Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1877-05-31

THE DuTits or ROAD SUPERVISORS.
We cory the following from the Cal
rerf Journal and commend il 10 the at
tention of our readers.
"in his charge to the Grand Jury At
the recent term Of the Circuit Court,
his Honor, the Chief Judge, dwelt upon
the law relating to public roads. He
called the attention OF the jury to the
fact that neglect Of duty or maIfeasance
in Office on the part Of the Road Com
mi>sioners, or OF the Road Supervisors
could be punished by pre>entment and
indictment at their hands. He dwell.
at considerable length upon the impor-
lance OF having good roads, and rela-
ted how come gentlemen, who had pur-
posed buying land in one of the lower
counties POSSIBLY this) was deferred
from dong 50 on account of the
wreiched condition in which he found
the public roads. II is a notorious fact
that the public roads OF this county are
seldom in frst.rate condition, and that
frequently many ofth-m are allowed 20
remain, Tor q long time, q standing me
mace, not only to vehicles, but to the
lite and limbs Of those who are COIN
PEELED TO travel over them. Year alter
year Is heard the complaint OF bad
roads and still The evil exists, and will
exist, we believe until the stern arm OF
the law and justice is stretched out TO
compel those who are responsible to
faithful disc barge OF their duties. As
Judge Brent said the Offices of Road
Commissioners and Supervisors are ac-
copied with all the responsibilities at
,ached. The men who held them should
be- made TO perform W hat the y promise in
good faith. They are public servants,
paid by the taxpayers OF the county TO
keep our roads IN good order and it th-y
fail to do it. let the delinquents give up
their places. or else the Grand lnqu-st
must interposr TO protect the citizens OF
the county. We hear q good deal OF
talk about Insufficient pay. Do not
these Supervisors know in advance
what their pay is to be: They obi.
gate themselves to keep in good travel
ling condition certain roads Tor 20 niue h
money. II is not Tor them to say after
wards that their pay does not justify
them in mending the roads properly
Ii such ethics are allowed to prevail
among our Supervisors We might as well
abolish all road laws and Grand Juries,
too, for that matter.
His Honor. also. was particular in
stating that in case Of any accident
resulting in the breaking OF limbs or We
hicles, or loss of lie through the condi-
ton OF the public roads the county
was responsible for damages. and tina,
the Court OF Appeals had 80 decided
And TO show what might happen to US
IL We tail to exact from our Supervisors
q strict discharge Of their duties, he re-
cited case in Baltimore county where
q gentleman. known to him, was claim
ing and would receive $1,000 for dam
ages sustained IN travelling over one oil
the public roads Of that county.
Now Baltimore county is rich and
prosperous and the payment OF $4,000
will not sensibly increase the tax bills
Of her people, but could we stand il;
And yet ii something Is not done, this
county will be continually put in suit
Tor damages, for accidents TO man, horse
and vehicle must occur where roads are
kept rs ours are.
The material prosperity OF the county
then, the avoidance OF increased taxa
ton, depends. in a measure. upon the
condition OF the public roads. And how
TO have good roads, his Honor sounded
the key note in his charge to the Grand
Jury. II the Road Commissioners and
Supervisors could once be- made to un-
derstand that a criminal prosecution
would follow neglect OF duty and NAL
feasance in office. there would be no
trouble about roads. Then the Offices
would only be held by men who would
perform their contracts faithfully though
they lost thereby. Then throwing q
little dirt in holes and sticking bru, b
in washes, to be carried away BY the
next shower, would not constitute mend.
ing. and the Gnblushing edrontery OF
asking pay fos such services would not
be Witnessed. OF course, il would be
= death blow TO the hopes OF those land
they abound here Is else where) who
take the positions provided by the road
Law simply 10 make money, and that
money they expect to make by a wan.
ton and faithless discharge Of their du.
ties.
When men like these can no longer
cheat with impunity. the positions will
hare lest all attractions for them. The
Grand lnqaest-
'is The thing
r.. s.f