The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1927-01-27
ROAD FUND is
NOT SETTLED
Reporter Says Fight Over
Control of Highway
Department Looms -.

The third week of the legislature
finds highway matters in the fore
ground. Control and distribution
of the highway budget, which will
range from $2O,OOO,OOO to $685.
100000, is the objective, and it
looks as if the group that handles
the program will rule the legisla-
ture.
The senate roads committee,
headed by the veteran hard and
shrewd fighters, Oliver Hall and
"Doc" Carlyon, are girded for ac-
tion, setting out to strip Governor
Hartley of any road power. They
were shocked and alarmed when
Mr.. Hartley took control by sub
mitting a road budget, prepared
by Engineer Hoover, and now they
have launched their fight to wrest
that control from Mr.. Hartley.
The senators wrote a bill to
create department of highways"
al suggested in this correspond
ence last week, which would COM
bine the highway engineer, high
way patrol and parks under COM
mission of five elective officers,
who, at this time, would be: Mr..
Hartley, Treas. Potts, Auditor
Clausen, Secretary Hinkle and
Land Commissioner Savidge. This
plan would give Mr.. Hartley a
place on the sidelines, tiny voice
in the dark.
1t means a hard fight. The sem
ate committee split, the so-called
Hartley men baking. Others, most
of the committee will bring out
the bill Independently. This means
that the struggle, for the most
part, will be along the old lines,
reviving the conflict of the 1926
special session. just now the Hart
ley people have the edge in the
house, while the Hall Carlyon
group rule in the senate. Unless
the maneuvering makes one side
crack, it may be deadlock.
This reporter, among others, OBJ
served the most dramatic meeting
since the legislature opened, when
Gov. Hartley and Senator Carlyon
the extreme opposites, met over
the Hall Carlyon bill to reorganize
the highway department. They met
in the governors office, Mr.. Carl
yon heading a delegation to pre-
sent the bill that would take the
roads and highway patrol out of
Mr.. Hartley's hands. The chamber
was filled with members of the
governors staff, several legislators
and newspapermen, but the chief
characters, Mr.. Hartley and Mr..
Carlyon, stood like clashing giants.
Mr.. Hartley, debonair, dark
ribboned glasses, trifle worn,
but resolute-the governor, pre-
tending not to know that the sem
ate "old guard" came to trim his
road power. Mr.. Carlyon, cold, in
scrutable, sad-faced-" -"poker face"
pretending not to know that the
governor knew.
"Your pleasure, senator" invit-
ed Mr.. Hartley.
Mr.. Garlyon, without a finch,
put the proposition up to the gov
ernor, detailing the change that
would strip Mr.. Hartley but clev-
erly softening the jolt by remind
ing the governor of his promise
of fullest cooperation"
Mr.. Hartley, usually charged
with emotion, steeled himself, lis
tened politely, but gradually his
face reddened and gray eyes gilt
tered as if he heard Mr.. Carlyon
saying, 1--WE came to bury Hartley,
not to praise him."
Deity, Mr.. Carlyon relieved the
governor, saying, ''it is not in
tended to pledge you-just pre-
senting it." ~
Mr.. Hartley said he would look
into it and "thanks for your call.
Come again."
1t was clash of purposes, with
polite chills, rather than battle
of words. But the result was OBJ
vious: Mr.. Carlyon served notice
of fight. Mr.. Hartley accepted it.
The detached observer could adj
mire both. Mr.. Carlyon for his
firm, measured words and direct
challenge. Mr.. Hartley for his re-
straint, courtesy and resolute TAX
ing up of the challenge.
.-
House members have voted
themselves $5 a day for subsist-
ence maxine tho c10 q day that