Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1924-02-21
HIRST UPHELD
BY COMMISSION

Wisconsin Highway commission has
sent out statement which in part
reads:
Recent newspaper articles stating
that there is dissension in the High
way Commission and that serious
charges were to be preferred against
State Highway Engineer Hirst have
been SO widespread that the High
way Commission, authorized Chair
man Hotchkiss to give a statement
of the facts to the public.
At the outset it may be state that
there is no dishonesty or inefficiency
in the administration of highway ex-
penditures. Governor Blaine in his
address at the last Road School said
that the state could be proud of the
record in this regard. Even Mr..
Staudenmayer who so bitterly attacks
the Commission and its chief engi-
neer stated at the meeting on Feb
ruary 18th that he had never ques-
toned the integrity, honesty or the
ability as an engineer, of Mr.. Hirst.
! BY a resolution. introduced by Com
missioner Anderson the commission
instructed the chairman to bring out
chat the only dissension comes
from the junior member of the COM
mission"
In a letter published in a weekly
paper in January, Mr.. Staudenmay-
err, in terms which all newspapers but
one have seen fit to expurgates, gross
ly insulted the commission and &C
cused Mr. Hirst of being an auto
crat."
Mr.. Staudenmayer has apparently
very recently changed his attitude
toward the commission and Mr.. Hirst
Late last October he joined with all
the other members of the Legislative
Highway committee in signing a res
oIution stating that "Mr Hirst and
his staff were Of invaluable service
in digging out the facts and present,
ing every angle of view for their coL'
aideratfon," and praising them for
their splendid cooperation
At the first meeting of the commits
sion which he attended in January,
1924, his first act was to insist on
an executive session which caused
Mr.. Hirst and State Chief Engineer
MEck to be Obliged to Leave the
room. So far as memory serves thl&
was the first executive session of the
commission.
meetings of the commission were
illegal because held in the offices
: in the Capitol annex instead of the
Capitol He also urged that all de-
cisions of the commission should BIZ
made in executive session on demand
of one member, and held strongly to
his point even after the unwisdom
OF the policy of a public body of
this kind acting always in secret had
, been pointed out to him.
Opinions of Attorney General Ekern
were necessary to settle his content
ions These opinions upheld the
acts of the commission.
AS to Mr.. Hilts '+usurpfng the
powers of the commission The
commission conducts it's affairs ex-
: actly like any large business enter
, prise is conducted. The Commis-
, sion acts as board of directors
D Throughout its history the commits
: sion has determined policies and has
delegated such authority as its ex-
perience showed to be wise, to Mr..
5 Hirst and his staff to enable them
to execute these policies.
| At all times there has been in the
: commission and between it and its
employees that spirit of confidence,
, and complete and harmonious cooper
atom so necessary in carrying out the
great enterprise of public service to
which this commission is dedicated,
Under its operation this state has bs'
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