The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1925-02-25
ROAD PROGRAM |
IS BEATEN in
HOUSE ACTION
Proponents of State Highway
Building Hope to Retrieve
in Senate
HARD FIGHT STAGED
Independents and NOnparti-
sans Make Charges and
Co4nter-C Charges


necessary if the state is to obtain
money offered by the Federal gov
eminent to aid in highway construc-
ton, after November Q, 1926, were
wrecked yesterday afternoon in the
state House Of representatives.
After the Independents had scored
victory over the Nonpartisan lead
ers in fiery battle over House Bill
No. s, enough members turned against
House Bill No. II, creating a state
road fund from the gasoline tax fund,
to defeat the bill.
As result, the highway program,
which has been a football in the
House for the past week, was left in
an uncertain state. As it now stands,
the Highway Commission would be
left after November 8, 1926, with
$15O,000 for administratio expense,
about 100000 from the motor vehi
Gle fund to maintain roads already
built, and no money to match Fed
eral Aid for new road construction.
Proponents of road construction
program hope to retrieve some of
their losses in the Senate.
First Big Battle
The first big battle came on House
Bill No. 8, measure originally spon-
sored by the North, Dakota Good
Roads Association, for three man
highway commission, each with six
year terms, appointed one each two
wears, but amended in committee.
Independents opened fight on the
measure because they declared it was
designed to legislate the present
Highway Commission out of office
and strip w. G. Black, chief engineer,
Of his appointive power although he
should complete his term running
for two years. They defeated the bill
and put on the "clincher," preventing
reconsideration, by 81 to Sc vote.
There was squabble over the first
roll call, announced first 81 to SIS
for the bill, with one absent. indie
pcndents challenged the result an
nounced from the desk and check
up showed the vote Sc to Sc, with one
absent, the bill failing to carry. The
absent Independent member came in
and the "clincher" was applied. 1t
was the second time during the day
the Independents had challenged the
correctness Of the vote as announced
Iom the speakers desk.
The thought on the bill was ex-
pressed briefly.
"This bill was introduced for a
purpose and since its introduction
tic purpose has been changed. 1t
was provided in the original bill
that the chief engineer should hire
his employees. The word commits
sion has been inserted. Evidently
someone realized that the present
chief engineer would hold office for
two years more. They have change |
the bill so that the commission shall!
g., have power to employ all engineers.
and another change prevents the
commission from naming the chief
engineer it's secretary.
%"There is just one purpose. 1t is
Z to take the power from the engineer
and give it to a commission named
for political reasons. The bill pro-
vides for naming one member each
two years but you can't bring about
that condition for four years-nct
until another Governor is elected"
Rep. Vogel. Nonpartisan leader, de-
MED any political motives:
"This is not politics." he said.
"T;iis bill is framed to fit with a
bill in the Senate affecting Highway
construction. This is ar effort to
remove politics from the Highway
Commission by making an appoint
ment to it each two years and the
terms ultimately six years each. This
is an effort to give the Commission
the right to name one Of its own
members secretary, who shall be re-
sponsible. Anyone who knows Of
the opinion of the people regarding
the Highway Commission knows .his
bill is needed"
Rep. Watt, independent, Cass
county, declared: II am against this
bill because it was sponsored by the
North Dakota Good Roads Associa-
tlon. They came down here with z
100000 road program. consider
tho members of the North Dakota
Good Roads Association the craziest
!, bunch in the state"
Check Roll Call
After the vote was announced. 81
to IS, that the bill had carried, Rep.
2 Traynor, Independent, who was check
ing the roll call, demanded verifi-
cation. A verification was had and
the result was announced, Sc to 66,
with one absent. Then the "clinch-
er" was applied. "a
Immediately House Bill No. II was
called up for third reading. Rep
resentative SWEET, Nonpartisan, Kid
der county, declared that he was OPP
posed to putting any more money In
a Highway Commission where the
chief engineer is the entire commits
sion.. The bill, which provided that
after the first SIS, 900 of the pres
ent one-cent gasoline tax receipts is
placed in the. general fund, the re-
maindep shall go into q highway
. fund, was advocated to provide $780,
900 to 100000 a year TO be used in
matching federal aid for road build
ing purposes. The. opposition of
Representative SWEET, followed by a
similar statement from Rep. Vogel,
= Nonpartisan leader, was the signal
for many Nonpartisans to vote
against the bill, and it was lost so to
G2, with one absent. The "clincher"
was applied, preventing reconsidera-
ton. go
On the vote on House Bill No. 8,
three Nonpartisans deserted their
side. and one Independent voted with
the Nonpartisans.s Reps. Morton Of
Dunn county, Helbling Of Morton
county and Palms Of Burleigh county
~ a 4.