, 1921-01-20
INVESTIGATION OF HIGHWAY.
DEPARTMENT Is PROPOSED
Resolution Introduced in Legislature
Monday Proposes to Check Up On
Great Expenditures for Roads.

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Representative A. S, Mercer of Big
Horn county. in stating on the floor of
the house of Wyoming legislature Mon
day that he believed there should be a
legislative investigation of the state
highway department. voiced the senti-
ment of perhaps nine-tenths Of the 9th
er members of the legislature and of Il
majority Of the people of the state who
have given the matter more than the
most p%erfunctOry consideration. The
sentiment need not be regarded as
necessarily involving criticism or dis
trust of the highway department. but
more accurately may be considered the
expression of a desire for information.
The proposed investigation need not be
regarded as by inference suggesting
that there is anything wrong with the
department, but merely as iuferring
that there is a general desire for assur-
ance that all is right-that the great
fund available to the department here
tofore has been expended with wisdom
from the viewpoint of the state as n
whole. and that the great fund which
it is proposed to make available for the
coming biennium will be so expended.
legislative investigation. logic sug-
gests, in view Of the widespread sen
timent. should not be opposed. but
should be urged by the department. If
there is no reason why such an invcsti-
CATION should not be held. and there
is reason for opposing #, then it should
be held.
Public interest IN the highway de
partmont is very natural. nasmuch a-
this department has spent during the
period of its existence. and proposes
to spend during the coming biemium.
more money than all the other depart
ments OF the state government combin-
ed. The departments budget state
ment shows that the funds available
for It's activities during the period
April 1, 1920 March 81, 1921, total
50. 1j2,3GT.52, and that the expeudi-
lures for the same period total S4.SIO.- |
fOS.57, leaving n balance Of $011 .65S.05. |
The budget statement Of needs for
the 1928 bienuium reveals that eN-
penditure of $5.I63. 020 during the per-
iod is contemplated. Estimated rev
enue during the period from federal
aid, county aid and interest, and includ-
ing the balance Of SOL ,G5S.05 from the
l9l0-21 biennium, total S3.OI3,6t51I,
leaving a balance Of S2.42O.3OI51 to be
provided by the present legislature II
the projected program Is to be carried
out Governor Carey has recommended
that, IF the legislature desires to
carry on the highway work as de
fined in the budget, an appropriation of
S2JO,OOO each year, or "A total Of $780,
600 for the biennum could be made.
and the balance could be raised by is
suing additional bonds or by using part
of the funds to be received through the
federal oil Leasing law
There is a very NATURAL public In
@terest. not necessarily to be regarded
rs In any measure reflecting on the
highway department, In how and
where 80 great an amount of money
approximately S25 for each man. won.
an and child in the state-wns spent in
1010-21, and how and where II Is pro-
posed TO spend the So G3.020-approxi-
mateIy $50 for each man, woman and
child in the statc-which is called for
by the program for 1929. A legisla-
tive Investigation Investigation by