The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1925-02-16
SAYS PERSONAL
ATTACK IS NOT
PROBE PURPOSE
Counsel for Highway Com
mission Probe Body Says
1t Wants TO be Fair
BLACK WILL APPEAR
Counsel Tells Committee He
Cannot Appear Until
Tomorrow Morning

Declaration that the Highway Com
mission investigating committee of
the House is not engaged in per-
sonal attack on w. G. Black, chief
engineer, or anyone else, was made
today at the hearing by +. j. Graham,
attorney for the committee. The de-
claration came during an interchange
between Mr.. Graham and J. M. Ham
ley of Mandan attorney for Mr..
Black.
The chief engineers counsel, APP
pearing in the committee hearing
room. said that Mr.. Black was ready
to appear and testify when he was
informed of the charges against him
and had full opportunity to examine
them, including additional testimony
taken.
Mr.. Graham replied that the COM
mittee was not engaged in a criminal
investigation. that no charges had
been made against Mr.. Black except
such as might be brought out in the
investigation, and that the committee
was willing to subpoena all witnesses
Black requested.
Mr.. Hanley said that many had got
the idea that the committee was ad-
dressing itself to Black alone; that
if the purpose was to conduct an
investigation as to whether or not
the Highway Commission affairs had
been we'll conducted, there would not
be much difficulty between him and
the committee.
Purpose of Probe
Mr.. Graham said the only purpose
of the investigation was to make a
report to the legislature to show
whether the department had been
carried economically and whether
recommendations should be made to
the legislature.
MIR. Haniey then" said Mr. Black
was willing to appear but could not
until Tuesday morning. He said he
would appear with Black and ask
that he be permitted to ask ques
tions. The committee voted to allow
Black until tomorrow morning to ap-.
pear.
Judge Graham then said that if the
committee didn't see fit to allow
Blacks lawyer to ask questions, if
Hanley handed him questions or
leads he would ask questions and
develop the leads.
Mr.. Hanley was given additional
pages Of the transcript and then said
that some records desired of Black
would be sent down during the morn
ing.
A. d. McKinnon, project engineer,
was recalled to the stand. He was
questioned particularly concerning
the plans and specifications for the
paving project from the east end of
Bismarck's main street past the
penitentiary.
Mr.. Graham, through his question
ing, sought to bring out that ad-
ditional specifications which dis
criminated against concrete in favor
Of black base paving had been re-
quired, and inquired concerning
specifications for concrete. Nc
Kinnon said that he was not a con-
struction engineer and refused to
give personal opinion regarding the
types of paving.
~ Paving Type
Mr.. Graham asked if it was not a
fact that four-inch sub-grade
we're required on the road from Bis
marck east, and this had not been
asked on the concrete road between
Bismarck and Mandan, and that the
sub-grade was usually required only
in sandy Or silly soil such as on the
Mandan side. Mr.. McKinnon de-
clined to commit himself as to the
difference not being required.
Richard Myhra of Wahpeton then
was called to discuss the Treadwell
Twichell Federal Aid project in
Richland county. A settlement re-
Gently was made on this project.
C. E. Lounsbury, states attorney
of Richland county, Wahpeton, sat
by the side of Mr.. Graham and con-
versed with him during question
ing of McKinnon and Myhra.
Myhra put in records on Federal
Continued on page thrssl