Arizona republican., 1922-02-14
TUESDAY MORNING, FEBRUARY IL. 1922
a business, like the plants IN the
netd, begins to go to seed as soon as
1t stops groUing.
A Modern Philosopher.
Highways and Politics


We have received from the Phoenix chapter of
the American Association Of Engineers three sets
Of resolutions adopted at recent meeting and di-
rected to the legislature which will convene
row. With two of these sets, we are in accord one
OF them recommending amendment OF the I'm
provement Act Of 1912 amendatorN acts with the
object of restoring competitive bidding eirninat
Ing legal doubt as to the validity of bonds issued
under this legislation We also amendatory and
additional legislation urged by the chapter
ing the use Of public highways by motor vehicles.
But we are not in accord with the resolutions
which we suspect did not originate In the chapter
recommending the repeal of the county highway
mission act, The chapter seems to think that
proposed legislation should come under Section OF
the governors call recommending the closer coordi
nation Of certain public activities and the abolition
Of Unnecessary agencies.
This set of the chapters resolutions is aimed at
the highway commission and particularly at the
Maricopa county highway commission. In where
as it is that the efforts the county high
way commissions to attempt the solving Of technical
problems to dictate methods Of construction in which
they are inexperienced. to lay down rules of pro-
cedure upon matters in which they had
tive experience has resulted in wasage issue
money
In preceding 'whereas" we have this: "The
county board OF supervisors the county highway
commission is in effect duplicate OF activities and
expenditures But il the commission which has been
especially selected for supervision OF highway
construction is inexperienced in the solution Of tech
nical problems incompetent to dictate methods of
construction and is without executive experience,
we to suppose that boards of supervisors selected
without reference to such qualifications are some
how miraculously qualified?
No, that is not what the chapter means, but it
means that the supervisors, having taken the
powers of the highway commission. Immediately del
egate all its powers to the engineers. who, though
experienced in highway construction, apt to be
without executive experience.
We do not know what the experience OF other
counties has been with highway commissions, but
the taxpayers of no county need have highway
commission unless they want one and we suppose
some Of them perhaps most of them. do not need
them But the taxpayers Of Maricopa county. con-
cerning whose welfare the chapter suffers great
perturbation are dissatisfied with the commission
The Maricopa commission at the outset was in
experienced in road building but was not deficient in
executive experience. 1t proceeded TO learn high
way construction without any of time which
the taxpayers had to pay. 1t has evolved type Of
road which been given the approval of road ex-
perts everywhere; that is it has dictated methods
Of construction" which had not been previously fol-
lowed and has devised system which later was
adopted by California alternative type
we have no hestancy in saying that the mem
bers of the Maricopa county highway commission to
say nothing Of its splendid engineering organization
is far better versed in scientific highway construc-
ton than nine out Of ten engineers by which mean
engineers who have not actual experience or who
have had actual experience without initiative
and are shackled to old book bound theories.
our county highway commission has produced
results 1t saved the in its first contract
far more than the machinery has cost to date It
has saved vast from grasping railroads and
n1onopolies Of material men,
The county highway commission law was de-
signed 10 take highway construction out Of politics
and 50 far as this county is concerned its freedom
from yastefu politics absolute. We sure that
the commission has never made an appointment or
an award by favor. 1t has considered only what it
believed 10 be merit. If it has never been influenced
bv favor neither has it been moved by fear
TO transfer the powers Of the commission to the
hoard Of supervisors mean any board of super
,,sors-necesssarily partisan body, would be 10
houy highway construction back into politics. The
.nnointments made by supervisors almost in
ariohiv nartsan and they are expected to be. But
~ apnointment by the board OF the members Of
I'LL commission was not, because the law required
.ards to be non partisan.
~. duties of the commission entirely distinct
60 .hose of the board. TO say that they are dupli-
d duties is as rdicuohs as to say that the duties
80 The clerk OF the board, OF the attaches the iantor
- ~ other county precinct officers whom the
tard sometimes assists in appointing to fill vacan-
,s are duplicate duties If the duties OF the com
ssion are taken out Of their hands we shah shortly
scover that they are being directed by politicians
IN ,oIiticians have never promoted economy at
btcb the chapter Of engineers says it is aiming
Inst Between Ourselves