The Bismarck tribune., 1929-02-11
TRAVEL EXPENSES
OF STATE HIGHWAY
COMMISSION LARGE
Secretary Says They Are Her.
itage From Former Years:
Too Much Chauffeuring
ALL EXPENSES REVIEWED
Department. Spent $3,561 ,451,
Report Shows; $875,63o
for Wages and Salaries

for Wages and Salaries
Complete report Of the operations
Of the state highway department dur
ing 1928, submitted to the state high
way commission by J.. j. Ermatinger
commissioner secretary. Is receiving
careful study by legislators interested
In the road building probelm.
The report shows not only how
much the highway department spent
but who got the money, the full
amount paid to every individual and
firm being given in detail.
The expense Of travel and other
Items which enter into the cost OF
operation also Is given.
OF 1913 persons receiving salaries
or wages from the department, the
salaries OF 328 are chargeable to ad-
ministration and construction and OF
800 persons to maintenance. The
term of employment ranges from one
day to the full year. Travel expense
was allowed to about 500 persons and
ranged from q few dollars to about
$1,000. The report shows that pay
ments were made to 668 business
firms, contractors and counties.
What Was Paid Out
Because Of the lack Of earlier data
no comparison can be made for the
year 1928 with previous years. Erma-
finger said, but this will be d -rected
II the system now In use Is continued
In the future.
During 1923, the report shows, the
department paid out. $3,56l ,45l 80 OF
which 4875, ,630.56 was for salaries and
wages: $s5,Sl7.53 for travel expense
and = ,60o. .0oa 81 was paid to contrac-
tors, vendors, counties and others for
materials or services rendered the
department.
The travel expense is subdivided,
showing $2,5o2.23 paid for railroad
fares: $26,932.52 for meals; $48,o32. SIS
for automobiles and livery and 81, 49,
23 Tor miscellaneous purposes. The
percentage Of travel expense to SAL
aries paid, together with the amount
paid each individual for salary and
expense. Is also listed.
The administrative group, including
the highway commission, secretary
and assistant secretary, received
$3.50 in per diem and salaries and
spent $3.728.09 or 297 per cent for
travel, mostly by the commissioners.
Engineering supervision cost $3l, ,069. :
46 In salaries and $l1,095.77, or 1858
per cent, In travel expense. Division
engineers received $16.420 in salaries
and 36.5 per cent or $26.7l9.30 for
travel. Assistant division engineers
received $l2.110 In salaries and
$3,20359 or 200 per cent for travel.
Maintenance supervisors received
$24,146.79 In salaries and $8,772.l0 or
% Per cent for travel.
Travel Expense and Economy
Pointing out that $85, 600 for travel
Ing expenses may seem high. Ermat-
niger comments that the present pol
icy is Of long standing and that COM
parison with prior years Is impossible
unless costs allocable to maintenance
are deducted.
mo doubt some economies may be
effected and perhaps quite q reduce
ton made by . change Of policy
which would reduce the need for so
much supervision" the report said.
but while this would reduce travel
expense It would increase the salary
total. While this might not decrease
expenditures It would increase effi-
cheney. because It must be borne in
mind that . high-priced engineer
travelling from point to point Is noth-
Ing more than . chauffeur between
points. The employment Of men who
may not require 80 much supervision
may mean higher salaries, but this
would be offset by decreased travel
charges and increased efficiency In
contractor supervision. The problem
and its solution have been presented
before without results. It merits SER
tols study and consideration and not
the unfair criticism and abuse Of the
department"
~ Miles Surveyed
The report lists tho maintenance
cost Of every road built by the de-
partment and the maintenance ex-
peuditures Ia each county In the
6tate. exclusive Of some overhead
items such ss operation and depre-
citation reserves, equipment purchases,
new buildings and highway market
Ing.
The report Of the project engineer
shows 70 miles surveyed at an aver
age cot Of 4l3.2l Per mile. Erma-
&ae>~.>e. 49, - ...asv