The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1927-09-08
WANT "A NEW
HIWAY HEAD
Convention to Plan New
Method of Handling
Hiway Program
By Richard Hamilton

ways, tnaC Is new System VI
highway control, looms as the live
Hest topic for discussion at this
time. 1t seems there is general
agreement that the present ex-
officio state highway committee
i failure, not necessarily as to
personalities but as a system, and
that there is need for a new sys-
tenn of highway administration.
Therefor, it is certain that the
whole problem of road control, as
veil as different systems, will be
agreed with avidity and fervor at
the annual meeting of the Wash
inrton State Good Roads associa-
ton at Longview, beginning Sep
tember 80.
The new systems are already
proposed. ]. j. Donovan, Belling-
hame, wants a commission of five
members, the commissioners to be
elected one from each congression-
Il district. Doug Shelor, head of
the Washington Motorist, publica-
ton of the automobile clubs, fav-
ors the Donovan plan with the ex-
ception of the elective feature,
wanting the good roads conven-
ton to nominate two men for each
place, the governor to select the
sppointee from the nominees hand
Cd to him.
Both plans seem to be in for
hard going. Many fear that the
popular election of highway adj
illustrators would result in more
confusion and undesirable politics
the bobbing up of office seek
ers, Concrete" candidates, sblack-
top" candidates, tradino within
the commission, the building of in
dividual political organizations to
insure reelection, and other such
ills that attend popular elections.
The Shelor plan is regarded as a
makeshift. It's weakness is that
It proposes all nominations by one
body. The lack of a check is dam
gerous, because if the controlling
body should become corrupt, the
highway commission would become
corrupt. Nominations by a conven-
hon are fundamental and not un-
desirable, provided, however, there
Is counter convention to offer
an alternative or a direct check
On the convention. Moreover, it
seems unreasonable, passing OF the
buck, etc., for one body to nomi-
nate two men and require the gov
rnor or legislature to appoint one
Of the tow nominees. It deprives
the governor or legislature of free
sppointive power, imposing re-
sponsibility without the right of
discretion or determination.
The writer is convinced that the
road program has outgrown the
present ex-officio system of con-
rol. The men who make up the
state highway committee were
elected primarily as governor, aud
nor and treasurer, but the high
vay committee is more important,
n visible responsibility, than the
Offices of auditor and treasurer.
This means that the highway man
agement has been secondary, a
ndeline to the treasurer and audit
Q, and, in lesser degree, to the
s0vernor; and the need is for a
system that will have highway
eontrol as its main business.
consequently, the writer believ-
s that Washington will have to
come around to a sparate, semi
mdependent highway commission
Inc commission, made up of three
y five members, would take over
sae highway department, highway
pssfol, motor licenses and the
commission on equipment" which
Just beginning to function.
Inc commission should be mas
sf Of the s3O,OOO,O0O biennial road
aogram. Perhaps a commission
snree members would be best,
saiarled at about $4,000 each hold
se Office for six years, one re-
4iag every two years, chiefly to
= ss.esent sweeping change or sud-
~ Oreak-up of the program.
Appolntment should be by the
sV'ernor, with the consent of the
uate, and unconfirmed commits
~ ruers, if impeached, should be
siOie for interim re-appointment.
% governor should also have the