The Parker post., 1918-08-24
INCREASE IN
STATE AUTOS

The state of Arizona is the owner
of siXty-One automobiles. This is
quite a good increase from the early
days of statehood, when one lone
white car graced the streets OF Phoe-
nix, and the highways to public in
stitutions as State of Arizona no. /
Among the numbers included in
the increase are three new cars for
members of the Commission OF Pub
lie Institutions, the travelling OF
whose members seems to have taken
on new impetus.
In the days of "Old Dobbin" there
were periods of rest on his part, ne
cesaarily so as the horse must eat,
drink and rest. The automobile
needs no rest. its running time may
be measured solely by the supply of
oil, gas, water, with an occasional
stop for changing tires, or replacing
with new ones. Neither ideas of
humane treatment, nor the cOn5titu
tional "eight hours" for labOring
day, control the time every twenty.
four hours which the state cars can
work, and do work. Six days thou
shalt labor, and rest the seventh day,
has been forgotten, at least those
words have never been whispered into
the spedOmeter of many of these cars.
Speed laws have no control over
some of them, and sixty to seventy
miles upon paved roads, speaks we'll
for the judgment as to speed of cars
displayed in the purchase Of at
least one of the Public Commission
cars.
SiXty-One state cars since statehood
and not all the state departments
furnished with automobiles, is keep
ing pace with other increases in So
called necessities Of the state, and
giving some odds. The expenses of
administration of state affairs has in
creased in the proportion Of four to
one, and the expenses Of automobile
service for state officials has appar
emily increased sixty-one to one.
All since statehood. All along the
prevailing idea in some quarters is,
Its a good thing for us, let's have it,
the public pays for it anyway"
1t may be stated that large num-
ber of the total of sixty-one state
cars, are charged against the Engi-
neer's office as incidents to the state
road construction After spending
several hours under our car, over it,
recting the results of a somewhat
lengthy trip over our state highways
-so-named-the idea comes forth
and cannot be dispelled from utter
ance, which is that more money
spent on roads, and less spent in
means of lOcOmOtiOn over the roads,
would be appreciated by many travel
ers OF the travelling public. The
thousand to two thousand dollars
which an extra car costs the public,
would smooth out many a rut in the
roads. Would save the profane elo
Quence of travellers for use in more
worthy causes, and then all of our
-neighbors have ears, which should be
spared from the exhaust of utter
ances provoked while repairs are un-
der way as the results Of those little
ruts.
This may be an age of automO
biles. They may be a necessity. In
this matter of automobiles for official
use, however, as with other similar
matters, strict necessity for purchase
and use should be the extent of pro-
visions made and paid for when the
bills come out of the state treasury.
Certainly any use Of automobiles
maintained at public expense, should
be confined to that which is strictly
public business, and not for private
pleasure Taxpayer Magazine
CANDIDATE FOR J. P.
ATxc YNIl l.