Arizona republican., 1921-03-31
THURSDAY MORNING, MARCH sl. 1921
Tue more one speaks of himself the Jess he likes to hedr another talked of. -LGUGter
The County Highway Commission

That serious mistake would be made at this time by entire change in the personnel of the county highway commission, believe is the judg- rnent very large majority of taxpayers, business men and citizens generally.
 There are several reasons why such a change should be made At great expense and with the expenditure of much time highly efficient busi- ness organization has been formed, favorable tract has been awarded and the laying of roadway which experts have pronounced model going on at the of 360o feet day.
 The commission, it is true, has been subjected to criticism A miracle would have been witnessed if had been in a situation in which there necessarily geographical conflicts. But have outstanding facts. Two years ago the taxpayers of this county voted s4o00 900 county highway gram with the understanding that the money should be expended by the commission which was the same it is now, with the exception of single change, member having resigned. That vote of approval of the personnel of the commission well as proposition to issue the bonds.
 On December of last year, a year and half later. the taxpayers by decisive majority voted additional bond issue of s45ooOoo. the proceeds be expended by the existing commission. That must be construed to be endorsement of the com mission and the expression of desire for it's tinuance
 When the commission undertook this task its members were unfamiliar with it in detail They
 
 familiarized themselves with road building We supp pose it would be possible to find in Maricopa county five expert business than the pres- ent members of the commission. But it would not bU= possible to find five as familiar with road building the members of the commission are. who in months could acquire such familiarity.
 A new commission would therefore delay and experimentation which county afford. It would more than that-the disruption of the entire road building program
 We have, as we believe a very large majority of the people Maricopa county have, confidence in the integrity, of the board of supervisors. the board should replace the commission will believe it been misled.
 The who have been mentioned in connection with commission are good and reputable c1t1zens but we understand that majority of them are inclined to 'black roads" The people of this county previous bond election had signi- fled so far as an expression could be secured, a preference for cement concrete roads. The vote at the last election though must have been plain dorsement of cement concrete roads,
 There is an ugly suspicion that behind it all is politics. that sinister forces trying to places for Republicans We feel sure that the supervisors would knowingly sacrifice taxpayers money partisan politics but there is possibility that certain inevitable community feeling against the commission has been magnified into popular condem- nation The change once made, it would be regarded and would be in fact. partisan change
 The Republican is inclined to Republicans for offices, all things else being equal. it terably opposed the introduction politics road building and that the taxpayers would bitterly resent the turning over of their raz1ons political playthng, that not. ir generation again would the party be witl the mana cement of county affairs
 -It is to be said in favor of the present commits sion and its engineering organization that the com mission though composed in the majority of nominal Democrats, has not permitted politics place in its operations