The south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1879-1883, 1882-01-24
That Turnpike Bill.

The "intelligent'' committee so long
sitting upon the Free Turnpike bill''
has at length published it, and nice
concern il is.
propose to present some OF the
objections to the bill, and as thus COM
municatioll is intended especially for
Mr.. Brcathiti. who is really intelli-
gent man. it will he only necessary to
briefly STATE, not elaborate, those OBJ
jectiJns.
The bill should be amended SO as
to extend its provisions to tho whole
county.
The arguments it's advocates pres
ent, are that turnpikes will do away
with the road law which is burden
some to poormen, will greatly increase
the value Of the farmers land, SO that
when he dies an / his property has to
be sold for division. his widow and
children will realize one hundred d@l
lars an acre instead Of twenty, will
ave large amounts annually in haul
ing, and will cause churches au,l
school houses to spring up as II by
magic.
One section Of our county is inst Of
much entitled as another to an oppor-
unity to express its opinion upon q
proposition which promises SO much,
aud TO avail ilseliol it's benefits, aud
no Representative las any right to vote
.or law allowing this privilege 10
one portion OF his constituents and ro.
luSing or rostppning it 10 another.
If the bill is II good one oil the pro-
pie oftbe county are equally entitled
to its benefits. il it is lad one ii
III, uld MT be passed at sll.
Again. the bill divides two jus
tees districts and the voting precinct
is outside OF the Road district. The
singular spectacle will be presented OF
a lew citizens going to an election
precinct aud casting their ballnts while
other citizens whose regular voting
place it is, and perhaps even the Off
GERS of The election are iistranclised
Furhcr: The special elections pro-
yided for in the bill are to be conduct
ed under the general election law
This means Of course that the expen
SEES uf,the elections are to be paid Oh
Of the comfy treasury. and the people
Of the North part Of the county vii
have to pay their proaoriion OF ih'
expenses Of holding elections at whicl
they are disfranchised.
Further: The justices Of the Nor,l
part Of tho county arc authorized tt
aid in levying tax and liking Is
salaries Of nihc commissioners whcI
they are prohibited from voting upCl
such tax, and are denied any voice il
the election Of sali commissioners.
But one Of the mos. iniquitous pro
visions Of the bill is the ono allowin,
these commissioners to build roa,
to the coal mines. Mr.. Breathit
knows and the members of the Legis
latule will be informed, that this roa
will be almost entirely outside Of tn
ropl district. Can any fair man sup
port u bill to tax the people of on
part Of the county to build a road j
another part where the question {
taxation lii not even submitted, an
whore the people through whose sec
ton is built bear no part OF the cos
Of building such load? Would on
fellow citizens in tie Noiih part 9th
county ever agree to furnish the mcal,
from their own pockets alone to bnil
a road in the South part Of the ceur
lty? II a taxing district was forme
Of Iiopkinsville and some of thor
northern precincts, and the Hopslnl
willie district with its twelve hundre
voters should carry proposition
tax those northern men to build roa
to Benncttstown would they not tai
their squirrel rifles aud shot guns al
fight?
All these objections would he r
moved by amending the first sectit
Of the bill 81 as to include the who
county.
There are very serious objections
the creation of this "body polite AZ
CORPORATE" with such cxtraorlinsl
powers, but this article will be /,
long il they are now considered.
Will Mi Brealhitt support 4
monstruus bill which this commit
has presented, when it is SO easy
draft another less Objectionable, lie
expensive, faller in every respect al
more effective, if the object is 10 ii
!. prove the roads Of the county equal
, aud imparIially, and not to furni
! salaries and an opportunity Tor a j
TO few men?
a FAIMER.
49, CL..