlIdt lHC OlllNidl
who should be absolutely free from
political control is almost totally un-
able to act except at the dictates of
those very forces.
Civil Service Advocated.
The remedy, to my mind is the en-
actment of strict and clear-cut civil
service legislation applicable to the
entire road system in the each state,
and the conscientious and wise en-
forcement Of such legislation. In the
first place, a state highway engineer
should be chosen by non-partisan
board, and should hold office at the
discretion of such board. All sub
ordinate positions in the department
should be filled by rigid competitive
examinations, without regard to party
affiliations At this point I wish to
call attention to the fact that we have
recently filled the office of assistant
director of the United States office of
public roads by such competitive ex-
animation, and practically our entire
force from messenger boy to director,
is filled in the same way. The re-
suits are infinitely more satisfactory
than the old spoils system.
In regard to county and township
road work, | think it would be advis-
able, wherever the system of govern
ment permits, to have the county as
the smallest unit Of administration,
and to have one county official who
is required by law to possess a prac-
tical knowledge of road construction
and maintenance, and who is appoint
ed after an examination to be pre-
scribed by the state highway depart
ment in connection with the State
civil service commission. While il
probably would be necessary to give
the County Board of Commissioners
or such officials as have charge of
county affairs, the power to remove
this road official, they should be COM
PEELED to appoint his successor upon
certification from the register Of the
elgibles established by the state high
way department and the State Civil
Service Commission.
Fair Compensation Urged.
This would prevent removal of road
officials for the purpose of substitut-
ing local politicians, and would tend
to permanency Of office on the part OF
good men and the easy removal Of in
competent men, There should be pro-
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