The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1929-02-20
ATTACKS BROADSlDE
FACYSASREVEALlNC
IGNORANCE OF WORK
Declares Highway Commission
Secretary Ermatinger Has
Nothing to Do With Bin
SHOWS MOE IS IN ERROR
Reitsratss Charges Highway
Department Faces Bank
ruptcy and 10 inefficient

ruptcy and 10 inefficient
Ignorance Of impending bank
ruptcy of/the North Dakota highway
department, inefficient business con-
ditionS in the department, and lack
Of knowledge Of department reports.
were charged to I. J. Moe. Valley City.
state highway commissioner, today.
Senator A. r. Bonner, Jr., Richland
county, author Of q bill to reorgani1e
the present highway commission and
management Of the department. made
the charges after Z broadside had
been circulated In the legislative as
sembly by Mr.. Moe in which Bon
zer's measure was assailed.
Moe, who has vigorously opposed
Bonzer's bill, intimated in his broad
side that J. J. Ermatinger, secretary
Of the present highway commission,
Is the source Of incorrect information
upon which Bonner drew his bill; that
Ermatinger betrayed the commission
and that Bonzer's charges Of ineffi-
cheney are ridiculous.
Mr.. Ermatinger has had absolute
~ nothing to do with my bill to re-
organize the highway commission and
department" Senator Bonner said to-
day.
Interested Three Years
II first became interested in the
highway commission three yc... = ,I -
IS mayor Of Lidgerwood, I came into
direct contact with the highway de-
partment when m underpass was
built and paving laid In the city. Red
tape. inefficiency aiad the waste Of
public money by The department came
to my notlee.fGFvlSe first ssin,e. 4 1t1'
not even know Mr.. Ematinger at'tHaV
time. n.
prior to the opening Of tho legis-
lature. I had had no dealings with
Mr.. Ermatinger. ! had been in con-
tact with other members Of the de-
partment, however, gathering infor-
nation for the bill which I presented.
''Siuce coming here have gathered
all information relative to the COM
mission and the department on my
own account. At no time has Mr..
Ermatinger volunteered any informa-
ton. In fact, on the occasions that
I have met him and questioned him,
he has been reluctant to give me in
formation.
Exercising my rights as q citizen
interested in the expenditure Of pub
lie funds, I have asked him Tor sta
tistics and data about the commits
sion and the department. I have
also asked other department heads
for other statistics and data.
Information Il Official
Every bit Of Information that
I have gathered Is official.
Facts and figures presented before
the senate committee on bridge and
highways was contained in the de-
partment audit for the calendar year.
This audit was presented at the Feb
ruary meeting Of the highway COM
mission and all members Of the SEN
ats bridge and highway committee
have received = copy.
Il have spent only one hour, Ill
told, with Mr.. Ermatinger during the
time that have been here. It Is OBJ
1iously ridiculous for Mr.. Ermatinger
to have been my counsellor
Noes broadStde Is = mass Of gem
eralities. Il exposes his own ignor-
ance Of highway department condi-
lions. It Is misleading and he plain
" beats about the bush.
Ne Head Of Department
with reference to mine depart
n1ents and sub-executives passing the