Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1914-07-07
ARE BLAMEDFOR
STATE Of ROAD
CONTINUED From First Page1

- &oAA = AA9A ~
priation section of the act, as super
sedeas and thereby prevent any pay
ment of money was presented to the
judge this morning.
Thomas A. Crichton. cashier of the
State Treasury, who appeared for the
petitioners, claimed that constitutional
questions affecting the auditing system
of the state and involving millions of
dollars should be settled befoss lie
fiscal officers should be required to
make payments as directed by the
court in passing on the act.
Bell Makes Charges
What is this grave constitutional
question thai has been so much talked
about and never argued? 2" demanded
MIR. Bell, who recalled that the con-
stitutionality of the act was not dis
cussed in the hearings. He c%ontended
that the act specifically appropriated
the income from automobile licenses
to highway purposes just as a bequest
of ALI of the estate of a decedent was
valid without specifying an amount.
Then he said:
TT is conceded that the State roads all
over the commonwealth for which the
State is responsible are in a condition
that jeopardizes life and limb and per-
sonal property. The Highway Com
missioner has been hailed to the bar of
courts for neglect when it Is not his
neglect. He can't repair roads If the
fiscal officers refuse to pay the money
he requires. There is a public de-
mand, a demand all over the state,
that the roads be put in safe con-
dition."
Pointing out how the fiscal officers
had blocked the determination of the
question they had raised, he said that
their conduct had bordered on official
contumacy n that the application
hAr1npa1 IN on ssfng,It % A. G-4zIt
gence, dignity and orderly admins
tration of affairs of the people of the
state"
Now said Mr.. Bell. after the
Supreme Court has adjourned for va
cation they have the legal effrontery,
the temerity, to come with an appeal
that cannot be argued until fall. II
will be the eve of winter before it car
be decided. King Frost will possess
the earth and the time for road max
ing will have gone by. The highways
are bad now. What will be their con-
dition them"
Resorted to Delays
The Attorney General said that the
records showed that Young and Pow
ell, lawyers themselves, had lawyers
at their elbows and had ~resorted
to legal subterfuges and technical de.
lays. Speaking on the situation with
regard to roads. he said:
Inc action OF tneSe Of1lclalS Is
against the welfare, interests and
safety of eight millions of people
whose money has gone into the Treas
ury, been specifically appropriated by
the Legislature and whose mandate is
defied. The highways are ~intoIerable
and will be impossible soon. 1t is a
living disgrace to the state that the
highways are forced to remain a men,
ace to the safety. life and limb Of
every n who travels on them"
Mr.. Bell said that those who drew
the act ~appropriatiEg the auto income
fcresaw political conditions when they
provided that the Auditor General was
required to pay to the Highway Com.
missioner acquisitions on the fund and
he pointed to the present holdup as an
instance of how an Auditor General
might ~paralyZe the arm of the State.
Mr.. Crichton commended hat if the
officers were required to pay and g
supersedeas refused it would compli-
cate matters and that in the event OF
an adverse decision might he
made on the bonds of officials. He
said hat there was danger of elimi-