Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-08-04
GOVERNOR NAMES
HOLDER FOR ROAD
Commission JOB

Governor Hardwicll Wednesday
morning sent to the senate for con-
firmation the appointments of John
n. Holder, of Jackson county, as
member of the state highway COM
mission, and G. H. Howard, of At
lanta, as special attorney of the
commission.
Mr.. Holder will succeed Prof. c.
M. Strahan January 1, next, provided
the senate confirms his appointment.
Judge Howard, who managed Cove
ernor Hardwick's campaign, will sue
coed S. D. Dell, an appointee of Gov.
ernor Dorsey. His appointment be-
comes effective September l.
The nominations were sent to the
senate following a conference be-
tween Governor Hardwick and Mr..
Holder, at which the governor per-
suaded the AOrmer speaker of the
house of representatives to accept an
appointment on the highway commits
sion. When Mr.. Holder entered the
governors office he was disinclined
to accept the proffered place.
1t is Governor Hardwick's wish and
desire that Mr.. Holder shall become
chairman of the highway commits
sion, but an amendment to the high
way law will be required in order
that this may be accomplished. Gov.
Hardwick will urge upon the legisla'
ture to amend the law bestowing
upon him, as governor, the right to
designate the chairman of the. COM
mission. He has every confidence that
the Legislature will accede to his
recommendations in this regard, and
if the law is amended, he will des
ignate Mr.. Holder as chairman of the
commission.
Decline to Approve Bill
The highway committee of the
senate, meeting Tuesday afternoon,
declined to approve a bill amend
ing the highway law in such
a manner as to place in the
hands of The governor the desig-
nation of the chairman of the high
way board. The bill was presented
to the committee by Representative
McMichael of Marion, who explained
that Governor Hardwick had request
ed him to introduce it. The commit
tee discussed the bill at considerable
length with Mr.. McDIichael. A mo-
ton was made to report the bill to
the senate as an amendment to the
compromise highway bill of the
house, which the committee had be-
fore it, and which was the report de-
sired by Mr.. McMichael. The mo-
ton was voted down. Finally it was
agreed that members Of the commit
tee who favored the McMichael bill
| could introduce it on the floor of the
senate, if they SO desired, but that
the bill would not go to the senate
with the committees recommends
| ton.
The highway law provides for rota-
tion of the craftsmanship of the high
way board, at intervals of two years.
The process of rotation is automatic.
DR.. Charles N. Strahan, who was APP
pointed for two years, became the
first chairman as provided by the
law. At the end of his term, next
January, the four-year member, Stan
ley r. Bennett, will become chair.
man. At the end of Mr.. Benefits
term the SiX-year member, Mr.. Nicely,
will become chairman. All appoint
ments after the initial appointments
are to be for terms of SIX years, so
that one member will go out every
two years and a change will occur
in the craftsmanship every two years.
Governor HardWick's announced de-
sire is to appoint John n. Holder to
succeed Dr. Strahan when the latter's
term expires, and to make him chair
man of the board. But under the law
as it now stand, Mr.. Bennett will be-
come chairman. Hence the McMlch"
ael bill.
Another Bill Disapproved
Under the terms of the McMlchael
bill, there would be change in the
craftsmanship every two years, but
the governor would name the chair
man instead TO the chairman being
named automatically by operation of
law, as at present.
In addition to declining to approve
the McMichael bill, the senate high
way committee disapproved the bill
by Senator Johns to abolish the Of
flee of attorney to the highway
board. W. r. Neal, state highway
engineer, explained to the COMMITTEES
that the beard is making contracts
running from $1O000,000 to 100000
900 q year, that the road contractors
and surety bond companies are rep
resented very ably by lawyers. and
for this reason it was necessary for
the highway board to have the serv-
ices of a lawyer, apd good one.
argument and disapproved the bill.
With two or three minor amend
ments suggested by the highway
board, the senate committee approved
the house compromise bill requiring
an annual distribution of the motor
vehicle fund among the counties on
a basis of state highway road
mileage. One of the amendments au-
thoriZes the board to set aside the
first of each year 1 per cent of the
fund to cover emergencies. such as
washouts, forfeiture of contracts.
ETC. Another amendment authorizes
the board to combine the allotments
of several counties where the coun-
ties desire it, and concentrate on
single project. These amendments
were satisfactory to Representative
McMichael, author of the compromise
bill in the house.
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