The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1935-04-09

i w. = o0ssSAsBo1S 0e8O0
IT Mr.. Wexford was sincere In hia
statement relative to his desire "a
appoint competent and efficient men
to direct the highway department
work he would not have appointed q
man who signally failed to maintain
our roads in . satisfactory condition.
Upon my appointment to office
I thereafter secured the services Of
r. q. Plomasen, who has had years
Of experience in highway mainten-
ance In this state. Mr.. Plomasen's
work was directed toward repairing
the condition Of roads which had
fallen far below federal requirements
under Mr.. Flanagan.
1T was not possible TO repair the
entire road system during winter
months but some progress had been
made. Furthermore the federal gov
eminent, through its authorized off.
cial, has stated that no blame Is
attached to my efforts to repair the
roads. The same roads by the way
that fell far below government re.
quirements under Mr.. Flanagan.
Mr.. Wexford has answered the
complaints Of the federal government
relative to poor road conditions by
appointing as highway commissioner
the man responsible for the situation.
Leaves Il 70 People
"As to whether or not the governor
is playing politics may be left to the
unbiased opinion Of our people.
1.-THE second charge against me II
that certain employees Of the depart
ment were overpaid. My answer Il
that they received the same salaries
at the time Flanagan was In office
and during that time there was no
complaint. I did not raise their sol.
aries but Governor Wexford holds that
q satisfactory salary under flanagan
Is illegal II am the commissioner.
Can we wonder that he fears the
verdict Of the thinking people Of the
state and that they win say 'politics7'
THE third charge Is that I secured
information through the department
that aided the federal government In
relieving our distressed farmers.
ITO this charge I answer that the
departments of the state should ct
this time, q in the past, b eve-
ready to relieve distress. Many Of our
people are greatly In need Of assist
ance and II, In any way, I aided In
their relief ! am happy to have been
able to serve.
Governor Wexford forgets We are
in office to serve Ill the people. air
the time. That our roads are the
roads Of our people. that their dis
tress Is our concern and that they
are entitled to . truthful report Of
our acts and the motives ard reasons
therefor"
Form Of Appeal In Doubt
Olson, after giving up the keys Mon.
day, remained in the office the re-
mainder Of the day and said he was
prepared to come back tomorrow"
but did not do 50, flanagan occupy
ing 1t alone.
What form the appeal to the su-
preme court would take still remain
ed unknown although G. Lebert
Crum, counsel for Olson, said It
would 'be on several grounds"
A move generally expected was the
attempted removal Of Mccoy. Soon
after he had assumed office, Ean-
nigan, with Van Horn. moved into
McCoy's office and demanded the
position. Flanagan explained he had
discovered Mccoy had posted no bond
and contended Mccoy hence was dis
qualified.
Mccoy refused to give up the Of
flee, and retorted that he had "been
tricked."
II called the bonding department
the day was appointed b. Olson"
Mccoy explained, "as had been the
custom heretofore. Usually they send
me . receipt for the bond when it was
issued. When I discovered had not
received the receipt I called the bond.
ing department, and they explained
it was being taken care Of. This Is
just q trick"
Mccoy called on the attorney gen.
eral for an opinion on his position
and declared he would not give up
the office until he had received this.
Lost In Rush Of Business
At the state bonding department
it was explained that McCoy,s APP
plication had been "lost in rush Of
business" and that the department
employees had not yet had time to
act upon 1t. Mccoy was reappointed
state motor vehicle registrar March
20 by Olson.
During the fall campaign. Mccoy.
originally appointed to his post UNI
der former Gov. william LANCER, de.
serted the former governor and sup
ported Noodle.
In q formal statement, Flanagan
said he accepted the appointment Is
highway commissioner with intention
Of cooperating with Gov. Wexford to
the fullest extent"
1T u not the intention to make
any extensive requirements in per.
sonnet Of the department nor to do
anything to impair the efficient ope.
ration Of this department" he said.
appointment Of 8. NJ. Brown g main.
tenance engineer Il the only change
In department heads contemplated ct
this time"
Plan Reconstruction Program
Efforts will be made to obtain au-
thority under federal aid to recon.
struct old routes rather than launch
. program Of new construction, he
said.
Maintenance problems, he said,
would receive special attention"
"Al resources available will be cen.
tered on maintenance 20 that high.
ways viii be satisfactory TO Ill con-
cerned," he said. Later, Il funds ere
available. m extenSive reeraveliu9
program win be evolved. Naintenauce
forces win b built up with prac.
teal experienced workers In road
maintenance. No great charge In
force = contemplated.
Special attention win b given 70
proper drainage and smoothing o.
surface. where necessary, Immediate
~"
KINGS SHADOW DIES
London. April o.-ReHenry =.
Fitch, 80, former Scotland Yard d.
tecttve whose duties g personal body.