The Key West citizen., 1954-07-10
TOLL COMMISSION
Continued From Page One)

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to approve the transaction.
Dayton said that the "only solu.
tion" he could see to the problem
of the future ownership of the
lands would be to enter into a
friendly suit and let the courts de-
eide the matter.
But Papy suggested that prior
to that, the commission confer with
the Board of Administration to see
if a compromise could not be ef,
| fected. He expressed the opinion
that the matter could be decided
to the advantage of both agencies
Commissioner Hilario Ramos
asked for serious consideration OF
the future supervision of the high.
way.
High Cost OF Maintenance
eve need that road and it Is
very expensive to maintain" he
said. Ramos advanced the idea OF
four-laning the highway between
the bridges, with the consent Of
the Board of Administration. He
suggested that money be borrow
ed to improve the thoroughfare,
possibly through bond issue.
He said that in that manner,
satisfactory maintenance of the
road will continue. What assur-
ance do we have that they'll
maintain the road?" he asked.
When the matter of the disposi
ton of personal property, owned
by the district, which includes sew
eral motor vehicles, came up fol
discussion, Dayton asked that the
commission turn it over to the
SRD. He pointed out that it is
needed elsewhere in the state.
But commissioner Ramos sug'
gested that any move in that di-
rection be delayed. -" n~.ss'.. ~
Wait And See :.
"We have until October Ito act
let's wait and see what happens, u
he said.
Papy suggested that the equip.
ment be turned over to the county
for use in maintaining the county
park system.
He pointed out that the county S
tourist business has suffered since
the district has ceased to function
because of sloppy maintenance OF
parks.
Attorney Dayton's request that
the commission join the SRD in
filing civil suit against Alonzo
Cothron, who they claim overcharg-
ed the district for work he per-
formed, met with a cool reception.
Dayton said that the suit would be
based on a report submitted by
Miami auditor Robert Morgan who
was appointed by acting governor
Charley Johns to probe the district.
He said that unless the commission
Joins the SRD, legal question
may arise concerning who is the
proper plaintiff.
Action Deferred
But the commission declined to
act on DaytOn's request until they
see a copy of the auditors report.
Commissioner Harris attacked
the report, saying that Morgan
played politics from the word CO."
Although the report was submitted
to the grand jury, no charges were
brought against Cothron He was
later cleared by criminal court
jury of charges that he padded re.
cords.
The failure of the SRD to proper.
ly maintain the highway and the
park facilities at Bahia Honda also
came in for sharp criticism yes
terday from Anthony Demeritt
chairman of the commission, John
Goggin, president of the Marathon
Chamber of Commerce and Fred
Center, Marathon businessman.
It was brought out that Car,
Gehr, who has contract to oper,
ate the park is relinquishing his
contract in the wake of poor Co
operation from the road depart
ment.
Although 500 people flocked tc
the park july 4, there was only
one toilet made available to them
it was brought out.
The SRD has also reported,
removed a large quantity of sane
from the park.