Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-08-18
FINANCE HIGHWAYS
Is BIG STATE PROBLEM
CONTINUED From Fifth pagc)


and the Governor. and, think, right
'ly so. because OF excessive prices of
labor ana material. In spite OF this,
much criticism has been directed at
the Highway Commissioner on the
ground of delay In completing various
sections of the system. IL is also
SAID that extravaganza obtains, but
not bit of proof Of this assertion
has been offered. though the records
Of the department are open to inspcc-
ton and, presumably, the Highway
Commission. composed of five business
men. is informed at NIL times of what
the commissioner is doing. Complaint
Is made that the commissioner has
too much power. If so, the General
Assembly, which passed the present
laws. is responsible. and not the com
missioner. Much of the power given
him was conferred by the General
Assembly without any suggestion or
request from him. The same author
ity which gave can take away. IL
desirable. Under the act of 1919,
the commissioner is given original
Jurisdiction to locate routes between
points on the state system. but the
right OF appeal to the commission
is expressly conferred on county au-
thorities and taxpayers. This seems
ihh. III year lunNS
to different parts of the system, the
commissioner only has the power to
recommend the ALLEGATION. The com
mission makes the ALLEGATION after
public hearing. This. likewise. seems
proper. In what respect should these
two important things be changed,
nave heard 40 better plan suggest
ed so far. The commissioner OF
course. awards all contracts, and. adj
mittcdly, this les a great RESPONSE
bility. AS Il matter OF practice, he
seeks and obtains the, approval OF
the commission in this matter, but
there can be no objection to requir-
ling this.
When the Highway Commission was
rccreatcd at the extra session OF 1919
II is more than probable thu a fixed
commission. sitting all the time In
Richmond. would have been provided,
instead of the commission which was
provided. but for the well-known op-
position Of Governor Davis to any
new saiaried officers. lint II the Cen
cral Assembly thinks that there
should be a salaricd commission. the
law can he amended ut the coming
session. and il this is done il seems
10 me that the Maryland plan should
he followed. The commission in that
'''hie CONSISTS OF Inc highway com
missioner or chief engineer and two
other men. These two should be ap-
pointed by the Governor and all three
members should receive salaries IN
keeping with the great responsibility
OF the positions. such a commission
should. OF course. determine where
the annual funds for road construc-
ton shall he spent and should APP
prove and award all contracts for
road work. The establishing of such
commission would 1T least rid us
OF all OF this talk Of one man power"
AS matter OF fact. ] have already
pointed out that all contracts now
awarded by the Highway Commits
sinner are first submitted to the com
mission for approval. but great
many people in the state evidently
do not know this, and complain ac-
cordingly. Aside from these few
changes. the next Assembly will prob
ably make but few alterations in the
present road laws OF the State. which
are admittedly as good. IL not better.
than those to be found i'm most Of the
other states in the Union.