The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1922-02-10
NOT TO WITHDRAW
HIGHWAY MEASURE
BILL WILL BE AMENDED ONLY
SAY AUTHORS
MooreGcld Possibly "Made Goat by
Others Higher Up Think
Brcwn and Hughes

The Rughes-Brown-Ell lci'oe-Buck-
inelarn bill to abolish the present
s.ate highway commission and to ere
ate new state highway department
will not be withdrawn despite the
designations of Charles H. Moorefield,
state highway engineer, according to
a statement issued last night by Rep
resentatives E. T. Hughes OF Marion
and Edgar A. Brown of Barrwell, CO.
authors with z. p. Buckingham of
Ellenton and f. r. ElleIDe OF Latta
of the measure. The bill, Mr.. Hughes
and Mr.. Brown say, VII, however, be
amended in the ways and means COM
nlittee, the authors having agreed to
accept certain amendments proposed
by Representative Claud n. Sapp of
Columbia.
Mr.. Moorefeld has rendered his
resignation to the state highway COM
mission, but so far no action has been
taken by that body, which will not
hold its regular session until next
week. Mr.. Moorefeld in presenting
his resignation expressed willingness
to retire if his elimination would pla-
cate elements opposing the highway
commission. The turn in the high
way department matter, however,,
Charles o. Hearon of Spartanburg,
member of the highway commission,
thought, "savors of making a goat out
of Mr.. Moorefeld." Mr.. Brown and
Mr.. Hughes in their statement dis
claim any personal fight on the engi-
neer, giving it as their opinion that
eff he has been made the goat it is
possible that such has been done by
others higher up"
Combines Other Bills
The original bill, Mr.. Hughes said,
was introduced after Representative
Brown announced on the floor that a
general bill was being prepared, in
volving all the changes sought in a
number of measures already introduc-
ed in the house. These measures,
all Of which proposed amendments to
the present highway law, were then
committed to the ways and means
committee, which now also has the
Hughes-Brown Buckingham Ellerbe
measure under consideration.
The Sapp amendments, to which the
authors of the bill have agreed, will
take the form of a substitute bill, ac-
cording to Mr.. Sapp. This substitute
measure will be based in some degree
upon the recommendations of the
joint committee on economy and con-
solidation and will provide for the
elimination of the post of secretary
of the highway commission, now oe-
cupied by L. H. Thomas. The substi-
tute measure, it is understood, will
also provid for seven members of the
commission, as at present; one men,
Der to be selected from each congress
sional district. The election of these
commissioners, however, will be plac-
ed in the hands of the legislative del
egations from each district. The or
iginal bill provided for only one COM
missioner. The section of the bill
placing the issuance of the motor We
hicle licenses in the hands of the va
rious county authorities, according to
Mr.. Hughes, will not be changed by
the Sapp amendments, which would,
however, provide that all members of
the present commission, who were
named by Gov. R. A. Cooper, should
serve out their terms.
Personnel Of Commission
The terms Of the present commits
sioners will expire as follows: Frank
Manning, Jr., of Clio, 1922; A. B.
Langley of Columbia, 1922; R. G.
Rhett of Charleston, 1924; W. S.
Rentz of Varnville, 1924; R. E. Ligon
of Anderson, 1924; and Charles O.
Hearon of Spartanburg, 1924. N. G.
Walker Of Rock Hill, who resigned
from the commission over a year ago
would have left the commission this
year, his term expiring at this time.
No one has been appointed to fill the
vacancy occasioned by Mr.. Walkers
resignation.
Mr.. Hughes and Mr.. Browns state
ment follows:
eve have rot withdrawn our bill.
We are willing to be fair and have
agreed to certain amendments that
Mr.. Sapp desires to offer to our bill.