The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1888-08-29


The Commissioners Convention.
The revision OF state laws governing eoun-
ties of the commonwealth has long been q
matter of the most urgent need and the COM
missioneE OF Ere county have the credit Of
starting the present interest among the coun-
ty commissioners Of the several counties
who VIII meet here on September II in con-
ventiOn to frame = memorial to the state leg
~islature, asking that the laws be made mil
form, and certain amendments and erasgres
be made to existing laws.
Governor Beaver Is very much in favor of
the scheme Of the county commissioners,
and was found in his room in the Reed
house last evening by a reporter.
Governor, have you heard OF the effort
TO secure the attendance Of the commission
ers of the several COUNTIES OF the state at a
general convention of oounty commissioners
to be held at Erie ON September 1Ig~ quer-
led the reporter. e
Yes sir, said tine governor, I've heard
OF such a movement and am greatly inter
este,l in rs saecess. II seems 10 me that il
the commissioners Of the several counties
were to come together and compare their
views as to the means Of executing existing
laws and express their views to the legisla-
ture as to the laws to be passed at lis nex,
session great good might be accomplished
thereby. Questions Of revenue and ques-
lions of practice as regards the laws that now
exist are important and IL seems TO me that
a general expression and COMPARISON Of
views in regard to these matters would be Of
very great value to the people Of the com
m0nweaith. and if I had the opportunity or
the power 10 do so, / would be glad to ex-
press my opinion as TO the value Of this con
vention to every commissioner Of every
county in this state.
The question Of revenue is the great
question now before the people Of the state.
The courts have been construingou revenue
laws lately in such a way as to impair the
AMOUNT Of revenue which We have hitherto
derived from gross receipts and other means
of taxation which we are likely to lose, and
it is therefore of the very irst importance
that our revenue system should be thor
oughly 0verhauled and rebuilt from the
foundation. There Is no class in the com-
musity which knows 50 much about reve-
nue. and who can make practical suggestions
of as much value As the county commits
sioners. and therefore il seems to me, ifthere
is no other reason for bringing them togeth-
er, the important discussion Of the revenue
system would, Of itself justify the attend
ance Of every county commissioner in the
state. There are 50 many other questions in
which al are interested to be discussed and
determined that il seems to me the cOnven-
ton cannot fail to be Of great interest and
also of great value. and If had the opPor-
tunity to do so I would be very glad to COM
municate with every county commissioner
in the state, 50 as induce him to attend If
possible.
Whilst NJ actual provision IS made, per-
haps for the expenses Of the county commits
sioners, it is nevertheless true that in attend
ing a convention ike this he would be
serving bis constituency as fully as If he
was at 4 session Of the Commissioners Of his
own county, and I do not see why his mile
age and per diem could not fairly and legally
be paid by the county and as ! understand
it the commissioners who heretofore attend
ell such meetings we're entirely satisfied by
the payment of their actual expenses