CHAPTER 170. APPROPRIATION-EASTERN HOSPITAL FOR INSANE. (SENATE BILL No. 369.) AN ACT making an appropriation for an additional building to be erected at the Eastern Oklahoma Hospital for the Insane at Vinita, Oklahoma. Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oklahoma: Appropriation—Building. Section 1. There is hereby appropriated out of any money in the State Treasury not otherwise appropriated the sum of fifty thousand ($50,000.00) dollars for the erection of a fire proof building for the Eastern Oklahoma Hospital for Insane, located at Vinita, Oklahoma. Approved March 19, 1915. CHAPTER 171. APPROPRIATION—AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL, COLLEGE. (HOUSE BILL No. 352.) AN ACT providing for the support and maintenance of the Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical College at Stillwater, Oklahoma, and making an appropriation therefor. Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oklahoma: Appropriation-Support and Maintenance. Section 1. There is hereby appropriated out of the State Treasury the sum of eighty-nine thousand six hundred ($89,600.00) dollars, or so much thereof as may be necessary for the support and maintenance of the Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical College at Stillwater, Oklahoma, for the fiscal years beginning July 1, 1915, and ending June 30, 1917, to be expended for the fiscal years as follows: Support and maintenance for the year 1916. -$ 8.000.00 $1,600.00 Section 2. The State Auditor shall draw warrants upon the State Treasury for such portion thereof as may be found to be due upon auditing the respective claims in favor of the person or persons to whom such claims are allowed. Provided, that all of such claims and accounts shall be sworn to as true and correct and shall have been approved by the Board of Regents in open session. Approved March 19, 1915. CHAPTER 172. APPROPRIATION-HOSPITAL, FOR INSANE, SUPPLY. (SENATE BILL No. 163.) AN ACT making an appropriation for the erection of two fire-proof cottage ward buildings at the Hospital for the Insane at Supply, Oklahoma. Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oklahoma: Appropriation-Ward Building. Section 1. There is hereby appropriated out of any money in the State Treasury not otherwise appropriated, the sum of twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000.00), or so much thereof as may be necessary, for the purpose of constructing, erecting and equipping cottage or ward buildings for the Hospital for the Insane at Supply, Oklahoma, said money herein appropriated to be expended under the jurisdiction of the State Board of Public Affairs and the State Lunacy Commission. Approved March 19, 1915. CHAPTER 173. HIGHWAYS-GENERAL Law-DEPARTMENT OF HIGHWAYS. (HOUSE BILL No. 187.) AN ACT creating a department of highways and relating to roads and highways, repealing chapter 105, of the Session Laws of 1910-11, and section 7581, of the Revised Laws of Oklahoma, 1910. Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oklahoma: Department of Highways. ARTICLE 1. Section 1. The Department of Highways is hereby created and shall be located at the State capital and properly furnished and provided for by the State Board of Public Affairs. Commissioner of Highways. Section 2. The Department of Highways shall be in charge of one commissioner, to be known as the Commissioner of Highways. Said Commissioner shall be appointed by the Governor, by and with the advice and consent of the State Senate, and shall serve during the pleasure of the Governor. Said Commissioner shall be a practical road builder and of recognized executive ability, and shall take and subscribe to the oath of office pre scribed by law. He shall procure a seal of office and shall have power to administer oath to any person when necessary in the discharge of his duty. Duties of Commissioner. Section 3. The duties of the Commissioner of Highways shall be: First. To have the supervision of all matters relating to State roads and highways; to prepare standard plans and specifications for the construction of roads and bridges and furnish same without cost to any road official in the State; to inspect and report upon any plans or specifications for highway construction if requested to do so by any road official; to collect information and compile statistic relative to the mileage, character, conditions, and cost of construction and maintenance of the highways of the State; to investigate and determine the methods of road construction best adapted to the various sections of the State; and to establish standards for the construction and maintenance of highways and bridges in the various counties giving due regard to the topography, natural conditions, character and availability of good road building material. The Commissioner may at all reasonable times, be consulted by county or township officers having authority over highways and bridges, relative to any question involving such highways and bridges; and the Commissioner may in like manner call on such county or township officials for any information or assistance they may render in the performance of their duties, and they