Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1919-02-25
PROPOSED ROAD LAW
SUBJECTED TO REVIEW
Good Roads Expert Points out
Some of tho Defects Of Meas
urcs Offered.

In regard to the various bids now
before tho Legislature providing for
good road construction. the senate
bill and the Thomas bill. all expected
to receive open discussion this weok.
The World has "A schedule OF crlti-
clsms OF variouB provisions by ". Bnc
Guthrey. considered an authority on
road building, Many OF the sections
receive his unqualified approval.
while others are faulty only In the
way of being ambiguous or badly
worded. Some OF them are con-
demncd outright and others have
small defects pointed out. Some OF
the criticlsms arc here given.
Senate bin No. 267 tThomas bilD:
Objection is made to making
bridges and culverts a part OF the
hard-surfaoe plan. IL being contend
cd that such things should he left to
tho care OF counties and townships
and not dependent on tho state H.
nancial scheme.
objects To state commission being
formed out of elective officials. who
already have their hands full: the
tendency would he for important
matters TO be handed down TO slh-
ordInates and this passing the buck
would bc fatal to direct responsi-
bility.
believes there should be ono state
engineer, authorized to organize an
engineering corps where needed. for
tho same reason OF avoiding too
much divided responsibility.
a.. fnrn Al hnnAAtU In
wording OF the bill. Where the funds
must come from the general fund.
tho people might ns we'll be told. In
stead OF beating around tho bush
and talking OF gross production and
the income tax,
The language should ba clear
about completing tho work under
difficulties or local impodlm ents,
leaving the power To make 100 per
cent construction everywhere unlm-
paired.
Senate resolution No, 10:
bonds should be issued In small
denominations 80 as To encourage
popular subscription These should
be offered To- the puhlic for so days
before they are submitted TO banks
or professional bond buyers,
Too much discretion should not
he left TO future legislatures. II
would be TOO easy for designing enc
mics OF road construction to modify
the measure nv tacklng on amend
ments whose effect would he to emas-
culate the bin and render it's pro-
visions ineffective for the purpose
Intended, and thus cOntravene the
khNSr essed endorsement OF the public
Will The commission should be
empowered TO do the work without
having to walt on legislative author
ity as TO future detallsC1 Initiative
should rest with the commission n
rather than with possibly unfriend-
~ legislature,
Maintenance OF constructed roads
should be so provided for that re-
sponsibility should be easily placed.
After good roads have been made, II
would be shame TO let them be
dependent upon the whlms OF county
or local com M issioncrs who might,
Ibr might not, have keen sense OF
their duty, or who might seek an
alibI by protesting that 1t WAS the
business OF the state TO fix It." Like
wise such an arrangement should be
made that the first roads built could
be watched for results and lessons
learned theirs applied to The CON
struction Of other lines not already
built. To do this. Il is necessary
that the commission should be per
mnncnt, for the same power that
built tho roads can best be trusted
to correct mistakes and to SEQ that
the roads are not allowed to deterior-
ate for lack of honest attention.