The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1925-02-12
ROAD INQUIRY
IS CONTINUED
BY COMMITTEE
J. H. Newton and T. r. Akin
son Examined on Highway
Commission Affairs
LAWYER is BARRED
Won't Have Lawyers Jangle,
Says Member, Barring ].
M. Hanley's Appearance

The House committee investigat-
ing affairs of the State Highway
Commission continued its public
hearing today. with J. H. Newton of
Mandan, president of the Riverside
Gravel Company, which has a pit at
Schmidt. and T. R. Atkinson of Bis
marck. who has done contracting en-
gineering for the Highway Commits
sion. called to the witness stand.
The two were given opportunity to
explain various matters which, it is
understood, had been the basis of
complaints to the committee before
it opened its session. The matters
are to be gone into more fully, and
the investigation may continue two
weeks, according to committee men,
bers. Mr.. Newton was asked parti-
cularly about shipments of gravel, it
being understood favoritism on the
part Of Chief Engineer Black, for
mer Mandan man, had been shown
toward the Riverside Gravel Com
pany and Mr.. Atkinson was asked
abou. highway commission automo-
biles. concerning which w. F. Get
tlcman, superb tendent Of the equip
ment department, testified yeste rday.
When Mr.. Newton appeared, J. NJ.
Hanley of Mandan said he appeared
as Mr.. Newton's attorney.
Rep. Vogel, committee member,
moved the records do not show Mr..
Hanley appeared as attorney. Rep.
Halcrow alone voted against the
motion.
Chairman Yeater explained the
committee rule was against such APP
pearance.
I've are not going to have law
yers, jangle," said Rep. Vogel. 1--WE
will treat the witness with all
cOurteousy possible"
"Mr. Newton will treat the COM
mittee eourteously, and will answer
such questions as he sees fit and
then we'll find out about this repre-
sentation." said Mr.. Hanley.
Mr.. Newton said the gravel COM
pany was organized for 100000 cap
ita stock. and $45,5OO was paid up.
1t was organized in 1920.
Mr.. Newton gave list of stock
holders to the committee yesterday,
which list was not made public.
"Is Mr.. Black or any member of
the Highway Commission stock
holder?" Mr. Newton was asked.
mo SIR
"Have they ever been?"
mo sir.'
Mr.. Newton claimed that the COM
pany had shipped gravel to lO5 diff
ferent firms. 33 in highway work. He
alleged that of the 33. only % had
bought gravel during the Black ad
ministration and that of the %, half
had bought gravel during the Robin
son administration.
He declared no commission was
ever paid on gravel contracts.
Mr.. Newton at first demurred
when asked to furnish list of peo-
pie to whom gravel was sold and then
agreed to furnish the list,
Mr.. Atkinson was first questioned
concerning contract engineering with
the Highway Commission. He said
he did surveying and engineering
work on contract with the Highway
Commission and various counties and
cities, that he formerly had Is or 20
men on his staff but that municipal
engineering had decreased during the
hard times and he now has eight or
ten.
He named Griffin Of Mandan,
Hurning of jamestown, Bliss of VAL
lew City, Stevenson, Lucke and Mill
err of Fargo, Johnson of Hillsboro,
Ingram and Smith of Grand Forks
and Engdahl Of Stanley as other con-
tracing engineers. .
He declared they had not made
money the past year and that Bliss
Of Valley City claimed to have lost
money the past year.
Atkinson said he surveyed about
100 miles of road for the Highway
Commission last year, which he
said he thought was more than any
other contracting engineer.
He asserted he had done similar
work for Chief Engineer Robinson of
the Highway Commission. Blacks
predecessor.
The committee questioned him with
reference to the idea of whether it
would not be more economical for
the Highway Commission to have
their own engineers supervise the
work. The subject is to be further
inquired into, no conclusions being
drawn out in the questioning.
Asked regarding Highway Commits
sion automobiles Mr.. Atkinson as
serted he did not have cars belong
ing to the Highway Commission, in
sisting they were his own cars. He
had not paid for them, he said. but
declared he had told the Highway
Commission to send him bill for
them.
He said he was running Dodge
second hand car under Chief En-
gineer Robinson and continued under
Black, and bought it. No price was
agreed, he said. He said he told
Mr.. Black he. would like to buy two
lcpntinusd On page thrse)