Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1921-11-24
SAYS GOVERNOR
IS DELAYING
APPOINTMENTS

w. w. Bolts, who voted in the
House of Representatives against the
proposed advance of date Of the SELL
ing Of the bonds for the ten million
dollar road bond issue, has given us
the following statement concerning
his attitude toward the proposal:
Il, like many representatives from
other counties, went to jefferson City
favorably inclined toward Governor
Hyde's proposal to advance the date
for selling road bonds, at least to
March 1st, 1922, in order to speed up
the road building program.
However, we were all wondering
why the governor was in such haste
about the bonds, and u the same time
had not appointed the four highway
commissioners. The road law went
into effect Immediately upon its ap-
proval, August End, and three months
had elapsed and no commissioners ap-
pointed by the governor. When the
legislature met, this matter became
an isue at once, among the members
of both houses, but we were given to
understand that no commissioners
would be appointed until after the
legislature adjourned.
"In view Of the fact that the road
law provided that the commissioners
were to be appointed by the governor
and confirmed by the Senate, that
they were to select a high class en-
gineer and organize on fitting scale
a new engineering corps requiring at
least one competent engineer for each
county in the state: that the entire
statewide system of highways was to
be surveyed and plans specifications
and estimates of cost of construction
made for every county in the state,
and copies filed with the county clerk
of each county, and all these matters
heard and approved by the commits
sioners, we knew that at least six
months preliminary work and perhaps
twelve months would be necessary be-
fore single contract could be adver-
tised for under the new law. Not only
were these surveys and estimates to
be made and acted upon by the COM
mission, but apportionnnents we're to
be based thereon for each county in
the state and an account opened with
each county,. so that the people of
every county of the state could know
that they were getting square deal.
The question naturally arose, why
is this commission not on the job? 1t
has the biggest task before it of any
commission ever appointed, part of its
work must be done before dollar of
the bond issue is spent. 1t is true
that some doubt was expressed as to
whether the law went into effect i'm
mediately upon it's approved, but it
was a mere doubt that would not have
affected single act that the commits
sion would have been called upon to
perform before the first of November.
No reason whatever exists for, the
further delay that has ocvcured and is
now occurring.
Il considered this of itself ample
reason for voting against the amend
ment fixing March 1st, 1922, as the
date for the sale of the bonds, and
enough other members viewed it IN
the same light to defeat the measure
on Tuesday, but / see by the reprts
from jefferson City, that enough
members yielded to the pressure to
pass the measure on Wednesday. In
explanation of my absence on We'd
nesday, will say that under the. con-
stitution of Missouri, absent members
must be counted as voting no on any
proposition requiring roll call, so
that by my absence from the house
on Wednesday, voted no, in effect.
'But the foregoing is not the only
reason for voting against the pro-
Iposal. The early issue of the bonds
may deprive the state of any road
maintenance fund and ! regard main
tenance just as important as road
building. 1t will certainly deprive us
Of any maintenance for 1922.
again, there is undoubtedly sin.
lister influence at work to nullify what
regard as the most important prov
lisions of the road law just as the prov
| isions Of the Morgan Cullough Law
were ignored, and this hurying up Of
the bond issue is part Of the scheme
There are two dominant influences, II
seems to me, around Jefferson City, al
the present time, the object Of one
being to spend money, regardless q
results; the others to start the build
ing Of high priced roads and force ths
! counties to finish them or leave then
/ unfinished"
CHARITY begins at home, but loi
Of people don't care to be charitable