Arizona republican., 1921-02-12
Report Shows Vast Amount of
Work by Highway Department

as a contribution to the Republican
party.
IN the approximate two years
which the writer has served as state
engineer, he has not himself, nor his
office engineer, chief clerk nor any
other person with his authority, even
asked the politics of an applicant re-
questing employment in the state high
way department In accordance with
the provision of the federal road act
that preference shall be given, other
conditions being equal, to honorably
discharged soldiers. sailors and mar
ines, but no other discrimination
among citizens of the United States
shall be made, we have given prefer
ence to ex-service men.
This department in making pur-
chases does not take into considera-
ton the politics of merchants but
merely the prices of their goods to the
state.
1--WE have many men in important
positions of the opposite political faith
They have never even been requested
to support your administration po-
litically. We therefore feel that we
have been neutral as far as politics
is concerned and that this neutrality
has warranted return Of the same
from our employees.
1--WE have made no suggestions or
objections to how our employees voted.
However where employees in our de-
partment after receiving our neutral
treatment, have seen fit to openly
work for and solicit votes for the OPP
ponents of this administration, we
have felt that they were not properly
reciprocating our actions and nave
severed their connection with the state
on the principle of the scriptural pas
sage: "They that take up the sword
shall perish with the sword
Space is given to the policy Of the
department:
1--WE have not been striving to secure
the most mile construction, but rather
to improve the poorest lengths of our
through lines so that Arizona's por-
ton of the national highways would
be more quickly placed in position to
better compete with the other through
highways across the United States.
We realize that there will be ire
mendous revenue secured by the citl-
zens of our state in their providing
| for the needs of the travellers across
our state; also that the first good route
| across the United States will receive
| So great an amount of advertising that
lit will for long time carry large
portion of the national traffic; that
| in addition the business built up py
this traffic will assist in the paying or
taxes to further improve the state
highways. On this account we feel
that the expenditure OF Arizona funds
for through highways is Justified
aWhere it has been impossible to i'm
prove the entire length of road In a
cbunty after first building the poorest
links it is the policy of this depart
ment to improve the portions or the
highways which in addition to being OF
equal benefit to through traffic serve
| the greatest local traffic as we'll,
ssThe office employees of this depart
ment are working eight hours day IN
place of the customary seven. 1t Is our
belief that as the average taxpayer
who provides us with funds WORKS al
least eight hours per day, the employees
NJ the departments which spend the
ltaxpavers' money should do likewise
| "Nepotism is not permitted IN tnis
idenartment. No persons are perm1tteo
tn work under the direction OF theil
relatives.
sEvery employe of this department
who handles money or who Is In re-
snonsible charge OF work is under
s,1retv bond These range from $50 09l
each for the state engineer and chic
clerk 10 as low as $1,000 for inspectors
on small jobs.
"AIl contractors are under surety
bond to pay for labor and material
also to complete their contracts
Il at has been our desire, wneneVel
1 possible, to promote present employees
rather than secure outside help, no
Ioply as a reward for hard work but u
improve the general morale OF TN
department and encourage the othe
: lemployes to better services
Federal aid projects by counties. re
mort of the accounting department b,
, w. r. Inghram, chief clerk, and OF tn
. bridge department by Merrill Butler
bridge engineer, are features of the re
port, which is of additional value 10
t it's financial statements, maps and hal
tone engrayings