The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1888-03-17
SATURDAY, MARCH II. 1888.

Friends bill to compel the County
Commissioners of this county to levy
a large sum of money on the road
leading from FriendsviIle ViG Selbys-
port to the Pennsylvania line.
Mr.. Wilson opposed the bill and
succeeded in preventing its passage
two weeks ago, but Mr.. Friend wait
ed until there was a comparatively
full house and then it was passed by
a party vote.
Following is the substance of Mr..
Wilson's remarks, emitting Interrupt
lions and some minor matters:
Mr.. Speaker: / am still opposed
to the passage of this bill, and more
decidedly so since / have learned
something more of its character. My
colleague has been trying to convince
himself, and the members of this
House, that there is a thing in Gar
rett county called the Legislative
Road. Now I don't know how near
he came to deceiving himself into
that belief, but every other member
who has looked into the matter and
knows anything about it, knows that
there is nc such road in the county
as Legislative Road. But my col
league indalged in some remarks the
other night which I must refer to.
He said in the first place. that I lived
out in West Virginia and was not
supposed to know very much about
Garrett county affairs. Now 1 am
sure he does not believe this himself,
and when [ state to the House that I
have lived in Garrett county all my
life, that all my property was in
Garrett county, and that I pay taxes
in Garrett county, thought this &C.
cusation was sufficiently refuted. But
he said further that had never been
down In that part of the county which
is to be benefited by the Legislative
Road. Perhaps when he said this he
thought he was telling the truth, but
he didn't know whether he was or
not. He was not, however, as l have
been there and know more about it
than he cares to acknowledge.
The fact of the business is, he owns
some tracts of land down along where
his road is to be located, and has
large personal interest in it. He
seeks to take advantage of the acct
dent of his election as a member of
the Legislature to compel the County
Commissioners to open a road that
he has large personal interest in,
and l am opposed to it because it is
the subversion of public trust to
personal ends.
The gentleman says that if I want
a road in my neighborhood why
don't I get up bill. Well 1 must
remind him that am not that sort
of man. 1 was sent here by my
people to look after their interests,
and not to make raids on the county
treasury for my own personal benefit.
The facts with reference to the
Legislative Road are about these:
Twenty years ago there was an act
passed authorizing the County Com
missioners of Allegany county to
levy $4,000 for road from Oakland
to the National Road, and L remem-
Der what was said about it. There
was job in it for certain parties, as
there always is under such circum.
stances and $500 or $4,000 laid out
by the County Commissioners in the
usual way would haye accomplished
as much as the four thousand dollars
did accomplish, and with two years of
this kind of experience the people
found out better and repealed the
law in 1870, and there is now no leg
islative road in Garrett county.
am also opposed to it because it
involves the question of local self
government. The Legislature has
no right to usurp the function of the
County Commissions, who are the
proper parties to apply to. A bill
has been introduced to take away
from the County Commissioners of
Garrett county the appointment of
tax-collector, and another the ap-
pointment ofjudges of elections, and
if we are going to invade every pre-
rogative of the County Commission
ers we had better pass an act abolish
ing the board of Commissioners
altogether.
l oppose it. Mr., Speaker, because
it is a dangerous precedent. Pass
this bill and every member who
comes here from Garrett county here
after will have law passed to COM