Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1921-02-28
EXPECT FIGHT
IN HOUSE ON
JUN0D'S BILL
Plan for One Man High
way Commission Will
Encounter Opposition.
Grants Excessive Power
to Single Individual,
It's Enemies Declare.
BY w. w. MOSES
Staff Correspondent
Snecial to The Tribune.

Special to The Tribune.
Helena, Feb. 27.-An interesting
argument is likely to develop in the
house when Junod's bill for the reor-
ganization of the state highway com
mission is considered in committee OF
the whole. This bill s. B. 1O1 places
control Of state highway affairs in the
hands of a single commissioner to be
appointed by the governor. 1t has pass
ed the senate.
Opponents of the plan hold the pro-
posed change too radical and state
their preference for a nonsalaried
commission of three business men from
different parts of the state. It is point
ed out that combination of the power
to appropriate and executive control
lodged in a single individual 10 un-
democratic and dangerous. Central
lied responsibility for operations can
be secured under three man commits
sion it is claimed, through an execu-
tive officer selected by the commits
sion.
Too Much Power Claim.
Those opposing the one man plan
say it will give single person abso-
lutte control of millions of dollars Of
state, county and federal money,
equivalent in any year to 80 per cent
Of the total expenditures by the state.
If this is wise it is said then the other
so percent of the states money might
well be spent by another individual,
thus eliminating practically all state
officers and boards.
While the argument Of economy has
been advanced in defense Of the Junod
bill, this argument is held by opponents
of the measure to be entirely without
merit. The present state highway COM
mission cost the state less than $500
in 1920. and it is claimed that non
salaried commission Of three would
cost less than $500 each year.
$4,000 For Salaries.
Again this estimate is the probability
that the commissions" and the
the ssaiins p viii eost the state gs per m
annum.
Those opposing the measure also
take issue with the statement that it
had been indorsed by the commercial
clubs of the state. They point out that
not single commercial organization,
through it's board of directors, has
recorded its approval of the bill. 1t is
admitted, however, that a few of the
commercial club secretaries seem to be
fostering the reorganization plan pro-
posed.
There seems to be an undercurrent
of suspicion that this one man bill
leaves the way open for control of
Montana's state road program and
policy by special paving interests.
Paving Firms Interested.
Some 60 so far as to say that the
bill was designed for that purpose and
that Senator Junod has been foled
by the cleverness of the scheme. Earl
ier in the session it was persistently
rumored that owners of certain
pavement patent were interested in the
bill and that man entirely satisfac-
tory to them had been picked for the
commissionership. It now appears to
some of the wiser ones that another
paving industry has loosed the hounds
in it's own behalf and will endeavor
to secure man friendly to it's in
terests. Such things have been done
before, it seems, and the stage setting
points to such play in Montana at
this apparently opportune time.
Will Have Great Power.
Meanwhile, many Of the more eau
tious members who regard the plain
everyday gravel road at 5000 a mile
as pretty good type of road improve
ment all things considered, are won
dering where the states road business
gets off" if the Junod bill becomes =
law. Upon one point all are agreed
however, if the bill is. passed no other
officer, not exceeding the governor
nor even the attorney general win
WELD the power of the new state
highway commissioner