The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1914-08-04
BULLY ron BEAvEN.

- HANNN"NN -
sounded tho rirht note In an
interview given out IN santa Fe
during the goJd road convention last
week when be opposed the payment
IT e salary to members OF the county
road boards and favored the contln-
nance Of the present system of serv-
ice on that very important board
without pay. Mr.. Beaver holds that
there should be. and H. believes
There are. IN every county In his
ftnte men OF sufficient ability. patri-
otism and leisure who are willing to
give 10 this public service tho time
and attention II needs without de-
handing pay for their time. work
80 given by the right kind Of men
Is likely To- be better, more thorough
work han that from men who are
paid n salary for doing the road
honrd duty.
u would seem that we had tried
out very thoroughly the use Of the
state and coonty road funds ana Of
hoes as political peTquitslos. Under
the old system Of road grating there
was a supervisor In every precinct.
He received pay Tor 80 many days OF
nctual supervision over road build
inE. He aid no supervising. for no
work was done. But he drew tho
pay. The system was a huge polit-
ioal graft. covering the entire state.
II is said 90 be part of the program
of he old reactionary Republican
b"sses To abolish the county road
board system and put the old graft
system back into effect. Failing in
that. n given the election of a Re-
publican lower house. II IL proposed
To- place the appointment Of the road
boards with the county commissions.
and attach n salary 10 the oface.
This would amount TO about the
same system as the old-tlme system
Of legalized theft.
The work done by the county road
board" since the Introduction of the
present system. Is the most effective.
ana almost the only effective road
work ever done by county authori-
ties in this state. II has been volun-
tary labor; a labor Of love ANA pa
triotlsm. and Il has boen effective. In
almost every county In the state.
Attach a salary Ia the office and Il
Immediately becomes an object OF
political rivalry. The salary cannot
be- a large one. and rs a result there
will be absolutely no object for "a
man OF ability. energy and resource
to strive FOR II In opposition to n
bunch Of political hangers ON. seek
ing some small reward for party
service.
With the selection of the county
road boards in the hands of the gov
ernor no matter who The governor
may be. n with the office recog-
nized as an honorable one ana one
OF service 10 the community. a dig
nihed onso-and the work Of suek,
men as Mr.. Beaver, Francis T.. Les
ter and other Dad enthusiasts has
made Il suoh-men Of hish charac-
ter and ability viii be chosen for he
positions. The boards will be kept
free from graft and from political
Influence.
II Is well enough to extend the au-
thority OF the county ron boards
along certain lines. But the system
aa IL stands Is a good one, We be-
leye with Mr.. Beaver that there are
plenty of men In every county In
this state OF sufficient public spirit
10 take pleasure and pride In doing
this work for their several commune
ties. for the pleasure Of serving thoso
communities.
As long as there are such men
why put them out Of service by maxi
ing this office a petty political prize
a GREAT STATE ADVERTISE