The Delta independent., 1921-04-15

meet at least twice a year and as
many other times as the Governor
may call them together. They must
make general regulations concerning
the salaries. wages, ETC.. of the High
way Department. They have the final
decision as to the abandonment of
former state highways or of speci-
flying new ones. Once a year they,
with the Highway Engineer. shall
prepare budget for submission to
the Governor, and the Governor must
prepare the final budget therefrom.
The Highway Engineer must report
to this Board of Commission semi
annually as to construction work,
contracts, ETC., and must make such
special Investigations as the Board
may require. In fact we have two
branches of the Highway Department
one the legislative and advisory body
consisting of the Highway Board of
seven which represents public opin-
ion in the various sections of the
state, and the other the executive
or administrative branch consisting
of the Governor and Highway Ene.n-
eer on whose shoulders falls the res
possibility Of constructing and pro-
perly maintaining the roads in the
various parts of the state. In other
words, there is no opportunity of log
rolling or trading such as is the case
at present and If we don't get 100
per cent value for n dollar spent, we
know absolutely who is responsible.
A. t1,;s,
n compromise and represented the
best that could be accomplished
without adjourning and thus going
back to the old Highway Commission
which has proved so unsatisfactory
to the people OF the state.
The Enabling Act for the Highway
Bonds voted for by the people last
fall is now law. 1t provides that two
million dollars worth OF bonds shall
be issued June 1. 1921 and three mil
lion June 1. 1922. to draw interest
at per cent per annum and the
principal becomes due in thirty years
This bond issue is to be divided. one
half to go to counties on the basis
of state routes and state highways,
the other one-half TO be used to meet
federal aid awarded to the State of
Colorado by n United States Con-
gressional Act.
| was disappointed that the Lower
House voted down the repeal of the
half mill levy for good roads. With
the five million dollars bond issue.
IL consider that at this time when
taxes are so irksome it would have
been of considerable help to have
repealed this law and thus saved this
$500. 900 a year for roads. The House
also voted down the bill for a ce-
ment factory to be located at Canon
City and operated by convict labor.
At this time wish to again repeat
a statement which have made in
several other letters: namely. that
the taxes, so far as the Legislature
and the State are concerned, will be
no higher than 1t was two or four
years ago: namely. 3.47 mills plus
the amount voted at the last cleo
ton by the people themselves for in
stitutions OF higher learning
The license charge in the new fish
and game bill is increased for resi-
dents of Colorado for fishing and
hunting small game from one to two
dollars. and for non-residents from
two to five dollars. For big game.
the residents license is $500 and the
non-resident's license $500. The deer
season will be open this year from
October 18th to the 18th. instead of
October lst to 4th as at present.
One measure which ] think will
cause some little disappointment to
both the tax payers and teachers of
second third and fouth class school
districts is the minimum salary bill
for teachers as 1t has passed both
Houses OF the Legislature. 1t increa-
ses the minimum wage in third and
fourth class districts from $4,000 a
month to $500 for high school gra-
duates and to s111.O0 month for nor
NAL graduates and s133.33 Ia a
month for college graduates. In other
words, It is my understanding that
unless school boards pay this mini
mum wage for normal and college
teachers they must conflne themsel.
yes to teachers without this special
preparation.
i II was OF course the intention of
the persons introducing this measure
10 compel school districts to increase
the salaries OF trained teachers and
thus encourage girls to go into the
teaching profession. but my fear is
that they have the minimum wage
so high that II will put a premium
hA