Middletown transcript., 1874-08-08
For the Transcript.
The Past and Present Of our Road
and Road Authorities.

One truth is clear, " Whatever is is right"
are the spontaneous words dropped from the
lips of an author whese renown and infalibiity
as it were, of handling a subject seem indeed
almost nnimpeachable. Such men, however, are
liable to the broadest and most eccentric asser-
tions, based rather upon imagination than judg
ment. So the author of the sentence Whatever
is, is right" if he wished to establish that as
rule, seems to me its falacy was never more man
ifest than it is in the present system and eondi-
ton of the road affairs, and the spirit too with
which our commissioners elected TO this Of
nee. An Office which, in case of public nature
all citizens are more or less concerned, and one
more than any other Office of which the people
have control that directly affects our personal in
terests. So l thought, Mr.. Editor, that little
talk about our public interests would not be un-
interesting to many readers of your paper. !
learn that the road assessment Of our Hundred,
this year is 10 per cent, or 20 cents on hum
dred dollars. This is quite reduction from
last years assessment and perhaps to some extent
due to the management of our road authorities
yet, as one personally interested, it appears TO
me that 20 cents is a considerably too much. A
slight review of the doings of our commissioners
for the past few years may better explain the
cause of my belief. Six years ago, when Mr..
Henry Clayton and Mr.. Martin Walker were
chosen (Mr. VIM Cleaver then remaining in Of
fce) it is well known that the Hundred was
nearly SIS, 600 in debt, Notwithstanding the high
per centage the year previous to their election.
Road orders were below par. They were sold at
an enormous discount. Laborers needed their
money and hence could only obtain it at their
own loss. Seldom has there ever been better
chance for paper shayers. Whereupon the new
board seeing the necessity of money, assumed the
eslonsibihy of borrowing $4,000, that those
needy ones might be paid off. The tax laid dur
ing their first years administration WAS 20 cents
second year, 27-third, % with surplus at
the end of the year of $500. Fourth year. l9
cents, wi surplus at its expiration OF $4,000
Now, in four years, the tax was reduced from 30
to 10, the Old debt paid off, interest on the same
stopped and at the close of four years, carrying,
as above stated, surplus of So, 600; making in
all an actual saving for the Hundred of more
than Sl2, 900, in four years. This is not ALL
| have received it upon good authority that Mr..
Walker, should he be reelected, made n state
ment to the Hundred from the prospects then,
that the tax, the following year, should not be
more than 2 cents. Some one may remark that
such statement was made for popularity an to
gain reelection to office. To answer such an
argument merely requires the asking of single
question. viz, where is the honor or pay attached
to the Office, that would tempt a person TO de-
wise d stratagem to gain such thankess obliga-
ton? To say that, because our assessment this
year is 20 cents is right when the .prospec. about
year ago was so favorable for such a less per
centage, seems more absurd than true, not
doubling at all the necessity of the high rate
But why is it a necessity? What can be the re-
verberating echo in. response2 Are roads
now in any better condition than they were a
year ago? Even granting this can any more
work be shown to have been done, or as much,
if you please? Making due allowances for all
| the destruction caused by our memorable flood
of 73, this then should make but fractional
difference as the Levy Court has taken off our
hands nearly all the larger bridges. A sufficient
tax must be levied to meet the demands and needs
whpfh hat r..
| or whether it be moderate But when we con-
| slider the present pecunary condition of our
| country, when hundreds of laborers among MS
are suffering for the want of work, and when.
Too, we make the sad reflection of the possibility
yes, probability of that mighty and dreaded
| man, the sheriff standing before us and saving
Behold, stand at the door and knock it is
but natural to ask, why are we so greatly taxed
II there was any possibility of lesser taxation 7
What is the present worth of an order? Can
| man get value received for them? Will not any
holder except capitalists, sell his order at wen
derfu. dlscountf This ought not to be- vet i
| sometimes cannot be helped. But what evidenc,
have we to suppose that this Inconvenience ant
detriment 10 the laborer could not have beer
avoided the past year? What is the result O
this condition of affairs? While you can alway
obtain labor the stimulus to labor is weakened
the laborer himself becomes only part of la
borer, knowing that his number of desires can
net be gratfed because of his heavy dscounte,
order. In reality 1t is direct decrease of th
laborer wages. II is n principle of politica
economy that the stimulus to labor is the pro
portion to the wages Of labor This will be tru
only of those where The facilities of CRAFTY
ing desire equal. Although wages may
high, yet if only few objects of desire can b
procured in exchange for them, there will
wanting one important element in stimulatiu
J the human being TO labor, hence, the stimuli
to labor will be the most effective, when tn
wages are the highest or when an order will dc
mand dollar for dollar, by means of wages, tn
greatest number of necessities and ends can b
! obtained. Notwithstanding the Inconvenience
which the absence of money is certain to cause
. the result is in one respect, always the same, fo
the Hundred is at the same expense, discounte
e order making no difference an exacted tax
: There are many who deem the office of road com
missioner of little Importance, any man bein
qualified TO hold the position, whether he be ed
i ucated or uneducated, possesses business acquis
/ tions and character or minus both, just so he
h partisan, though he be the Janitor of Hades :
An office granting to one the authority to sa
how much of my money will be needed to kee
= the roads in repair, TO demand of me the priv
e lege of using whatever of my money his jndl
a ment dictates without any means of showing ho
and fer what il is expended, if the commission,
+, feel SO disposed, seems TO me even requires NOR
e than the above qualifications. Honesty ma
e rightly be added. This principle of electing
partisan ranger as il were 10 Office, one wi
: is unreasonadiy devoted to his party and one wi
e unerceptionaliy makes it business of imbibin
q that element which occasions such an hilario,
q degree of inebriation on the day Of transactio
of business as to utterly annul the possibility
' his presence, such person, say, is no fit sui
+ ject for an honest mans vote. No man, homes
J. in his purpose and to his interest will man
fest his preference by any such choice. Th
: nonchalant feeling at our elections has Ion
e played out, corruption is a sure result, and o,
| nersonal nolitical liberty and fraedom henins