Arizona republican., 1920-09-27


 for information regarding the High way Commission act to be voted upon at the approaching election the method of it's preparation and the purposes which the act seeks to ac- complish. we are presenting herewith | a brief history Of this proposed legis- lation and a digest of the principal provisions of the act. We shall pub fish shortly the act in full for the ben eft of our readers.
 The Highway Commission act is comparatively short. clear in it's pro- visions and was prepared by special committee of engineers and business men of practical experience in highway ! construction and administration, act i ing on behalf of the State Good Roads association. This committee consist ] ing of one member from each county in the state. was appointed at the last annual convention of the Good Roads association, held at Tucson, the com mitteeman from each county being ap pointed by the delegation from his county. This act is the result of a careful study of recent highway legislation in other states where the operation of their highway commissions has been found to be to the advantage of busi nesSlike road construction. The Colo rado Highway Commission law. which has proved a practical success in oper- ation, and which was the basis of the well-known highway commission act number seventeen, on which the last Arizona legislature nearly agreed, has been used by the committee as the foundation for the present act, and many of it's provisions are identical with provisions on which both houses of the legislature had agreed in act seventeen.
 It will be remembered that the prin- ciple of the highway commission act was strongly endorsed by the last two conventions of the State Good Roads association; at one convention unani- mously. al the other nearly so.
 The committee of the State Good Roads association authorized 10 pre- sent this act to the people through the means of the referendum at the com ing election, worked long and earnestly to frame a constructive and practical measure, based on the most successful experience in other states, fitted to Arizona conditions and one which would result Ieefficiency and economy in administration and give the maxi mum amount of state through line roads for the taxpayers dollar.
 On the committee which prepared this act were: Gus Becker of Springer vile, Apache county. known throughout the state for his effective work for a permanent highway system; Charles T. Woolfolk. chairman of the board of ". large practical experience in the rela- tions of county and state in highway constructions; Francis Niele, an emi- nent engineer of Yavapai county, act ing for T. G. Norris of Prescott, who has since approved the act; James DobbinS. chairman of the Maricopa County Good Roads committee; Sena- tor W. W. Pace of Graham county. man of trained knowledge of road problems; J. W. McCann of Florence, Pinal county, secretary of the Arizona Merchants association: J. A. Harrison, of the board of supervisors Of Santa Cruz county; William Lacy, engineer of the highway commission of Yuma county; J. A. Morrow, county engineer Of Navajo county, and A. M McDuffie of the board of supervisors of Mohave county. Del Potter, the member Of the committee from GFeenlee county, was unable to be present when the act was drawn, but has since examined the same very carefully, and states that he considers it one of the best highway commission bills ever drawn. Unfor- tunately Dr. Non KleinSmid. the mem Der of the committee from Pima coun- ty was unable to attend it's sessions and MT. Bowen, the member from Co., chise county, was able to attend but half day of the four day sessions.
 The foregoing committee, in the pre- paration of the act, had the valuable T. to insure the soundness of the mea- sure from a legal standpoint, and the assurance that in operation the act would tie in practically with existing state machinery.
 Many engineers and men in touch with good roads construction were con- suited by the committee, and the of ficers Of the State Good Roads asso- citation. Dwight B. Heard. president, and Harry Welch. secretary. rendered the committee every assistance pos sible in the preparation of the act and approved the same heartily.
 The proposed act is essentially a business-like measure and aims to di- vorce politics of any brand as far as possible from the construction and maintainance of state highways.
 The act is concisely written in ten chapters and may be briefly summar- ized as follows
 I It puts the general business and
 financial affairs of the State
 Highway Department under the control of a non partisan high
 way commission of five mem bers. chosen from five districts within the state.
 II Provides for the development of a state roads system that will
 cohnect up the different parts of Arizona and bring all counties into closer cooperation, specifi cally prONlulnS that Wltnln one
 year from their appointment. the commission. utilizing the present
 state highways a base, shall outline complete state highway system and issue a map of the same.
 III Provides that the commissioners
 first appointed shall serve foI one, two, three. four and five
 years, as decided among them selves by lot, afterward eacE commissioner serving for five 1 years. and further provides that
 no member of the commission | shall be asked to resign because
 of any change in the state ad ministration.
 " Provides that commissioners shal
 give bonds for faithful perfor- nance of duties and shall receive
 twenty dollars per day for no
 exceeding one hundred days pei
 annum, and their actual ex-
 penses, thus enabling any persor
 honored by appointment to serve
 the commission.