Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1917-05-21
NO GRAFTEOSSIBLE
UNDER BONDING PLAN
Secretary TOOze Points Out
Provisions Of the Law Safe
guarding Road BuiIdRg
BY Walter L Toozs

C0mmittee)
The voter who desires good roads
must get busy and keep busy Opno.
nents Of the measure are now aud have
been tor weeks past engaged in The
task Of distorting the facts aud suread.
ing most diligently and often offeetu-
any the poison of suspicion relative to
the million dollar bond measure
known as house bill No. $50. upon
which our citizens vote at the special
election on June 4, 1917
The state of Oregon wisely mails 10
each and every voter of the state "A
printed pamphlet containing a eopv of
every law proposed, with arguments for
and against each measure submitted.
Have you carefully considered eoudi-
tons, the issuance of six millions of
dollars in bonds for the Improvement
of Oregon highwaysl Have YOU exam.
med the map of these proposed high
ways in this voters guide! Does this
map and the law convey the impress
sion to your mind that some vague per-
sonality is trying to "put something
over on the voters! Ii this is your
opinion, read it again and again and
study it and the laws passed preceding
the passage Of house bill No. $50.
| refer first to house bill No. 2l
which specifies clearly the duties of
the highway commissioners, their term
of office and gives in full the Shackel-
ford act passed during the lst session
of the Gath congress which provides
Oregon with $l,lS0,3l0.55 for post
roads in the state during the next five
years and the additional sum of $685.
$40 for roads and trails within or part
ly within the national forests Of Ore
gon; with the proviso that the federal
governments contribution shall repre-
sent 80 per cent of the estimated cost
OF such highways and that contracts
for such improvements shall have fed
eral governmental Sanction and APP
Iproval. House bill no No.2l session laws
of 1917 in Sec. No. l2 also places the
state road tax of "a MILL House bill
No. 500 provides for the licensing ct
autos, trucks, motorcycles, motor bi-
lcycles, and all other vehicles propelled
by gasoline or electrical contrivance.
Now notice and remember, voters, that
hcuse bills Nos. 2l and 500 are row
accepted laws and in force throughout
the state of Oregon. Citizens must pay
the licenses and the tax, roads good
CT rpaGs Lad
Why then you ask, do we bond our
selves for 6 millions of dollars! The
answer is simple indeed. We need good
roads now.
The moneys are provided for, but
not at once available. Are we mOrtgag-
ing the future? Not on your life. We
are providing for our present pressing
needs; namely, good roads and an or
ganized, not promlscu0us good roads
program. During the past 20 years we
have frittered away more than score
OF millions of dollars, cropping in the
| dark in our vain attempt to construct
lpermanent roads in Oregon Now we de-
mand an intelligent and concise pro
gram and it is before the voters for
endorsement. The libelers of this pro
posed law No. $50 continually harp on
that old, old song of the siren, THAT
the paving trusts are behind this law. y
"That there is graft in it for some
one somewhere. .
| Let me ask the voter two questions
First. In what state and when has
one dollar ever been paid as royalty to
am construction company on any state
material for state highwayways.
| Second, When has the federal gov
ernment ever contributed one dollar fol
such royalties?
Now as to house bill No. $50. This
measure of infinite importance to eV
erv citizen. 1t provides as follows, or
mage 81, Sec. l3 of voters pamphlet:
HSection 10. The state highway com
mission is hereby authorized and EN-
Ipowered to enter into contracts for the
purpose of constructing the roads pro
ivided in this act; provided, however
that all contracts shall be let according
| to law and in open and public session
of said commission; provided further
that if in the opinion of majority O.
| the members of said commission, thu
Lowest bid for the construction of an
Iof the roads or parts of roads herell
Iauthorized to be constructed, shall D.
lexcessiye. then and in that event, sait
commission shall have the right and
is hereby empowered and authorized t.
reject all bids and 10 construct unde
Its own direction and supervision, al
of such roads or any part thereof, an'
Ito this end and to accomplish this pur
Ipose said commission is hereby author
lied and empowered to purchase o
lInase all necessary machinery, equip
ment. tools and appliances and to EN-
Inlov all necessary help and labor AM
Ito do all things necessary and conven
Iient to carry out the provisions of thi
iact. +" LIZ.
Ipay no graft, no ROYALTY to any con
struction company. The highway com
mission has full and well defined pow
ers to install plant and do the worl
Iuntrammeled, unfettered by any pavini
company. % n,;11;ono .
dollars rural credit funds to the WIS
Judgment and honesty of our stat
hoard of control, the governor, seere
+orv nf state and state treasurer. Tn
legislature acted wisely in doing so an
the governor of Oregon acted wit
equal wisdom in the appointment o
Simon Benson, +. J. Adams and w. l
Thompson to handle the highway fund
IL M l