Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-01-26
THE ROADS AGAIN.
The Complainant Responds to the Road
Supervisor"

Supervisor"
EDS. RECORD UNION: In my communica-
ton of December Goth 1 certainly did not
invite conflict with the Road Supervisor of
District 81, and still do not, as he does not
know that superintendent and supervisors are
synonymous las much so as mamma and
mother are the samel. I have not the pleas
ure of an acquaintance with Pixley's mule,
as your correspondent from District 81 has,
but my knowledge of the mules father is that
he could explain the roads to Stockton with
much more intelligence than the correspond
ent from District 81 As to rushing into
print, complaining about the impossible con-
dtion of the roads, | said nothing about that.
| referred to the roads as being easily kept
in order, and have no doubt but that they are
all in splendid condition-District 81 as good
as my own district, which is kept in as good
condition as anyone need want. My whole
object was the good of the county, and to
endeavor to lower the taxes levied upon the
people, and to have taxation more practical,
80 that the county might receive all the ben
eft of well-kept roads, with taxation reduced
one-half The counties adjoining Sacramento
county-Solano and San Joaquin-collect
road tax of 81, and no doubt with as good re-
suits as Sacramento in collecting S4-as, for
example, the United States Internal Revenue
Department recommended the lowering of
the tax on spirits from 81 gallon to sixty
cents, from which the Government realized
a greater revenue. Collecting the 81 is i'm
practicable. The two days work instead is
without results, as fifty cents would pay for
more work done than the two days work
amounts to. Your Supervisor goes out
to collect the taxes, and the first
man asked for taxes is Mr.. Jones.
road
tax is 81, can you let me have the money :"
JONES' Your taxes are very high. l have
in the house only 81 My wife told me this
morning the -four was all gone, and that our
child was sick and must have medicine, and
it will take all the money [ have to supply
our wants. | must beg you to excuse me"
Your Road Supervisor is supposed to have
heart within him. He next comes TO a camp
of Cinnamon and says, John, | want 81 for
road tax" g no have got" says John.
Supervisor" Come, John, give me the
devil will get you" John" Me no sable
deveil. Me sable George, me sable Poole !;
me no sable deveil. Where he live? Walnut
Grove ?" Supervisor" He lives everywhere.
You no pay, he put you in the fire and burn
YOU Just now. He is out there in the bush.
The Chinaman fees to the mountains, and
there is no money from him. The Supervisor
then goes to our Postmaster and says, NIT
-, want 81 for your road tax, or else
you must work on the road for two days.
MIR. - replies, | cannot work on the road.
l am compelled to keep the Postofice open.
But l suppose if you demand the 81, | will
have to pay the money; so here it is" There
is. in fact, no law compelling a man to do
impossible things. and were this a test case
before United States Court. L believe the
money would have to be refunded. No doubt
the Court would hold that where Postmas-
ter was compelled to keep his Office open. a
county could not compel him to work on a
public road for two days, with no one to re-
! ceive or deliver the mails. What we all wish
is that our county Supervisors examine into
this matter of working our roads in the most
practical manner consistent with the good
! government of the county. l have not re-
ferred to, the matter with any disrespect to
the Supervisors Of the county. a. I.