The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-01-25
Rep. Kincaid Says There is
Crookedness In Legislation.
Bridge Firms and County On.
GERS in Collision, He Says.
DISTURB PRACTICES IN vO6UE
Kincaid Says There Is Fear
Law Will Be Changed.
Prevention Of Further Acts
Their Purpose, He Declares.

Jasper r. Kincaid. representative
from johnson county and author of
several important good roads bills, to-
between representatives of the So
called bridge trust and certain county
commissioners and is in evidence in
the legislature. Kincaid may ask for
an investigation.
The johnson county Representative
pointed today to the fact that the leg
islative committee Of the County
Commissioners association and the
bridge builders lobby are pushing the
same bill. Likewise, Kincaid de-
clares the bridge interests and the
commissioners are opposed to the
same legislation.
Certain county mmissioners and
the bridge companies are in collision
&c. the purpose of preventing any leg
islation that will disturb the evil prac-
tices now in vogue" said Kincaid to-
day in an authorized interview.
Kincaid is wroth. He admits it.
He will doubtless carry the matter
onto the floor of the legislature and
may ask the house, and senate to in
vestigate.
Digs Up Letter.
why see here" said Kincaid;
''the other day I had occasion to go
over to the senate and found about
half a dozen county commissioners
and the same number of bridge peo-
pie in earnest conference just outside
the door of the senate. l have here
(Kincaid dived down into a drawer
in his desk in the state accountant .
nh Tov axy
OF Marshall county under date of July
II, addressed to brother county
commissioner. Here he says:
Your committee is of the unani-
nous opinion that the state highway
engineer bill will be passed at the
coming legislature. and it is best for
the commissioners to submit bill of
their own and to get 1t under way at
once. The bills we suggest are as fol-
lows:
Bridge contracting bill repeating
all old and conflicting laws and SUBJ
stitu' 49,. new laws that will be uni
form throughout the state without
many Important changes from the
present law.
Raising the limit from $4,000 to
$4,000 i(this means the limit on a
single bridge, explained Kincaid).
Raising the maximum taxes. for
bridge purposes to one mill 'onf the
dollar above all present moneys al
lowed FOR bridge purposes
Putting all bridge and .culvert
work in the hands of the county COM
nissioners. and leaving the earth APP
proaches to the townships. if desired
You will see by this that the things
that the county commissioners want
Is just that part that has to do with
the bridge companies" said Kincaid.
There is a lot of important work in
road matters outside of letting of
bridges and culverts. but they do not
care for that. and for bridge purposes
they would have more money for a
single bridge and more money for all
bridges. The county commissioners
know. but does the public know. that
practically the only changes made in
the Kansas bridge laws in q quarter
of a century have been those to in
crease the amount of funds the coun-
ty board could spend on single
bridge. After looking over this letter
/ am constrained to ask, are these
bills for the benefit of the public, or
are they for the benefit Of the bridge
companies? BY the vigorous and per-
sistent efforts of the bridge lobby for
these county commissioners measure
] am persuaded that II is in the inter-
est of the bridge COMPANIES. Tor by
their works va know them , -