The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1935-04-06

MacDonalds letter stated that Of
81 projects found unsatisfactory last
summer, IS remained unsatisfactory
at the present time"
Why the Roads Are had
Plomasen from the witness chair,
replied. "the chief reason Is that al
most the entire supervisory force was
discharged In 1888 and inexperienced
men put In their places. About one
third Of the patrolmen were fired and
inexperienced men were put in their
places. Weather conditions over the
last two years have been bad and
sufficient gravel has not been added
to the roads In the last two years.
"A great many Of the roads are In
poor condition because they are worn
out. This has been brought about
over q period Of one, two and three
years. It couldn't have happened
during the last few months"
He testified the discharges took
place in 1888. Satire on cross-exam-
ination asked, you want to be
understood that all Of the men dis.
charged In 1888 were competent and
those replaced were incompetent"
"I'll say this" Plomasen said, "I'd
say experienced men were discharged
and men put In their places were In.
experienced"
Satire quizzed Plomasen as to
whether he had discharged "so-called
incompetent help and put on what
you call competent maintainers?
after his return to the department.
Plomasen replied that maintainers
were disturbed q little as possible"
Only 81 men had been put on g Of
Feb. I. Many Of them, he said were
new men on Jobs created by taking
over an additional 500 miles Of newly.
constructed roads.
Big Sweep in 1883
At Bismarck. during March, April
and May Of 1888, 81 Of 126 men were
dismissed, he said.
Verret suggested that Wexford ask
the questions Of the witness, to which
the Crums objected.
Plomasen testified 1t would be ''im-
possible to repair bituminous sur
faces during January and February
To the charge contained In Mac.
Donald's letter that sub-gradine
showed through gravel surfacing
Plomasen replied "the gravel was
worn out" He testified the roads
could not be regraveled in the winter
time because the ground is frozen
He testified there had not been
enough moisture to compact the
gravel" The reports by Macdonald
were made on the basis Of inspections
made last August and September, hi
said, asserting that 81 Of the project.
since had been ok'd by the federal
bureau Of roads and that q number
Of others had been placed in salts.
factory condition but that no fedora
inspection had yet been made.
In addition, he said Is roads were
on the roads program for reconstruc'
ton.
A number OF roads, he explained
had been taken off the main high.
way system, and were under county
charge, yet the federal bureau hele
the state department responsible.
Wexford Sticks b Letter
Wexford insisted he would take tn,
charges in MacDonalds letter to b
So" He pointed to the charge mad,
by Macdonald that roads were In bas
condition at the present time" II
reply to claims made by the defens'
that conditions occurred in previou
administrations.
you're vitality interested in thi
case, aren't your" Verret asket
PIomaSen.
Eyes, amin 4 way it's reilec
ton on my ability" Plomasen re
piled.
II don't mean that" verret said
This means your Job II this goes tn
wrong way. and you'll keep your jo
II 1t goes the right way. isn't tina
so?"
"oh, don't care about that 3.
Plomasen said. Plomasen testified
would take q year even II none!
were available" to put roads in prope
copdition.
Olson Final Witness
Olson was one Of the final Wit
nesses to take the stand.
He testified he had done every
thing I could to bring the highwa
system up to . satisfactory condt
ton" He blamed diversion Of high
way funds to bond interest and prin
lcipal payment as one reason for poo
maintenance Of highways, explainin
the department was short on none
for this purpose.
Olson said when he first assume
1.-The office, he was told that the les
money spent on snow removal, tn
more there would be for crawling.
Shortly after he became highwa
Commissioners, Olson testified, h
|conferred with H. G. Frahm, chic
lengineer, to see II salaries being pal
members Of the engineering fore
were within the law. q. A. Hampl
(office nanager) and he went owe
1.-The salary list Of the office person
incl, and determined salaries paid 1
that department were legal. Olso
|said.
Question arose over payment q
salary to IN employe who SCENE
Ito be . bookkeeper, but who va
listed Is an accountant" Olson salt
land he asked for an opinion frol
the attorney generals office.
Olson testified he conferred wit
Nv. J. Austin, assistant attorney gen
|eral. Austin told him, Olson test
fled, that ut was the highway com
missioner's right to give the title an
lset the wages"
"That was only In connection wit
1.-THE accountant, wasn't 1.-THE cor
Iversation?" asked verret.
Rule Applied Generally
! Olson said It was. Later, he sai
he understood It to mean to app
|generally.
VArret leveled m attack AGAINST Fl