Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1921-03-01

sideration Mr.. Scharnikow said he be-
lieved the one-man plan was not
right, that it provided for centraliza-
ton of power and gave one man the
authority over the expenditure Of
about one e-fourth of the moneys spent
by the state. He recommended a
|three-man commission with one mem
Der rs the executive head. subject to
the approval of the entire commits
sion.
criticizes Majority Report.
Il do not criticise. except briefly,
the majority report of the investigat-
ing committee" he said. I'm the ma
jority report there are half-truths. Not
a single member of the highway COM
mission was asked to appear before the
investigating committee. Another thing
you are asked to consider statements
that are not true. The statement of
the accountant employed by the COM
mittee to examine the records Of the
highway commission shows that in
place of an engineering cost of 10
per cent, as stated, the cost of engin-
eering upon 100000 worth of work
was but SIS per cent.
There has been much criticism OF
our present commission. Some of it
may be warranted but much of it is
not. If you want to abolish the high
way commission you can find no surer
way than by the provision of the auto
mobile license bill giving to the high
way commission only 10 per cent OF
the license receipts. The highway
has been hampered by
lack of funds rather than through
waste and extravaganza
Amends Section One.
Mr.. Scharnikow then submitted an
to section one which sim
ply took the place of the original Sec
lion and reads as follows:
There is hereby created state
highway commission to consist OF
three members of whom not more than
two shall at any time belong to the
same political party. On or before
he first Monday III April. 1921, the
governor shall appoint the members Of
said highway commission who shall
,old office for the term of three years |
except that Of the member first ap- !
pointed, one shall be appointed for a |
period Of two years and one for the |
,eriod of three years. and the term of |
,ff;ce of each member first appointed |
" tho governor shall be designated in |
no nppointment. The governor shall |
hereafter on or before the first Mon |
,av of March Of each year appoint
mo member of the state highway COM
mission. ;,
Dan McQuarrie, Of the investiga-
ion committee and of the highway /
committee. stated he had studied the
Iunod bill thoroughly and was of the
,ninion the state should concentrate,
hat It leave the matter IN the hands
= one man. However. he said. he was
,ot hound to the one-man idea and II
he house prefers three-man com
mission it was agreeable to him. tie
Mid he would like to see a one-man
nm mission tried out as the state had
cen experimenting with 12-man COM
mission long enough. Answering the |,
tatement of. Mr.. Scharnikow regarding
he distribution of the license money
10 said the bill provides that SO per
ent 20 to the state and 50 per cent
o the county.
Business Man As the Head.
Mr.. Scharnikow said he did not be-
ieve in putting an engineer at the head
( the commission but that a business
nan should be put in charge.
A vote was then taken upon Schar-
ikow's amendment and it was adopted
y a vote of As to 81.
Then McQuarrie moved that the bill
q referred back to the highway COM
aittee 60 it could be amended in other
articulars to meet the change in the
amendment.
W. Il. Dowlin. Of the highway CON-
,ittee, said the committee had agreed
. change the bill to meet the Scharni-
ow amendment providing It could be
hown that it was the sense OF the
ouse that such be done and that the
ommittee would act in the matter In
ood faith.
The hill was then referred to the I,
ommittee after the committee Of the ]
hole had rejected IN amendment pro. /,