The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1921-10-02
JOHNSON ANSWERS
EVANS OPPOSITION
ROAD BOND ISSUE
Commissioners Have q Right
to Hire Superintendent
and the Laborers.

The interview published recently
with former County Commissioner
George l.. Evans provoked a reply
from Commissioner Marion Pierce on
the amount of money which the com.
missioners will have from the gross
production tax. and today Roy NJ.
johnson, commissioner from the first
district, makes roJly to another fea.
lure Of the Evans interview.
Mr.. Evans took the view that all
public work that amounts to as much
as $500 or more had to be submitted
to public bids, that bids could not be
controlled and therefore the labor
could not be directed to Carter county
citizens.
In reply TO that statement, Mr..
Johnson refers the people to this pas
sage of law taken from the 1915 ses.
sion laws. chapter 173. article 2, sec.
lion and paragraph 6: The board
of county commissioners may improve
the state roads. as provided herein,
either by contract. or volunteer sub.
scription. convict or other day labor,
or by force account"
Explains Force Account"
In defining force account" Mr..
Johnson soys 1t gives the commission.
ers the right to hire a superintendent
TO direct the work and place under
him laborers such as they choose.
From n letter from the county at.
Nag IL Tal. .
seems that when bridges or culverts
are TO be built and the estimate OF the
engineer is as high as $500, that bids
must be advertised for. The full let
ter of the county attorney 10 Mr..
johnson follows:
Letter From County Attorney.
September 80. 1921.
Hon. Roy NJ. Johnson,
County Commissioner.
Ardmore. Oklahoma.
My dear Sir:
Answering your inquiry. We beg to
say: That road ana bridge improve
ment bonds may be issued in any de.
nominations not less than $500. and
shall be payable in not less than five,
nor more than % years from date
thereof, and may draw interest not ex-
ceeding per centum per annum, in.
terest payable semi-annually. (Chap.
95. II. b. 900. Laws 1879
In calling bond elections, the law
requires the county commissioners, in
the proclamation calling said election,
TO set forth:
First-Thc amount of bonds pro-
posed to be issued;
Second-The rate of interest 10 be
paid;
Third-The length of time the bonds
are TO run.
Fourth-the purpose FOR which the
money derived from the sale OF such
bonds is 10 be used;
Fifth-The number and location Of
such bridge. or bridges. (Sect!on 1921
Laws lel0)
Section I. chapter 30. Laws 1916
reads as follows;
when any culycrt, or bridge, is tC
be constructed. or piece Of tile-work &c
be donc-wheu the engineers total es'
Innate Is more than 5000, II shall d
advertised and let At public build
ing"
Session Laws 1915. chapter i73, ar
ticle .. section .. paragraph 6, state
as follows:
"The board OF county commission
crs may improve the state roads. "a
provided herein, either by contract ol
volunteer subscription, convict or 9th
or day labor. or by force account"
Other than as stated herein. there
are no other laws In Oklahoma re
quiring the expenditure Of the pro
cccds from bond election different
than the law regulating the cxpendI
lures OF the other road and bridg'
funds raised by taxation and from
other sources. Respectfully.
COUNTY ATTORNEY.