1915^ The Merit System in Highway Work 87 



As a business proposition, it seems to me that it is neces- 

 sary that we should consider oar subject applicable to the 

 very beginning of a road organization, namely the members 

 of the "Highway Commission." 



This commission should, so far as possible, be non-po- 

 litical and made of men who are interested in the road work 

 of their state, and so appointed that only a certain percent- 

 age of their number shall retire at one time, and this com- 

 mission shall have a similar relation to the highway work 

 that a board of directors has to the work of their corporation. 

 In some states the members of the highway commission are 

 appointed directly by the governor of the State and repre- 

 sent the state at large, — in others they have to be appointed 

 from certain districts of the state so that each section of the 

 state will be represented in the commission. Members of the 

 commission are sometimes designated by the General As- 

 sembly of a state. In certain instances they are members of 

 the Council of State ; in others they are professors of civil 

 engineering of the state university and colleges ; and in some 

 states it is a combination of both. In several states the 

 personnel of the commission is so regulated that at least a 

 certain percentage must be of the minority political party of 

 that state. These varied methods of forming a highway com- 

 mission have been brought about, undoubtedly, by the people 

 beginning to realize that their highway commission must be 

 appointed or made up in the interest of the highway work of 

 their state. As the people realize the necessity of this and 

 demand it, they can and will get the kind of a commission 

 they want. 



LENGTH OF SERVICE 



To this commission should be given the authority of the 

 employment of the State Highway Engineer or State High- 

 way Commissioner, for, with a commission as outlined 

 above, much better results will be obtained by its appoint- 

 ment of the engineer, than if he is appointed by a Governor, 

 whose term of office may be only two years. To the Com- 

 mission should also be given the authority to designate the 



