The Bismarck tribune., 1935-03-25
G. O \ T I N U E ID
from page one
Labels Request by
Governor Wexford
AS Political Move


Macdonald that his letter to Wexford
carried mo suggestion as to your dis
placement
II am wiring governor to the effect
that our letter carried no suggestion
as to your displacement" MacDonald's
telegram to Olson stated. I'VE have
had full cooperation from you.
Causes Of conditions which We called
to the attention of the governor for
correction preceded by many months
your appointment"
Commissioner Olson received scores
of kilograms, long distance calls and
letters Monday. he said, asking him to
'stick by his guns"
Olson became highway commits
sioner on January % under appoint
ment of Former Governor Thomas H.
Noodle. The law provides that he
may be removed only for neglect of
duty, misfeasance or non-feasance in
office. To sustain his removal action,
Wexford would have to find Olson
guilty on one of these charges. The
nature Of the charges which would
be filed to sustain q removal order
had not been disclosed Monday.
In his demand on Olson, Governor
Wexford said: II beg to inform you
that I have received from the U. s.
bureau Of public roads Q complaint
under date Of March s, 1885, regard
ing the unsatisfactory condition of
the public highways and requesting
that these conditions be remedied
Immediately.
Feels Responsible
1T is evident, therefore. that the
q. s. bureau OF public roads holds the
governor responsible for q change In
these conditions. However. I did not
make the appointment Of the high
way commissioner, nor did have any
voice In the selection Of the personnel
OF the department. It Is unfair. there
fore, to hold me responsible for the
conditions which are criticized by the
bureau. since I have no authority to
interfere with the operation OF the
department or to dictate its policies.
IN view Of the circumstances, 1t
would only be fair that you should
tender your resignation and thus en-
able me to take such action as In my
judgment Is necessary to remedy the
conditions complained Of.
II also have on file In my office
other complaints about your depart
ment, the nature Of which although
serious, might not be considered by
me at this time as serious enough to
call for your resignation, yet in ar
irving at this conclusion, have con.
sidered them and do not feel that I
can disregard them.
Il am, therefore. compelled to ask
you to file with me not later than
S o'clock p. m. on March Is, 1885,
your resignation as state highway
commissioner and I hope that you
will relieve me Of any further un.
pleasant duties in the matter"
Refuses to Quit
Olson replied to the governor with
. statement declaring:
This comes as no surprise to me,
for have been asked to resign before
and have refused to resign. I shall
continue to refuse to resign. These
charges are unfair and unfounded.
ut Is true the federal bureau has In
the past reported some roads un-
satisfactory. Last summer, when I
took over the office Of governor, there
were 10 roads reported unsatisfac-
tory. Since that time. IS Of them
have been raised to q standard pro-
nounced satisfactory.
sWYstnA fadavo1 h,,rAau AvoieS~. 49,
roads were In that condition because
inexperienced road men were put In
charge from March IS, 1888, to Oct.
ober, 1894. I became highway com.
missioner January %. These facts
speak for themselves. In relation to
the charges now leveled against me.
Claims Political Attack
"This has all the aspect Of . poll
tical attack. purely and simply, upon
me-not for the purpose Of obtainin.
ing better roads, but only to remove
me from office, that . political fol-
lower may be put In my place."
In Q lengthy letter to Wexford
Thomas II. Mcdonald, chief Of the
federal bureau Of roads at Washing
ton, pointed out that 75 federal aid
projects In the state were Ii unsat.
isfactory condition 1t the present
time.
~ . result Of . survey Of roads
conditions IN TIE state last Aug,ast,
Mcdonald said, defects were ''by 10
means minor ones"
10 cited sdaugerouS cogyugatious.