The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1929-02-09
Extravaganza and
Waste Is Charged
to Foolish Rules


project.
Senator Bonner made the main at
tack. Senator Poupore joined in
with comparisons of costs to the dis
credit OF the department. Now and
then the committee had recourse to
the departments 1928 report. So In
tercsted with the subject was the
committee that questions flew back
and forth and across the table like
shrapnel and members would forget
one interrogation as answers to others
were interjectcd. Chairman Fredrick-
son asked Senator Bonner to get up
statement embodying his figures. SO
that the committee could give more
intelligent consideration to the argyll
ments against the old commission and
those In favor Of the new, One-man
idea.
BY Senator Bonzer's figures it was
shown that the commissions average
cost Of moving dirt in road grad
Ing was $500 mile. Senator Pou-
pore said Grand Forks county paid
$500 mile for the same kind of
work on roads that branch into the
federal aid roads. The senator said
he had a standing challenge to the
commission to build roads such as it
Is constructing and do it for less than
half what the state now is paying.
Compares Cost Figures
In fact, II the state system of high
way construction were conducted with
economy and competition instead of
accepting any old price, the same
roads could be built for less money
than the states share of the road
funds and fedsral aid could be reject
ed, with its red tape. said Senator
Poupore. He instanced one bid of "A
cents a yard which on rebidding was
brought down to % cents. Another
road was built in Grand Forks coun-
ty. he said, at 10 cents a yard for
grading. The state it was represented.
paid $500 mile for this same work.
Senator Bonzer said the reason
grading bids are SO high in North
Dakota-4 to cents above what any
other state pays. he said-is that con-
tractors need the margin to get by
the officious inspection of the de-
partment. It has broken every con-
tractor who ever came in and took
highway building contracts, he said.
He instanced an example Of this
policy at Lidgerwood. Engineer
O'Neill compelled the contractor to
tear up a whole block Of paving
Bonner called in the federal aid
engineer, who expressed amazement.
saying the paving was good and there
was no cause for condemnation. The
senator said young engineers out of
college seem to think they must
break contractors.
Bonzer said the system of inspec-
tlon Is for an assistant engineer to
look the road over and report to the
commission. Then a construction en-
gineer comes along later-the con.
tractor being compelled meanwhile to
maintain his work although it is
ready for acceptance-andf finally the
commission comes along to pass on
the Job. He instanced one contract
IN which rain ensued during this
red tape, SO the contractor had to get
out his caterpillar and smooth the
whole job down again. Sometimes
tney maintain their work three years.
SO that the commission can make a
better bookkeeping showing for the
use OF It's funds-but the contractors
have to bid higher In the first in
stance, he said, to meet this sort of
system Ut burdening them down.
This, said Senator Bonner, Is over
supervision. A one-man commission
could cut the costs Of engineering
and administration at least one-third.
he said, and eliminate all the red
tape that now cutters the operations
OF the present commission.
Another bit Of what the senator re-
garded as over-fidelity to specifica-
lions was Richland county case.
Guard posts were required at one
point and the contractor ordered TOO
posts. When these were in the in
spection engineer ordered all pulled
up and new ones placed. The first
posts were Oft in circumference. The
government specifies for approximate
compliance In such cases, said the
senator. so that It's engineers can ex-
ercise common sense.
Costs Hard to Ascertain
The senator said the commission
also kept the facts Of road construc-
ton cost from the counties by Offer
ing to pay the costs of engineering
It the counties pay the right OF way.
Secretary Ermatinger said that prac-
ticc had been made subject to an
amendment Of the law. by which the
counties pay Q fourth OF the costs Of
right Of way and engineering. so that
9 report must be made to them and
they can thus obtain cognisance Of
the costs.
The senator also attacked the per
diem stipend Of the commission.
While putting In 26 days ct the office
here. two commissioners drew $500,
he. said. In SO per day allowance, last
year. He said the policy Of the COM
mission was costing the state so q
mile tor administration activities In
building such mile.
A. matters are proceeding, said the
senator. Il looks as though the COM
mission had got to the point where
Il can only build 50 70 IS miles of
Rad annually.
T,e committee decided 70 meet
Monday and let the commission have
Z chance to b heard Ia defense, II e
dAHinnR u net firth IN aif4A