The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1888-01-13

road law, aud exchanging views, sug-
costing improvements. etc., etc. There
was not member Of the Club present
except DIR. r. E. Cromwell who is an
honorary member The meeting was
organized by Thomas Warning moving
that DR.. Bromwell be appointed chair
man of the meeting. Thomas War
ing was elected secretary, and the busi-
ness entered upon by DR.. Bromwell
reading the text of q proposed amend
ment to, or substitution for, the present
road law. The subject matter offered
by the doctor had been agreed to by the
Club at late meeting and has been
heretofore published in the MIDLAND
JOURNAL. The text proposed the APP
pointment of three commissioners in
each election district of the county
whose duty it should be tc select and
appoint one or more supervisors Of
roads who should employ men, etc
and proceed to mend the roads, ant
who should have sufficient compen-
sation allowed them, commensurate to
their duties, by the County Commits
sioners. The three gentlemen who
were to be invested with the appointing
power of the supervisors were to have
no compensation allowed for their ser
vices. This was the substance of the
Drs. prop osal.
Mr.. George Johnston offered reso-
luton which proposed the abolition Of
the present road law and yesting the
power in the hands of the County Com.
missioners to appoint supervisors
throughout the county about as they
used to do in anti bellum times.
The offerers of these resolutions ad.
vocated their measures with good
deal of earnestness and ability and the
discussion was entered into with zeal
and at considerable length by William
T. Patton, Thomas Waring, Messrs.
Roach of the fifth district, Il. w.
Cruikshank, school commissioner Bid
die of the first district and other gem
tlemen. Thomas Waring and w. T.
Patton defended the present law very
earnestly, Mr.. Patton insisting that a
change in the law Of the time of selling
the roads from first of April to the first
of June was all that is required to make
the present law the very ideal of road
law After much debate the PROPOSE
tons of DR.. Cromwell and Mr.. John
ston were voted down. and the present
law, with the proposed change Of day
from April to June as the commence.
ment of the road year, was endorsed by
. majority vote of the meeting. AT
This stage of the proceedings, about hall
past one o'clock, the farmers manifest.
cd an intense degree of hunger and a
hasty adjournment took place, and the
bucolic assemblage breaking up went in
stach of some dinner. If our States
Senator and Delegates will haye June
inserted in place of April the ''pateni
road law" will be given fair chance
and another trial under republican
sponsors. and If it shows its many glar.
ing defects. and shames its republican
nurses as it has its democratic file de
chambre, it will be banished to the linn
DO of desecrated laws which have gone
before.
George Biddle, Thomas Waring and
Capt. N. P. Manly were appointed q
committee to secure the necessary leg
islation.
This utter failure of the meeting was
mainly the result ofno previous action
on the part of those who are opposed
to the present law and its elaborate
machinery, not having prepared bill
to take its place. The propositions
brought forward by DIR. Bromw and
Mr.. Johnston being in no sense a sub.
stitute for an efficient law The friends
OF the present law, which has proved a
very comfortable bridge to carry them
over to a land of plenty, had the ad.
vantage of something definite to defend
against chaos, aud easily succeeded
against almost nothing.