Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-08-03
CREDIT WHERE CREDIT is DUE


lions of dollars worth of surplus
property turned over to them by the
Federal Government for purposes of
road construction is being invesu-
gated in the light of reports that j
large amount of this material has
been sold to private individuals for
much less than its real value
News dispatch in Public Ledger.
Congress probably will be asked to
take up the matter. This property,
trucks, tractors and accessories left
on the hands of the Government
when the war ended, was distributed
among the states to be used for high
way purposes, not to be sold at ri
diculously low price to those on the
inside" 1t is conceivable that there
might be among an some property
which il would be wise to sell, but
surely not to throw away. Maine
built at considerable expense a store
house and garage to care for her al
lotment along with equipment she
already possessed. 1t is said some
states have sold millions of dollars
worth for song.
The other day, reading what a con-
sulting engineer had to say about
that which New York had received
for the hundred million dollars ex-
pended on her highways, we found
this: Just SO long as the public per-
mits its great works to be matter of
partisan politics, just SO long it will
have to tolerate methods and results
that would be scorned by any repu-
table enterprise"
There we have it, the truth if ever
the truth was spoken
1t is pertinent to ask: is Maine suf-
fering on that account?
We have no axe to grind, no fayors
to ask, no road that we want built
out our way" no political debts paid
With fat contracts, no desire to have
finger in the distribution of the mil
lions to be used on our highways. In
other words we are in the same SIT
uaton as most of our readers, ex-
pecung to pay our share of the taxes
and wanting the money wisely ex-
pended. Maniiestly, We, with all such.
IN the matter Of self defense if with
no higher purpose, are under obliga-
uon 10 hold fast to that which is good
and insist that our highways shall
not be made to contribute to personal
or political ambition or greed. like
wise that they shall he intelligently
supervised not by theorists or vision
aries but according to the methods
which experience has amply demon
Strated 10 be the best known.
IN tEe interests of such purposes
1t is just as incumbent on US TO give
credit where credit is due as m criti
'i]e where criticism is merited. All
TINS requires some knowledge of the
SITUATION, some acquaintance with the
fa"ts, not rumors, nor poisoned prop
uganda.
we ought to learn why in these
Boom Maine" days there has been
widespread criticism Of Maine high
ways an" lnvldious comparisons
made between them and those of
other states, when motorists from
other states declare the Maine high
Ways are good and compare fayora-
Oily with other states, in fact are
much better than are those in states
which runor has sought TO make ap-
pear better than they are. WHY this
attempt 20 belittle the work in
Maine and eNaggerate the work in
other states' Why have we to go to
those from outside the State who
Know what they are talking about, TO
get TAI! opinion of what has been
done in Maine? Who are the coIored
SNh'iSiiei uHutl the WOodpile, for
there seem to be several of themo
Has anyone ever heard that the
present highway commission in this
state was using it as a political ma
chine? Who ever heard that it was
using its contracts as political pork .
Who ever found any petty graft at
tached to it in any spot or place? 1t
probably has made mistakes from
which we are under no obligation to
defend it and do not intend to do so
Wherein We find it to have done well
We propose to say so, whether that
may or may not be popular.
We are convinced that for one thing
the State of Maine has a commission
against which may lie no accusation
OF graft or political manipulation
We believe the members of that COM
mission working for the nominal SAL
aries of $1,000 each have done this,
rot for any personal advantage but