The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1916-09-07

men in charge of road building and
road maintenance, a great advance
will have been made and the efforts
of those who labored to secure the
legislation will have been rewarded.
Employment OF Experts
81 assume that as a matter of neces-
sity this law will require the employ
ment in every state of experts, of real
experts. This word is very much mis-
used and abused, as the word 'theorist'
is. l frequently hear a contrast drawn
between the theorists and the practi-
CO! men. There is no basis for it. The
classification ought to be into good
theorists and bad theorists, of practi-
cal men and impractical men. A really
good theirist is highly practical; and
SO IS a real expert. The public is
somewhat suspicious of experts, be-
cause, think, so many people pose AS
experts who are not. When the public
sets an expert aside, it is worth while
to inquire carefully into the experts
claims and competency.
Il repeat that this act will necessi-
tate trained intelligence in the service
of the state as well as in the service
of the federal government. The act
requires the state to accept it. Tit, as
| understand it, implies the assent of
the state to every provision of the act.
One of these provisions is that pro-
jects, plans, specifications, and con-
tracts shall be submitted and APPROX
ed; and | have a suspicion that plans
and specifications will not be approv-
ed unless they are submitted by peo-
pie who know about such things. So
the assent of the state involves the
of every state which is now without
them.
"The law involves another thing, the
pledge of the faith of the state to meet
in full the federal appropriation for
the entire period covered by the act.
The state legislature may moi be able
to appropriate money one year for the
whole period covered by the act, but
it can pledge the faith of the state to
meet the financial provisions of the
act for the period covered by it. This
is as it should be. 1t would be unfor-
tl1natn If IL Wnrn nthnrwicn II would
be wasteful not to make plans at the
outset for the full period covered by
the act; it would mean picemeal road
building and much dissipation of eff
fort and misdirection Of funds. These
requirements hold whether the state
as such, under the existing law, may
engage in road building or not. The
provision that where the state may not
engage in highway improvement, the
an amount sufficient to meet the APP
p~ortionment to the state, involves the
necessity en- the part of such counties
of raising an amount sufficient to meet
the full apportionment for the state,
the existence of a highway commits
sion, and compliance with all the other
terms of the act. l speak of this be-
cause there are evidences that indi-
vidual counties think that if they raise
a certain sum Of money they will of
necessity get a corresponding sum
from the federal treasury. That is not
my construction of the set and not the
one that will be likely to prevail.
The duty will rest upon you gentle
men who represent the states of in
forming the people as to the meaning
CT the legislation and as to the proceed
ure under it, because the initiative
under the law lies with you. We are
directed to cooperate with you, with
the state through the state highway
department. 1t is you duty, if your
state accepts the law, to agree with us
on roads to be constructed and to
submit projects, plans, and specifica-
tons. Therefore, individuals, associa-
tons, and counties will Of necessity,
take up such matters directly with
you, and we shall hear from them
through you for the most part.