East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1919-02-22

lOCaIe highway FundS.
Section Ia. The State High
way Commission is hereby au-
Ithorized and empowered to
enter into contracts for the pur-
pose of construction of the
roads provided in this Act; pro-
lvided, however, that all con-
tracts shall be let according to
law and in open and public
session of said commission I;
provided, further, that any or
all county courts or boards of
county commissioners of any
county within the State of Ore
gon may bid on and enter into
contracts for the construction
of any unit of highway con-
struction wholly within their
respective counties on the same
terms and conditions as other
contractors; provided, further,
that if, in the opinion of the
majority of the members of
said commission, it would be
for the best interest of the
State to construct such roads
and highways by the commits
sion without contracting the
same, then, and in that event,
said commission shall have the
right, and it is hereby empow-
cred and authorized, to reject
all bids and to construct under
its own direction and supervis-
ion, all of such roads or any
part thereof, and to this end
and to accomplish this purpose,
said commission is hereby au-
thorized and empowered to
purchase or lease all necessary
machinery, equipment, tools
and appliances, and to employ
all necessary help and labor
and to do all things necessary
and convenient to carry out the
provisions of this Act; provid-
ed, no part of the money ex-
pended for the hard surfacing
of State Highways shall be
used directly or indirectly for
the payment of any premium
or royalty on any patent or
proprietary material, specifi-
cation, process or type of con-
struction unless the same be
be purchased or obtained at
the same or at less cost than
unpatented articles or meth
ods equally suitable for the
same purpose, having regard
to durability, resistance to
wear and other elements of
worth and value.
Section Is. The State High
way Commission is hereby au-
thorized, empowered and di-
rected to use any moneys de-
rived under the provisions of
this Act to meet any sum or
sums heretofore or hereafter
apportioned to the State of
Oregon by Federal enactment
for the construction, better
ment or improvement of post
roads, forest roads, and other
permanent highways; and said
commission is hereby author
lied, empowered and directed
to enter into such contracts,
appoint such officers and do
any act or thing necessary to
fully meet the requirements of
the United States and the of
ficers acting under such Fed
eral Statute.
Section 16. Inasmuch as the |
condition of the roads and
of the State of Ore
gon demand that road con-
struction, betterment and pave
ment should be prosecuted with /
before the inclement
weather of the Fall of the year
begins; and, inasmuch as it is
necessary to provide the State
Highway Commission with suf-
ficient funds to construct, bet
ter and pave the. roads and
highways designated by Chap
ter 423 of the General Laws of
Oregon for the year 1917, and
20 make effective the will of
he people as expressed at the
special election held June a,
A. D. 1917; and, inasmuch as
t is necessary to provide en- I
for the Soldiers, Sal 7
ors and Marines returning ,
rom the service of our Coun-
ry and to provide a means of +
the stress of industri- 2
i activities and provide en-
for the laborer unem- S
,loyed; and inasmuch as the [
ealth, peace and safety of the =,
,eople of the State of Oregon
epends upon immediate con-
repair, betterment