Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1916-06-21
designs are furnished without cost to
the counties by the Commission.

designs are furnished without cost to
the counties by the Commission.
Suits for patent infringement
against the counties or contractors in
the state are being defended by the
Attorney General and the Highway
Commission. Three Of such suits
have been brought. One of these was
withdrawn by the bridge company
when the case went to trial in April
before Federal Judge Wade at Dav.
export. Two other suits are pending
and the Highway Commission is need
ed to help in the defenses. II these
patents are allowed to 60 by default
and become fixed upon the bridge
building OF the state, Iowa will an.
nually pay many times the entire cost
Of the Highway Commission in pat.
ent royalties alone, ana no one ex-
cept the state can afford to fight these
cases.
The State Of Kansas brought suit
against the Topeka Bridge and Iron
Company for violation Of the anti
trust laws Of that State. In the an.
swer fled In the Supreme Court Of
that state. the company showed that
ten percent royalty 10 CHARGED and
that the territory may be divided be-
tween contractors. This condition ex.
listed in Iowa before the Highway
Commission was established and Iowa
paid more In royalties alone than al
the expenses Of the Commission.
Another thing to take into consid.
sration IL that the National Govern
mont has appropriated $5.o00,OOo for
state cid in 1916 and $4,000 in 1917
Increasing each year and none of this
money can be spent in states not hsv.
ing . Highway Commission. II Iowa
wants her share she must have .
Highway Commission. The govern.
ment wants to know the money il 60.
ing to be spent under the supervision
Of some competent authority.
Due to the provision of the law re-
curing that road grading must be ad-
vertised, the contract price Of such
work has been forced down to an
average Of 10 to 20 cents per cubic
yard whereas formerly such work
cost from Is to 50 cents per cubic
yard.
Some Ill feeling has been engender.
cd against the Commission by local
officials laying the blame for delayed
work upon the Commission saying
the Commission would not permit the
local officials to proceed with the
work. In other words 1t offered an
easy excuse while the facts did not
always justify the assertion. The
next time such . claim 10 made Just
write the Commission yourself and
SEQ II they are delaying the work.
In order that the county road eys.
tenn of the several counties may con-
meet up at their borders with other
counties, in order. that mistakes made
in one county may be guarded against
in other counties and the benefit Of
improved methods developed by one
county passed on to other counties
there must be some general super
vision and this can only be done by
t T. sat this ls the work Of the
l hold no brief for the Highway
Commission. am talking about the
law and the practical working Of It.
Il have heard complaints about IN.
dividuals, mistakes have no doubt
been made, most Of US do occasional
~ make mistakes. II the present
Commission is made up Of competent
men, well and good-if not, the fault
Is with the present state administra-
ton. The law is new, differences
were sure to arise, customs of long
standing were done away with and
new order of things established.
Much should be allowed under the cir
cumstances. But without endorsing
the conduct of the commission or ito
membership. not being intimately &C.
quaintsd with the members or activi-
ties Of the Commission, I believe .
careful study will convince anyone
not personally interested In doing
this road work in his own sweet way
for his own private reasons that with
proper attention on the part of the
governor appointing the commission
It can render very valuable service,
and believe in giving good thing .
fair trial rather than opposing It.
Stop and think who first prejudiced
you against the Commission. Who
was he? When you stop to think Of
It, was there not reason for his an.
tagonism and is it not fact that you
have no such personal reason as he
had to be opposed to the Highway
Commission law?
BY the way, just what is your OBJ.
lection to the Commission? You be-
lieve in Home Rule, in letting the peo-
pie who pay the money spend it, etc?
All right, so do 1: and did you know
that