Evening journal., 1921-01-27

commission can not 20 aheau anu
issue bonds beyond an amount thai
It has money to provide maintenance,
care for sinking fund and other nAcu
charges
II was brought out that there was
q balance ai the ends0f the fiscal year
early this month Of 81 100000 in the
state treasury. senator Allee mann
tanned that there NVas an erroneous
understanding about this balance ana
said there Is already more than
enough demands TO eat up all Of that
amount He said 10 was probably 60
ing 10 take s2.oOO,O00 the next two
years 10 support The public schools.
In my Judgment said senator
Alice eve have moral obligations
that WIN more than 'wlpe out that
Former Governor Townsend re-
marked You have your funds COM
/ ing In This year" he added that not
lwiihsiandne the fact that the auto
mobile license money went 10 the
highway department and that Soi00OO
was paid 10 the public schools last
year In addition TO The usual school
appropriation there was stlll a balance
! OF 81 700 90 in the general fund
Senator Murphy asked Il any con-
tracts are being put out now and
what they are costing per mile
Engineer Upham replied that the
7 present cost was from $4,000 20
$4,000 a mile
Governor Townsend remarked that
there Is a general feeling that the
| department viii be able 10 get lower
prices In the spring, as the prospects
/ are there will be plenty OF cars, ma
terial plentiful and plenty Of labor,
senator Palmer asked n they would
request anything from the general
fund it would "ln any way em-
lbarrass us financially.
III i thought so I would not be
here" Governor Townsend replied.
Money For Maintenance.
Mr. Marvel. a member Of the com
mission. at this point made a lengthy
statement as 20 conditions relative
20 future work. lie said II was rather
novel for a department to come before
the Legislature and ask 20 be cross
questioned But, he explained our
reports are SO Volumnous, we thought
it best 10 get at The matter this way
awe have no accommodations, nc
requests TO make, ask for no. anpr0'
lpriaii0ns and ask no amendments u
The highway law. We have sufficient
money 10 take care OF maintenance,
lof roads built at $3.50 per mile, u
finish what contracts have beer
awarded and 10 take care OF Interest
and sinking fund. That is our condi.
itlon today. The State commission
WIN not borrow a cent beyond tina
amount. as there is where the law
( says stop. II is up to you as u
whether or not do go on
Mr.. Marvel said the commission
wanted every member 20 feel per
fcclly free TO ask any question h
desired. lie added that Two prrOposi
lions have been discussed, one tina
, The automobile license be increased
I and the other that the state 'appro
prata S2l0O00 a year for Two year
out of the general fund until sucl
time as some tax system can be work
ed out 90 take cape Of the situation,
/ Such an appropriation from IN
/ general fund Mr.. Marvel said Moul
, take care OF about SSOOOOO that itwl
I cost 20 finish the north and soul
/. links and 10 20 nfly-nfiy with lh
cOunlics on their propositions for IA
least aud west ~Oads. But, he sal
lsuch a program cannot be carried FOR
ward without the necessary funds.
Mr. Marvel referred to the recon-
, lmendation made by Governor Denne
(. ia his inaugural address that the Gov
I ernor should not be appoiRted on con
I missions that spend money Tina
suggestion, he said, was good on
A and added that an amendment shoul
A be made TO the law which woul
A lallow Governor Denney 10 retire an
s someone appointed at large TO succeC
a him. Tie commended the able woi
THAI former Governor Townsend hi
Il done on the highway commission, hl
'e added Il was an injustice to place IN
be extra burden on a governor.
lc Senator Bennett said from time
" time he had heard criticisms Of y
N highway department, such as salarl
:. lbelnr loo high. materials too hi.
40 land cost OF construction too nigh az
e added that II any members wanted
h. know anything about these matte
70 now was the time 10 ask.
N General dupont said senator Alice
,c point as 10 where the money Is cor
Is Ing from before anything is done W
"A well taken. 10 Is right, he said, On
n the legislature should have the ~
IN as To where the money should
be- sncnt. "Of course" General duPO
TO added with a smile, III had my S
" A would be good roads. but somco
od else might want TO spend II Tor
Mt canal and others might want TO u
lit TO plant peach trees, etc
aOycrhcad' Not High.
In senator Murphy said he had hea
or the criticism that the overhead
~ building roads In Delaware was
id much and said the would Ike
NJ know how u compares with OF
States.
u Engineer Upham replied mat
,et cost of overhead In Delaware
en- averaged Dor or from $500 10 49,
70 per mile. but that It might run &
re, Ia z pcr cent now because OF be
ds, Tied an. but even that Wouldhe 81
we as 10 pcr cent dis not regarded as
ln hirh in some states.
am senator Alice asked II conlN
No lief ran be paid for without an aC
- liOnal bond issue.
ch .NVe can finish roads contracted
i's and uuit solvent Mr.. Marvel
m swered
m General dupont. remarked that
.,,. ing an engineer himself and know
,,o how often they need cussing, haV
,ro heard The criticisms referred 10
Ne senator Murphy be made an inNe
rafion himself. He found. he 81
as That i'm adjoining states the oNerh
M, charce MAS from . TO t3 per cent
"a Tennessee 10 Is but 4 per cent. hut
lee added. 4 shows in the character
ne the road compared with Delaware.
car smoke OF an extra number of surN
haf hclng made here 90 try AMI get
avc roads as straight as possible, and c
,nd cmdcd with the rcmark. II think
hat viii find our engineering wa
tire while"
.ere senator Robertson by a series
To uueslions asked Mr. Marvel hrOu
...T t.t ff.. lN.N 20 lItfe d r.~f.sI D.,