Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1883-02-17
NEW RoADLAw.

a N6W 0VAO LAW.
The Intelligencer has nsistsntly and
presistently denounced the Wild state.
ments. that Missouri had no system Of
working rosds worthy Of the name, and
that il the legislature did not pass law
that would give US good roads the
members thereof would be annihilatsd
on their return to their constituents, or
words to that effect. Both Of these
statements are sensational and extrav-
agaut. But the road law has some
detects. These should be remedied;
aud If the effort Is made in the proper
manner we believe that it Can be sue.
cessful.
| We do not think that all, or nearly
all, of tho counties are in a condition to
abrogals the present System Of "warn-
ing In and working OUT" as 1t n
called. 1t may be that majority OF
the Legislature might be induced to
vote to abolish that system, but that
would not be just t. number of coun-
ties which it suss betterxssAn any other.
Beside, 1t 10 not nessssary to abol-
ish it.
However we'll that system may
work In counties of small population
and wealth it is demonstrated beyond
any sort OF doubt that 1t does not do
we'll in the larger and Weather coun.
counties. The reason Is obvious. In
these counties the crops are heavy and
valuable. and work in the field aud
attention to business at home 10 very
much more important than the per
diem for road work. The consequence
10 set forth by our correspondent, last
week, one of the best road overssers In
Lafayette county. He said:-'My ex-
perience a. oversser is, first, it is hard
to get the farmer out at the proper
time to work the roads. Second, ono
half do the work, and the other half
nothing" This is a common sxper-
fence. Taken together with that SEQ.
ton ef the law which grants 70 every
citizen the option of working out his
property tax the consequence ID lame
and impotent collection of this tax, and
lame and impotent working Of the
roads.
1t Is unnecessary here to point out
the value Of good reads. 1t is every.
where and by everybody acknswlsdg-
cd. All the people, especially the
farmers who must deliver their pro-
duce over them, desire good roads.
The Legislature, no doubt, desires to
mi AXE the road law as nearly 40 possi-
BILE to SUIT all parts OF the state. To
do this we would recommend the
continuance OF the present system, but
in. all counties. at the discretion of the
county court. 1t should be made posi-.
BILE for the roads to be worked by
contract. In all such counties the
road tax should be collected as all
other taxes, the taxpayer having no
option OF working out the tax. With
proper provisions tor the letting OF
contracts the sy stem would work we'll,
Objection may be made to the re-
sponsibillty placed upon the county
court. But responsibility must rest
somewhere. 1t may be urged that the
court might not represent the wishes OF
the people in adopting the contract
system. 1t is safe to say that if they
did not they would soon be retired
from service. There is no difficulty
about ascertaining. tho will of the peo-
pie in the matter whore there is a desire
to do so. In order to satisfy all sec.
tions of the state, aud 10 get q good
law for such counties as Lafayette At
all, the law must be flexible, and we see
no better way to make it so than iu
the one indicated. Of course no safe.
guards that experience or wisdom eau
suggest should be neglected. in protec.
ting the expenditure of the money. or
In securing honest work for 1t. The
laws of number Of ether states might
serve as guides as to these points.
i We are not in favor of a poll tax in
money for road purposes. The peo
pie have so often repudiatsd thai
method of taxation at the polls that 9
democratic legislature will never max.
ita law. II 1t 10 thought that every
man should do some road work during
the year. two days work might be re.
qulred of him for light work not cover
ed by the regular road contracts. bu
1t is our opinion, that 60 much bette
road work would be obtained by tn,
contract plan, that the poll tax ids.
would be so greatly dwarfed as to b.
very Insignificant.
Our reason for thinking 10 Is this
What would seem to be very formida
BILE work in the way of digging an
road making to farmers unaccustomed t,
such employment would be very smal
matter indeed to experienced mon
with all the necessary tools ant
, machinery. Ten men used to road wor
all their lives are worth thirty me-
who know little or nothing about it
and a contractor having four or fv
road districts to work could afford t.
, have the best dtchlng and road maxim,
machines. which the county courts cal
q not buy for single districts, and find 1
impracticable to supply them to two o
more in partnership.
In some counties in the state tn
, county courts now manage to max,
the Incorporated towns pay roa,
! taxes tor the county-at-lsrge. of cours
there is no law for this. and 1t is unius,
aS the county large does not heln tn