The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1868-03-14

Aat ahN AAhtA'N Wv tStttNih@ htfHi'fttAl 10
the Legislature
TONSINroWN, March 9TH. lSGs
IT, n, HoHvrd5is S,aGfor aad
D6isqatt, from BatfM,.ft t.t.af. .
GESrLEILN-Sincr "" hal the huuer O" pr,
sent H. you the Public Road Bill prepared rs
US under instructions from tl.r c"luty rnnvrn
ton a repor, made BY the Coinmiti,.,' oi =" In
ternal Improvements - IL In" SENATE hos reach
I'd w. which declares that d" ia" general law.
If the state invest the county commissioner.
with adequate powers upon the subject u. ROAD.
and bridges without further legislation. aud
under this report It d. feared by our people W"
may be- LETT withnu, any reform. with IN r--
poet To that Committee. III" existing road law.
are not. IA our county, esteemed sufficient
ENpeficnr" has proven that NOR" rsay 'rthftsir'
aud more Imperative laws are absolutely rcauir
cd. aud we therefore beg 10 urge uInn yon al
ditional legislation. tor our county, at least
Aud whilst We are now assembled Ia consid
th. abov" subject. we deem u advisable g.
say n lew words more ia reference ." the bill
submitted by "a. W. regret L. learn tina whilst
u does command general approval. some cxc.p-
tons are taken ~ tina, feature which provide.
for the Office Of commissioner 90! tuau, and
bridge. Il is here proper g. remark that this
section wH> inserted IN the h.li with tia en-
phaiic concurrence "f 'r,rv sttai Of ~ fgh
Bsiffs6, and W. assure You Is now regarded very
generally "a one of it, wiscst prov isiuus In the
Interests Of the public. 4 sinplc reference to
In the years 1875 is6G. there was expended
by ~ an averag" annual amour, 81 S29.Gss.jS
upon roads and bridges. whilst ~ 1857. the
amount was still greater. The commissions Of
tea per cent. paid to district supervisor upon
the foregoing sum FOE SIMPLY dfairinqfLa' sea.y
Gad paying = Orer 10 d6psf,.s amounted a. -.
y6s.5s. Now our bill not only provides that
the rosd cotnmissioner ~hall perform all ia"
duties heretofore discharged by the district su
pcrVisors At q cost stated of -, pa. - per an
mum, but far more. The bill imposes upon that
officer onerous and important dniir, o will Ice
seen.
Sac. ;. lad be - eaacf,d, That the .a.d Road
Commissioner shall be- required io devote his
entire time o. the duties u his Office IN special
charge az the department oi road, bridge. and
public buildings ia Baltimore county. und.r
the authority # the County Commissioner
lie shall keep "a separate office At Towsontown,
ia SOME rooin 10 be provided and furnished o.
the expense Of the county. and keep and pre-
serve accurate books and records ~ all business
transactions connected with his department
carefully ascertain and advise with. and By nu
thority Of the County Commissioners. instruct
the Supervisors Of reads as 81 III" proper time
and manner of repairing the public roads. and
a. often ~ possible. FROM time g. time. person
ally visit an inspect the same, and far
possible secure Just and equitable expenditure
of monies upon the roads throughout the c1un
", according Ia their requirements. giving ia"
consideration Ia those most IN public usr. lie
shall also ." required to examine int, all NJ
plicstions for bridges. aud make report, :. ih-
said County C0mnissi"ners. aud eNrTcis' a care
full vigilance IA the construction 81 bridge. aud
care of public building as h~ may hr required
by the said County Commissioners.
We may then ask Is the salary of s3.nnu psf
Annum fneveT to exceed -. 5on. too much tor AN
officer whose entire time is required in the pub
lie service. much ~ u, too Ia be- spent ia travel
aud by means III conveyance to he provided ~
hia an AMI val flnttsslt Vga rel hat
he shall give his entire time IN arduons lahpf-
ut = salary of $4,000. aud In addition perform
the duties now discharged by district sap.Fyi
sors At cost OF s2.96s.s5 per annuin. this pro.
vision is made the subject Of obieriion much
IL the surprise Of practical minds.
Looking further at the figures :, will b. ipund
that under the proposed increase uf levy Tor
road taxes " the minimum rate Of fsa cent.
the commissions to district supervisors under
the laws now. will amount H. si.2jU per an
mum. aud under the maximum rate 81 hfiefa
cents they will amount a. so.ai5. inT simply i"
ing that which We PROPOSE shall be- done by the
road commissioner 10 addition Ia al hi other
duties, At a salary 81 $4,000 per annum.
IN our meeting this day We hav" most scri
ously considered every pos.bl" substitute that
could b- suggested IN place If Thu provision
and We can ind uons acceptable We hay.
therefore finally determined ngain a. ure. the
Immediate passage Of the hill ~ heretofore sub.
United by rs 's'thoSi aBy rhaagc whatever. -.
rtPt ~ ~ me sfrftoh prol'ouHg a raI'ifafoa fdJ.
rAieA scs rcqHesf 70 b. oHiffed saf,Tt aud We g..
riously suggest that the law eau work no ser.
nus harm IN a trial Of two years even IL sefec
tive. IL Il 10 then found Imperfect u ran D..
improved " total failure. IL eau Il. repealed
aud some other system Aslopted.
Should the bill as pr@Eentcd be- unao.. l,tablr
IL you W. ask il dismissal without alteration
or amendment. We ask this in Ho captions
spirit bu, because the omiai.si"n ~ thr iinpOT
tant provision for commissioner will render Il
a total abortion aud for such a result wc are not
willing 10 be responsible. We were appointed
by grave aud most respectable convention,
representing all classes aud interest IN our
county, "a frame a law IA accordance with IN
stFuctions from them. The authority we rep
resent u certainly the highest known IN our
county--that ~ the peopl. They assumed b.
be responsible for our act sud we cheeriully nr.
cept our share II obligations. aud We therefore
feel u our duly to urge al. consuin niation 1T
their wishes 10 accordance with their expecta
tlons. II. however, IN your iinal Judgment il
shall be dreidel not b pass our bill but H. dis
iniss u unchanged. ~ would still urge tho pas.
ssge Of seane lsw ~ give us Fsiorin.
We regret that our colleagues are absent GA
this occasion, but with . knowledge of their
views aud votes ~ expressed ia previous mes,
ings We feel assured the sentiments w. express
would meet their appreciation.
We are gentlemen. yours respectfully,
Law X. BawHS.
Joe. HaIEu, Js..