The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1922-02-10
HIGHWAY ENGINEER
RESIGNS HIS POST
LETTER TO MACDONALD CAUSES
ACTION
Member of Commission Says Il
Savers of Making Goat Out
of Mr.. Mooreheld'
The State, eth.


engineer, has placed in the hands OF
the chairman Of the state highway
commission, R. Goodwin Rhetr, ms
resignation, effective at the pleasure
of the commission. 1t was under
stood last night that unless special
meeting of the state highway COM
mission is called previously, Mr..
Moorefield's resignation will be acted
upon at the regular meeting, which
will be acted upon week from TO-
day.
Mr.. Moorefeld's action grows out of
the construction put upon letter
written by him to Thomas H. Mac
Donald, chief of the federal bureau
of public roads, a copy of which was
submitted to members of the ways
and means committee of the house
last week, when highway matters
were under consideration before that
committee.
Certain leaders in the general as
sembly have insisted that such a let
ter was an indiscretion on the part OF
Mr.. Moorefeld. In rendering his res
ignation to Mr.. Rhett, chairman OF
the highway commission, Mr.. Moore
field expressed his willingness to re-
tire if his elimination would harmon
ize elements that have been opposing
the highway department and It's pro-
gram. 1t is understood that certain
leaders in the house and the senate
have assured Governor Cooper that
Mr.. Moorefeld's retirement would
eliminate the fight on the highway de-
partment.
Statement by Hearon
Charles o. Hearon of Spartanburg,
member of the state highway commits
sion. who was in Columbia yesterday,
expressed surprise at the turn the
fight on the state highway depart
1nent had taken in the demand for the
resignation of Mr.. Moarefeld, state
highway engineer. 1t is>possible. he
said that Mr.. Moorefeld's letter
might have been an indiscret;on, but
in no way indicated disloyalty or lack
of interest in the development OF
highways in South Carolina. Mr.. Hea-.
ron suggested that the legislature
should have legislated the whole COM
mission out CT office rather than pick
out the engineer. That sort Of thing,
he said. would not build or maintain
any system of state highways.
81 have been on the state highway
commission" ne said, ''since its be-
ginning and no agaency in the state
up to this time has been freer of pol
tiles or accomplished more in a con-
structive way with less encourage
ment. This turn distresses me, be-
cause in my judgment it savors of
making goat out of Mr.. Moorefeld. ="
Following is the letter that Mr..
Moorefeld wrote to Mr.. Macdonald,
which is the basis for the demand for
his removal: Il inclose herewith a
copy of bill which has just been in
troduced in the legislature by E. T.
Hughes for the purpose of reorganiz-
ing the highway department. Mr..
Hughes, whom you will remember in
connection with the Pee Dee bridge
matter, is claiming support for this
measure not only on the grounds that
it will save the state considerable
money, but that it will satisfy all con-
ditions of the federal aid law.
Letter Of Moorefeld
''In reading the bill it strikes me
that it may fail to make it possible
for the department of agriculture to
continue cooperation with this state
and if this is the case, / should like
of course very much to get the in
formation before the legislature in
convincing form. A telegram from
either yourself or the secretary of
agriculture stating that It would not
be possible for you to cooperate under
measure of that kind, in case that
would be the fact, could be used very
effectively in combating Mr.. Hughes
attack.
''This attack on the state highway
department has been very skilfully
organized and launched just at the
time our friends in the legislature
were launching a amovement for ex'
panding the work of the highway de,
partment and l understand it i;
likely to become law unless it is
shown to be inadequate for meeting
the federal aid requirements.
"The bill was kept secret until IN