A NEW COMMISSION TAKES OVER

A New Commission Takes Charge The Arizona Highway Commission

Following a mandate of the Fourteenth Legislature, Governor R. T. (Bob) Jones began a reorganization program of the High way Department with the selection of a group of outstanding Arizona citizens as highway commissioners. From the five high way districts of the state, these men represent wide industrial activities, have long years of residence to give them an understand ing of the road needs of the state. Seated, from left to right, R. E. Moore, vice-chairman, Jerome; J. M. Procter, chairman, Tucson; Kemper Marley, commissioner, Phoenix. Standing, L. B. Owens, commissioner, Holbrook, on the left; and Frank C. Bledsoe, commissioner, Bisbee.

UNDER a mandate of the Fourteenth Arizona state legislature, which amended the Arizona Highway code, to Governor R. T. (Bob) Jones fell the important task of selecting a high way commissioner from each of the five highway districts into which the state of Arizona was divided by the legisla tors.

We quote from the Revised Code: "The highways of the state shall be administered by the Arizona highway department. Control of the department is vested in the state highway commission. "The state highway commission shall consist of five members, one from each of the five highway dis tricts into which the state shall be divided as follows: First district, Maricopa and Yuma counties; Sec ond district, Pima, Pinal and Santa Cruz counties; Third district, Co chise, Graham and Greenlee coun ties; Fourth district, Apache, Gila, and Navajo counties; Fifth district, Coconino, Mohave and Yavapai counties.

"The members of the commission shall be appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate, one for a term ending Jan uary 31, 1940; one each for terms ending one, two, three and four years thereafter. Following the expira tion of such terms, respectively, the term of each member shall be five years. At the time of appointing the first commission, the governor shall designate the term for which each member is appointed."

After due deliberation and consideration, tion, Governor Jones selected five outstanding men, representing a broad cross section of the varied industrial and commercial activities of the state, to serve as the directing force of the activities of the Arizona highway department.

The new highway commission, which organized in late February, was selected by Governor Jones as follows: Kemper Marley, Phoenix, represent ing the first district made up of Maricopa and Yuma counties, serving a five year term; fifth district, consisting of Coconino, Mohave and Yavapai counties, serving for a two year term.

At the organization meeting of the commission Feb. 28, Mr. Procter was elected chairman and Mr. Moore vicechairman. The first act of the commission was the appointment of W. R. Hutchins "with the advice and consent" of Governor Jones, as state highway engineer. Mr. Hutchins and the commission immediately began their duties of supervising the activities of the highway department to render this important And in the event a highway district includes two or more counties the appointment of members for such district shall be so rotated that each county will have a member in turn."

No governor in the history of the state was given such a responsible or important duty to fulfill as Governor Jones received when he was empowered by the Fourteenth Legislature to select the highway commission. Sectional pressure groups supporting some favorite son besieged the Chief Executive from all sides, but the Governor refused to be J. M. Procter, Tucson, representing the second district, consisting of Pima, Pinal and Santa Cruz counties, serving for a four year term; F. C. Bledsoe, Bisbee, representing the third district, consisting of Cochise, Graham and Greenlee counties, serving for a three year term; L. C. Owens, Holbrook, representing the fourth district, consisting of Apache, Gila and Navajo counties, serving for the term ending January 31, 1940; and branch of the state government of greater service and value to the state than ever before. The bill, under which comes the reorganization of the department eliminates all political activity by highway department personnel and sets up a system of rotation of commissioners which is equitable and fair to all counties in the state, large or small. For instance the law provides that "a member shall not be appointed from the same county two terms in succession,"

hurried and his careful selection and study resulted in the naming of a commission that met with approval in all parts of the state. Governor Jones disregarded politics or personalities, and in naming the commissioners he followed the dictates of good business leadership and pronounced executive ability. The new highway commission is composed of a group of outstanding Arizona business men, each highly respected in his own community and district.

R. E. Moore, Jerome, representing the

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