Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 130, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 June 1918 — HIGHWAY COM. FORCE LET GO [ARTICLE]

HIGHWAY COM. FORCE LET GO

NO WORK CARRIED ON PENDING COURT DECISIONMAKES STATEMENT. L. H. Wright, chairman of the state highway commission, announced today that the commission has released from its employ its entire force, consisting of approximately forty engineers and assistants and other workers, pending the decision of the supreme court in the case before it on appeal from a Hamilton county court, which declares the highway commission law invalid. • < , „ The action has been taken, according to Wright, because the commission did not wish to incur any expense in connection with, work under the highway law, until it has been definitely established that the law is valid. In case the supreme court should hold it invalid, expense incurred by the commission could not be met legally. In the case of William S. Moore, state highway engineer, whom the commission had employed at a salary of $4,500 a year, Wright said the commission had retained him in his position, but had ceased the payment of his salary. Wright does not know whether Moore Will continue to hold hie position with the commission, pending the decision of the court, or whether he will seyer his connection with the state body. Pending the decision Wright ‘and a bookkeeper are handling what business is possible. Federal matters, pretaiping to road supervision in the state and some inspection work are being done, Wright said.