The southern sentinel. (Winnfield, La.) 1883-1910, 1886-07-02
Pnblic Roads.
Editor Southern Sentinel;

Before 1 wrote my articles on the pub
lie roads. l anticipated opposition from
two classes of men, and have not been
disappointed, viz; LIST. The men whose
property tax under the proposed new
| system would amount to more than their
work on the roads under the present
system. End. Old men who have served
their time on the roads and have proper
| ty to pay taxes on.
Now both Of these classes of men
would be hurt By the change, aud have
no desire TO hurt them, bur no wrong
can be righted " ithout hurting somebody.
No reform can be accomplished without
| injuring some body, aud every proposed
reform meets with strenuous opposition
from parties, who are to be injured per-
sonallg by it. The old men and prop
erty owners are going for me ON the pub
lie road service, but have heard of one
noble exception in ward ?. One old man,
who has served his time on the public
roads, and has the plantation, and plu-
rality of mills and gins to pay taxes on,
is unselfish and public spirited enough
to favor the change. The George wash
fingtons, who think more of the public
interest than they do their own, are not
quite all dead yet.
In your issue of June 4th., You say
'sthe replies to my article are coming in
thick and FAST Now am glad to hear
that. want to hear all the arguments
that can be produced in opposition to the
proposed changu, bst f-wTlr wager a
nickel that every opponent has reviewed
the subject through the kind of glasses
mentioned in my first article.
In your issue of June the 4th., you
published the reply of Mr.. L. X. MeGin-
ty, an able aud respectable antagonist,
who, think, belongs to both Of the class
es that expected opposition from. |
suppose that he produces the ablest aud
and best counter arguments that can be
broughtto bear upon the subject. He
deals to some extent in sarcasm. a weap-
on which truth and justice seoru to use.
My standard is justice, not phylau:hro-
py.
Mr.. MeGinty seems to think because
the law levies the same amount of tax
upon all handssubject TO road duty, that
it is uniform and constitutional.
charged that in It's operation tits uncon-
stitutional because the same amount Of
tax Is not collected from all. sublni.
this point to the people for 4 decision.
Mr. McGinty says, 1T is the men who
own property that pay taxes for the snp-
port of government, aud it is that class.
who build Churches, support the preach |
ers, and sustain all the, public institu-
tions.n Now are not the public roads
public Institutions? Why except them?
Have not the property owners 4 greater
interest in the public roads than nou
property owners, and would not they be
more benefited by having good roads.
1fr. NcGiufy says, 81 would ask the |
gentleman If there is any public service
which is not compulsory? | think there
Is Mr. McGinty The public services Of
our Judges, district Attorneys, Sheriffs
clerks are paid for and eagerly sought,
they are not compulsory. Where the
pay equals the service there is no COM
puision, and no necessity for compulsion.
Compulsory service, i. c. involuntary
seryitude except as a punishment for
CRIME is prohibited by the supreme law |
of the land in which we live. One of Mr.. |
McGinty's 'svery grave objections" to my
proposed system IS that III creates some
little Offices to be scrambled for" Yes
it does. It proposes to pay the little
officers what their servises are worth,
therefore the services will be scrambled
for, it will not be compulsory,
Mr. McGinty says ''As to the efiicien-
cy of the present system. let the law be
enforced strictly, and it will be amply
Efficient Why is not the law enforced
Mr. McGinty, aud when may We hope to
see It enforced strictly? Can law be
.scnforced strictly when it is IN conflict
with the supreme law of land: Now
Mr.. McGinty do not doubt your ability
to lead horse to water. but do doubt
your ability to make him drink.
lie says that my proposed system
completely exempts non tax payers
from any public burdens whatever"
Now who are tie non taxpayers? |
know Of none except women and chill
drcn.