Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-10-31

serving without compensation, the same as
School Directors, whose duty shall be the as
sessment Of taxes and appointment OF road
overseers to have charge Of the worki
Fifth-How shall roads be superintended and
controlled-by State. county or township super
visors or engineersf And shall the State aid,
if any, be handled the same as local taxes?
Sixth-1s your county an agricultural, manu-
featuring or mining county,
Seyenth-Is the stone In your county suitable
for road building?
townships to borrow money for road pur-
posesf
Ninth-Are you in favor of convict labor on
public roadsf
The convention adjourned until 10 o'clock
P. NJ. under an agreement to take up the
Commissioners questions for discussion at
that time.
A CASH ROAD TAX FAVORED.
The first question was unanimously an
swefed in the affirmative, and of course the
second was, though there was one no. As
to the third. a motion was made that the
distribution be to the townships. This was
followed by an amendment that it be to the
county. A member favored convict labor,
but was ignored pro tempore.
Mr.. Iams held that it should be to the
county, as that would assist the rural dis
tricts, three-fourths of the assessable prop
erty of the county being in the two cities
and the boroughs. He held that some
townships would not properly apply the
money for the general good. Let the county.
attend to the general roads and the town.
ships the cross roads. Cities and boroughs
should aid, as bad roads are tax on every
thing eatable.
Mr.. Bonnert thought that Mr.. Iams' idea
would not work at Harrisburg. He held
that gentlemen in picadilly collars were not
likely to accomplish much for the benefit of
the ''corn-cob" constituency. he would re-
tain the supervisor, and ii he does not do
his work right appoint overseers in each
Congressional district with power to bounce.
Mr.. lams came back with the remark that
the corn-cobs had the majority of the Legis-
lature, and if they didn't know enough to
get their rights they alone were to blame.
Several rural delegates suggested that
there were too many city people mixing up
in the pie, and that Pittsburg had better
pay her S15,000,0 900 debt and fix her own
streets, some of which, they thought, were
in but little better repair than the country
roads. 1t soon became evident that there
was something in the green-eye representa-
tion present.
Mr.. P. F. Smith said that he owned 100
feet frontage or so in CHARTERS township and
paid more road tax than did some farmers.
Mr.. Iams spoke to the same effect.
1t was decided that the convention was in
favor of distribution to the counties and that
the amount should be ascertained by the
valuation of assessable property.
WANT THE SUPERVISORS APPOINTED.
In answer to the fourth question. the
convention, after long discussion
and the suggestion that supervisors
be appointed by the Judges of the
Common Pleas Courts, which might cause
Judge Stowe to get up on his hind feet.
there was a very large "No." The fifth
question was also discussed very extensively,
and Mr.. Patterson moved that the county
roads be under the supervision of the
county, the township roads under that of
the townships and all under the supervision
of the County Engineer. To the sixth ques-
tion answer was made that it was all three
As to the seventh some delegates held af-
frmatively, while others just as firmly held
otherwise, according to what he found in
his district, and Mr.. Iams proposed way
out OF the dilemma by the general answer,
"Yes," and his suggestion prevailed.
The eighth question was answered at first
very generally in the negative, but Mr.. Pat
terson made an argument to prove that if
township wished to expend 500, 900 for the
benefit of its neighbors, they would be very
long-eared donkeys to object, and though
Mr.. Q. L. Stevenson, of Moon township,
suggested thar an enterprising township
might be rewarded by having its burdens
increased by the triennial assessors, the
question was answered afirmatively.
The convention was almost unanimous in
favor of the employment of convict labor on
the roads, but to sugar il to the taste of some
kickers Chairman Mckee added to the in
struction the words where practicable"
Mr.. Andrew PattersoD's paper was next
acted upon. 1t was as follows:
First-Public roads to be classed as county
and township.
grades approved by the County Engineer and
County Surveyor.
Third-The county to make and maintain
county roads, and to receive from the State
contribution to its road fund in proportion to
the amount of road tax levied by the county
Fourth-Township roads to be made and
maintained at the cost of the townships which
shall receive from the county contribution pro-
portionate to the township road tax.
Fifth-All work on public roads to be by con-
tracts on specifications made by County En-
gineer. contracts for county roads to be ap-
proved by County Commissioners and for town.
ship roads by the township auditors
FIXING THE ROAD TAX.
sixth-The assessment for road tax in the
townships shall be fixed by the township
auditors, but shall be levied by the County
Commissioners and collected with the county
taxes and it shall be disbursed only on the
warrant of the township auditors, drawn
against the township and in favor Of the County
Treasury.
seventh-rhe townships shall have the right
to borrow money to an amount equal to per
cent of It's taxable valuation, and issue bonds
therefor, payable within 20 years, and bearing
interest not above 6 per cent
Elghth-Any taxpayer who shall pay double
his township assessment shall have the right to
have his entire payment applied in any local
improvements of the roads that he may direct.
The paper was referred to the the commit
tee, which meets again two weeks from yes
terday at the same time and place.
Findlay township submitted the follow
ing memorial:
We levy our own road tar, collect and dis
burse the same. The voters to elect the com
missioners, whose duties it shall be to let the
working and repairing of the public roads; that
the commissioners levy the tax, not to exceed
mills, all taxes to be paid in money. All work
put on roads in any one year must be done be-
tween April Is and July 15.
It is further recommended that all CORPORA
tions or individuals developing OIL gas or other
minerals. fire clay, salt works and timber or
lumber, shall be taxed for said purposes said
tax to be applied to tie road of the township in
which they are developing; and we would sug-
gest shat the State appropriate a certain sum
OF money each year to each township, to be ap-
piled to grading and stoning Of the principal
roads of said township.
The convention adjourned with the under
standing that the committee of 15 would
meet In two weeks in the same place to COM
plete its report to the State Commission.
CONDITION OF THE PENNSYLVANIA.