shall furnish such information when so requested. Second. To furnish such engineering service in drainage, sanitation and other public improvements as may be required by any department of the State, including the passing upon prospects and plans for municipal water supplies when requested by any municipality; provided, the actual and necessary expenses of any such examination or the expense connected with any work away from the seat of government shall be borne and paid by the municipality, county, township, or persons making the request and receiving the benefits of the investigation. Third. To furnish engineering advice and report upon such matters as, in the judgment of the Commissioner, shall be of value to the people. Fourth. To keep a complete and systematic record of all acts of the Department of Highways and to annually report the same to the Governor by the first day of December, which report shall be at the option of the Governor, printed as a public docu ment. Fifth. To co-operate with the federal government in all matters pertaining to the improvement of public highways; and all funds provided by Congress and appropriated for the improvement of the public highways in this State, shall be expended under the supervision of the Commissioner of Highways. State Engineer—Assistants-Qualifications. Section 4. The Commissioner of Highways with the consent of the Governor is hereby authorized to appoint a State Engineer, who shall be a civil engineer of established reputation and qualified in road and bridge construction, hydraulic and sanitary engineering, and irrigation and drainage and who shall per form all the duties assigned to the State Engineer under irrigation laws of this State and as provided in chapter 40, of the Revised Laws of Oklahoma. Said Commissioner with the consent of the Governor may appoint an assistant State Engineer, who shall be a competent draughtsman and one stenographer, who shall be secretary to the Commissioner, which said positions are hereby created. Salaries. Section 5. The salary of the Commissioner of Highways shall be twenty-four hundred dollars ($2,400.00) per annum, payable monthly; the salary of the State Engineer shall be twenty-one hundred dollars ($2,100.00) per annum, payable monthly; the salary of the assistant State Engineer shall be fifteen hundred dollars ($1,500.00) per annum, payable monthly; and the salary of the stenographer shall be one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) per annum, payable monthly. The salaries and expenses of said Department of Highways shall be paid upon vouchers itemized and sworn to against appropriations made therefor as provided by law. Repeal-Records of Former Office. Section 6. Chapter 105, of the Session Laws of Oklahoma, 1910--11, is hereby repealed. All material collected, plans, specifications, equipment, reports, files and data in the office of the Department of Highways, as now constituted, and the Secretary of the Board of Agriculture, procured under authority of law, relating to highways, irrigation and drainage shall forthwith be turned over to the Department of Highways herein created. Section 1. The Board of County Commissioners of each county, as soon as practicable, shall employ a competent engineer to be known as the county engineer, whose tenure of office may be terminated by the board of county commissioners, who shali perform the duties as hereinafter provided. Said county engineer shall receive the same compensation now fixed by law for county surveyors, and all services performed as county engineer under the provisions of this act, and all actual and necessary expenses incident thereto, shall be paid out of the State road construction fund. The county engineer shall give bond for the faithful performance of his duties in a sum not less than one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) nor more than five thousand dollars ($5,000.00), said amount to be fixed by the board of county commissioners; provided, that the regularly elected, qualified and acting county surveyor of each county shall be designated as the county engineer of such county; provided, such county engineer shall pass an examination to be held by the Department of Highways and secures from said department a certificate of competency to perform the duties of said office of county engineer. Should any county surveyor fail to take such examination, or taking same shall fail to secure the said certificate within ninety days from the taking effect of this act, the said board of county commissioners is hereby authorized to designate and commission some competent person possessing such certificate to act as county. engineer for any such county; provided, that any person appointed county engineer may be removed or relieved from that office and its duties by the board of county commissioners at any time for incompetency or gross neglect of duty; and provided, further, that nothing in this act shall be construed to prevent one person from serving as county engineer for two or more counties. in the State. The county engineer shall have a practical knowledge of civil engineering and shall be skilled in bridge, culvert |