The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1929-02-15
BOllZER'S HIGHWAY
>BILLRECO|hNENDED
FOR SENATE VOTES
Waste and lnsfficiency Charged
20 Archaic Business sys-
tom BY Bill Sponsor

tom BY Bill Sponsor
After Senator A. +. Bonner, Jr.
Richland county, had charged thai
the state highway department wa.
facing bankruptcy due to waste and
inefficiency, the senate highway,
committee Thursday night recon-.
mended passage Of Bonzer's bill K
create new highway commission
and reorganization Of the depart.
ment.
Support for the measure wa.
unanimous. It was said after . vot<
had been taken. Some correction,
and alterations will be made before
the bill Is finally drawn. They viii
be made by . subcommittee com.
posed Of Senators Bonner, 6perry o.
Burleigh. and Peck Of Mclean.
Financial collapse Of the whole
highway department structure vii
result unless steps are taken immed.
lately to place the department on ar
efficient business basis. Senator Bon.
zer said In opening his report to thu
committee.
Misleading Public, Charged
Main points In the charges made
by B0n1er are:
The public has been misled by the
inclusion Of the 1923 construction
program in the 1929 program.
The department at the present time
IS in the hole practically 81 ,000, 900.
Liability In 1880 will be even great
er due to maintenance costs Of 50(
more miles Of roads.
The passage of any bridge bills
now pending viii dislocate the
finances Of the department.
The bridge program, rs formulated
by the legislature, means . sacrtfic.
ing Of highways. rs
Maintenance costs have mounted ir
two years from $l0z per mile to $26{
per mile. Part of the costs can be
charged to the hiring Of full time pa.
trolmen who work about one third Of
the time due to weather conditions.
Gas tax revenue In 1928 was enor.
NOUS due to bumper crops. Funds
from this source win be greatly de.
creased in average years.
Gas Tax For Maintenance
The maintenance department alone
will absorb practically all Of the 1871
gas tax revenue.
The road system Of 1900 miles 4
entirely too large for our population
North Dakota Is trying to do things
that states with from 100000 *
100000 people ore doing.
II our road program calling To-
$500 miles Is completed, 1t will cost
more than 100000 annually *
maintain. The state under present
financing arrangements would still b(
short 100000.
Two hundred thousand dollars pei
year can be saved by putting patrol
men on an hour base salary.
Over-supervision by maintenance
engineers has created too much
travel. hotel and meals expense.
Maintenance machinery isnot prop.
erly cared for. More than 81, 600 ne,
year can be saved by q bushes.
method Of caring for the expensive
machinery.
Department Over-engineered
The department is over engineered
More than 100000 can be saved b.
hiring one-third the number Of pres.
ent employees In this branch who car
do the same amount Of work under q
competent business manager or COM
missioner.
Travel account In the engineering
branch Is too high. More than $4,000
was spent for travel expenses. hotel
bills and meals In this branch.
North Dakota Is overbuilding and
has overbuilt for its present income
We are creating . greater debt each
day.
There Is no true and correct state
ment available Of equipment that has
been and Is being purchased each
year averaging nom 100000 to $780,
600 annually.
More than 100000 worth Of equip
ment purchased from the war de-
paItment u - rotting away on the
banks Of the Missouri river. ;.=-,-
Bridge maintenance has been al
most overlooked. It Is . constantly
growing item Of expense.
Many unnecessary and uncalled Tor
roads have been built.
No Personal Criticism
Bonzer stated that he had no criti-
cisms to offer about any person con-
.nected with the highway department.
Any mistakes that have been made
ara due to the archaic business sys-
tenn IN use and not due to any per-
son.
The motor vehicle department and
the present commission have done
their work well, the senator stated.
@Senate Bill 106 i. = three man
commission, composed i Il tn sever
nor, to oct q chairman, and the slate
auditor, who Is non1ina1ly tho w2tch-
dgo Of the state treasury. together
With . man whom the governor viii
appoint, who viii manage, supervise.
administrate. and direct state high
way department. He shall have full
control only In the management
thereof. He win be directly fespon-
sible to the governor, whom tho gov
ernQr can remove with his pleasure.
IN thu way Il creates = responsible
ity. The motor vehicle department
viii be under this mans supervision,
but under no circumstances shall this
man, appointed By the governor. b
allowed 70 make any contracts or
adopt budgets, now provided for by
law, q make any purchases In the
excess Of 5000.
This commissioner Of highways
will draw : salary Of not more than
TWO NDAKOTA'NSr