The Aberdeen examiner. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1866-current, 1881-04-28
PUCEHC ROADS.
EDITORS EXAMINER :

hDIIuhS EXAMINER
In my last article I advised change
in the law relating to lsroeny-petty
larceny in particular, which is placed
within the jurisdiction of the Justices Of
the Peace, and punishable by fine and
Imprisonment. But all criminals pun
ished by fine and Imprisonment in
the county jail or penitentiary might be
put upon the public roads. under the
contractors, to pay their fines by their
labor, and serve out their sentence of
Imprisonment. 1t is impossible to esti-
mate the losses that planters sustain by
petty larceny. The articles stolen are
generally insignifcant--too small to JUS
tify prosecution Of the thief, but ag-
gregating by repetitions during the year
TO large amounts. The thieves know
this, and have 30 long enjoyed the fruits
OF it, that they perpetrate the offense
without fear of punishment. But let
the laws be changed so that the value of
the article stolen must be refunded to
the owner and the prosecutor paid for
ME lost time or inconvenience and ex
pense of prosecuting or detecting the
thief, by his labor on the public roads,
and great blessing will como to all
honest men, of all colors, by the decrease
of this class of crime or by the improves
ment in our roads. I cannot dwell upon
this point longer, but wish I could i'm
press upon our law makers the import
ance Of this change in the law. It can
be seen that the change would give a
large force of laborers to the road con-
tractors, and decrease the tax on prop
crty to pay them.
/ know the natural teuacity of people
to old systems The people at first view
may look upon the plan I propose, or
that the special law proposes, with in-
difference or disfayor, because they are
SO accustomed to the old way that they
have never thought OF Directing to it,
nor dreamed of better plan. Besides,
there is natural antipathy to taxation.
Taxes are always hard to pay. It is q
burden nobody wants to bear, and few
men are ready to meet when it is called
for But Objectionable as it may ap-
pear at first view, it is the cheapest and
best when we come to estimate the value
of the time lost on the public roads by
the people. A mans time is worth
something, however trihing he is. To
the industrious man, to the business
man, his time is his money, and these
are the men who generally pay the tax,
es, for such men have property to be
taxed. Such men always have SO much
to do ut home that it is with great reluc-
lance that they consent to waste their
time on the public roads. To them the
proposed change will be q great relief,
and to get good roads upon which the
business of the country can always be
transacted, and the pleasures OF social
and religious intercourse enjoyed, they
will gladly pay the tax which it is be-
lieved will be light. But am we'll aware
that many will oppose the new plan
simply because they are opposed to ev-
erything which suggests tax. If we
could estimate the loss to the people, in
broken or damaged wagons and other
vehicles, the wear and tear upon them,
the damage to horses, mules and oxen,
the loss of time annually sustained on
account of our bad roads as now worked
the tax proposed would be insignificant
in comparison. PUBnIUs.