The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1915-08-03
Cooperation Between County Road Boards
and Commissioners Asked By Kempenich

thorough cooperation between theBe
boards hat real development can be
achieved.
The members Of n road board are
selected by the state highway COM
mission from an walks Of life. Some
are professional men, some are mer-
chants. some are farmers and some
have retired from active business.
Very few Of the appointees are OK
peris In road construction. They re-
ceiye no salary for the services rem
dcred To their county. All are en-
thusiartle over road work. a mis-
take that in made by q number Of
road boards Is that the members Of
the SAME consider Il necessary TO look
after the minor details OF construc-
tlo1. to superlntend. the actual work
10 direct everything done on the roads
of their county. The road board, In
my opiaion. holds a position that can
be compared with the status OF the
board OF directors of "A corporation.
The directors Of "A corporation do not
take active charge 81 he minor de-
tails OF the same. They serve their
purpose only by placing competent
men In charge OF the affairs, oy die
tatinR policy Of the concern and
by seeing that these policies are car
ried out successfully. Every road
board should secure the services of a
Competent road builder and assume
toward him the same relations that
the directorate Of n bank would as
sumo toward its cashier. The person
engaged for this duty should be given
free hand In all minor details. but
should be held responsible tu the road
board Tor the administration Of It's
policies. To secure the utmost ell
cheney In road work Il would be well
for road boards to cnsult the state
highway commission In the selection
OF their superintendent Of construc-
tion. They would then be certain 10
employ the services n a competent
man we'll Identified with the various
problems that may arise In road
building under the peculiar conditions
existent In New Mexico.
Taxpayers In some OF the counties
Of our state have complained severe
ly that the road boards do not keep
them sufficiently Informed Of the
HNNAIfNM NlNhf WNA ". wv NNNhN y
pended IN road work. II Is pointed
oht that the public always knows
what the board Of commissioners is
doing because the minutes of the
commissioners are published. but that
very little is known of the actions Of
the road board. 4 great amoun Of
unjust criticism against the road
board could be avoided by the publ
cation OF q statement from time To
time. This statement should set
forth the work done. the lost of each
unit Of work and the amount OF
funds expended, This publication
would not only disarm the critics,
but II would also enlist the interest
and cooperation Of the taxpayer.
who could speak from knowledge in
stead OF conjecture. The tendency Of
some public officials "a take personal
credit for every success M to at
tempt { place the responsibility for
every failure ON someone else. is well
known. However. the taxpayer does
not crown the successful official with
laurels. he takes the success FOR
granted. ON the other hand. the axe
payer Is quick 20 condemn the pub
We official who attempts TO cvade the
responsibility 81 "a failure. The tax
payer expects every oncial 10 do his
duty and is not surprised when he
ands that the duty has been well per-
formed. The taxpayer not only de-
slrcF Co know what is being done with
the funds that ne provides. he also
insists on knowing whom 10 hold re-
sponsihle for the success or failure OF
public work. The two county boards
a therefore conform to the wishes
Of the taxpayer In the best way. by
assuming separate responsibility for
their respective functions.
There appears to be an ideal method
under which the two boards can co.
operate 10 the best advantage Of the
taxpayer and for the best develop
ment of their county road system.
This il 90 hold a Joint meeting prior
10 the time set hy the commissioners
for making the annual tax levy. Al
tins meeting the road board should
submit q budget. showing It's con-
templated expenditures Tor the en-.
suing fiscal year setting forth in de.
tail where the money Is proposed q
be employed, The budget should be
accompanied by a road map Of tho
comfy ur~ga.utfup the roado ,,t,.