Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-08-11
present HIGHWAY
| COMMISSIONER TO
retain HIS OFFICE
Davis Says Incumbent Is
Efficient and Best Man
for Position.
PROPOSED BETTER ROADS
LAWS TO INCREASE TASKS
Coleman Will Have Direction Of
Work Approved at Special
Assembly Session.
WAS NAMED BY EX-GOV. MANN
Some Would Have People Elect to
This Office, but Others Favor
Present Method.
WAS NAMED BY Ex-Goy. MANN
Some Would Have People Elect to
This Office, hut Others Favor
Present Method.

George p. Coleman. State Highway
Commissioners since 1913. when he as
sumed direction of virginia's road
building operations by appointment of
Governor Mann. Will be reappointed to
that Office for another six years by
Governor Davis when his present term
expires on February l. 1920.
The name OF Mr Coleman is the
only one l have in mind for the onice."
mas been a most efficient commissioner
~ enthuhiastic over the work he is
performing for :he good of the Com
mon wealth. has a wide knowledge of
INC nIsh~hy situation IN Virginia and
VIII have IN the near future a greater
opportun!.y for usefulness than he has
Cnder tho statute creating and de-
nnlns the duties OF the State Highway
,.i, coin mission. Mr. Coleman is given the
task not only .of directing the work
OF building and maintaining tho roads
OF the Commonwealth. but the dutv
oi T, apporti9ning the funds for these
Inc appointment OF the commissioner
rea resIs WIN the Governor, subject 10
@o'iif'natioh oy the General Assembly.
Much work In Future.
ma Will have active charge of .bc
Stnte's stupendous program for e.r.
ryins forward the building OF a h.ch
Viretnia 'eH, am, ,connestins S every section o.,
i,ortation by this method The leg
on a We Wednssd,c @s.i So1Hens in extra session
propriations OF $1,000. 900 for rond ,.a o.
structlon. and the Governors advisor,
ooara on roads has submitted To him
report. in which they recomnena ih..
expenditure OF approximately 500 oos
ooo curing the next six years dcnenJ
en- en- upon the continuance OF Federal
hiEhiy commendeG for his work
ny Ieason of the good roads ari,,
.ion. .io .he question OF how the commits
come INTO the spotlight FOR uolfiica,
discussion In some quarters /, bas
been maintained that he shouid h.s
GEns,ed ensi ~ the people. since. in the
Office. Others hold that his apnoin,.
inent should be solely in the hands OF
she IeheraI assembly. and tina, ne.
fesentaiives OF the people.
Present Method Advocated.
Those who believe the presen, policv
OF the State Is the correct one-that
ls, spnointncnt by the Governor and
hiy-present these arguments against
the other methods OF election:
while election by the people Of State
officers Is politically sound. there is
case OF the Highway Commissioners
for the reason that he Is efficient
principally for his technical training
prerequisite OF efficiency that the
Leople generally have no means of in
vestiSaiing. since such man is very
little in the public eye.
We're the appointment left TO the
General Assembly. they say. the Office
OF commissioners might easily become
the football Of politics. going to the
man who would align himself with
certain political factions and who
would promise patronage in stu
pendous road-building program in a
definite political direction.
Little Chance for Politics.
Under the present method, they
claim. there Is little opportunity OF
playing any sort OF politics. The Gov
ernor makes the appointment and the
General Assembly stands ready to
check the appointment. II it Is bad
and palpab political. 1t will not re-
ceive confirmation. If it is good the
Legislature would hardly dare to with
hold its approval
An examination Of the methods en-
ployed in forty-four States OF the
Union for naming highway commits
sIoner discloses the fact that the Gov
ernor has the appointment in twenty
three of them. In fifteen others he is
appointed by the State Highway Com
mission, which, in ma jority OF cases,
Is named in whole or In part by the
chief executive. In only one State
OF the forty-four ur-Michigan-is he
elected by the people. in none of these
States Is he named by the Legislature.