The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-09-13
FOR STREETS AND ROADS.
THE CITY AND COUNTY WANT a
SPECIAL ROAD TAX.

eral ASSENT bly, AUTHORIZING the
Levy of q Per Capita Tax-The New
Governor and an Alliance Legis-
lature Thought to be all Right on
the Question-Record of Col Northen
rs President OF the Road Congress-
The city has given notice that it will
apply to the legislature for the passage Of a
law authorizing the mayor and aldermen
of the city of Savannah to require the
male residents of the city of Savannah 10
perform road or street labor, or in lieu
thereof 10 pay special tax. Other cities
OF the state have a special law Of the kind,
and when the subject was under considera-
ton in the city council it was stated that
Atlanta has a per capita tax Of 80. from
which a considerable revenue is derived for
repair Of streets, and where it is not paid
in money it is paid in street work
big KICK" EXPECTED.
There will be big kick for awhile"
said gentleman yesterday in discussing
the matter, "but only for awhile. Thore
should be some way TO reach hrge num-
Der Of those who escape taxation, poll
tax included, VINO ought TO contribute
something toward keeping the streets in
.
as Atlanta and some other cities Of the state
have there would have been no trouble in
getting the Louisville road and Gwtnnett
street extension repaired last spring"
Sand MIR. Gugie Bourquin, chairman OF
the road commissioners Of Chatham county,
to a MORNING NEWS reporter yesterday,
the movement to provide for street repairs
by a per capita tax is a commendable one.
It will he says, result in getting great
deal of work from class who do not con-
tribute anything to the expenses OF the
city government, aud yet enjoy their share
of the benefits That class, under the
workings of such law as the city seeks to
have enacted, can be required to perform
labor on the streets.
LEGISLATION WANTED FOR COUNTY ROAD
WORK.
Mr.. Bouruuin says the road commission
ers will also draft a bill providing that
per capita road tax may be assessed for
keeping the county roads Ia repair under |
person against whom the tax is levied may |
work ont the tax on the roads, Mr.. Bour- |
quin says the present system is impractical |
Die. The people will not turn out when |
summoned, and in anna jority Of cases, when |
they do come, they do not bring the proper |
utensils, such as spades and hoes. because |
they do not have them.
ne ReneFhl IMPRESSION SbtuuS W O6 LnBU |
the next general assembly will show the |
most friendly spirit to all legislation having |
for its object the betterment Of the roads of |
the state, as the next legislature will be |
largely composed OF alliance farmers, who |
inspired the road congress which met In |
Atlanta May % of last year, and held a
two days session.
A FRIENDLY LEGIsLATURE.
Said a gentleman yesterday, 1.-THE legisla-
ture will not only be in favor of some radi-
cal change in the present system Of keeping
the roads of the state in better repair, but |
will have the Jealous support of Georgia's |
next governor. Col w. J. Northen. Doubt
ess the readers of the MORNING NEWS
will remember" continued the gentleman,
that Col. Northen was elected the
pres dent of the road congress.
Col. Northern. In taking the chair, expressed
himself very strongly on the subject of bad
'oads in Georgia, and he was the chair man
If the committee which memorialixed the
asst general assembly for a change in the
Dad laws OF the state, and 1T is believed
hat he drafted the petition to the general
Well, | think the next legis-
AZURE will not fail 20 act. as the last general
did.
SIT is believed that Col Northen's posi-
ion on the road question ID embodied in the
recommendation of that committee said
he gentleman, land with q Legislature
argely composed Of men in harmony with
lis views we may reasonably expect legis-
alton in line with the Recommendations of
The committee. These recommendations, as
ar as l can now recall them-but hold on | |
hink have them in my scrap-book. Yes,
here it is. ;"
MEMORIAL OF THE ROAD CONGRESS-.
This committee respectfully recommends |
that as far as practicable the misdemeanor |
convicts be worked upon the public roads |
OF the state upon such terms as will enable |
each county to secure the proceeds of its |
own convict labor.
1--WE further recommend that an act be |
passed which shall provide for a superin- |
'endent of roads for each county in the |
'tate, whose duty 1t shall be to lay off |
the public roads In sections, and as the |
-oad authorities of each county may de- |
ernine, either let them out by contract or
employ overseers, under whom the roads
hall be worked; provide for stringent rules
20 compel the road workers to perform the
abor assessed upon them, or pay its equiva-
ent in money; provide for tax upon prop
srty as additional means of furnishing road
jools, grading and aiding labor In keeping
,he public roads In order, leaving the road
authorities Of each county to determine the
amount and character Of work to be done
within It.
1--WE recommend that as soon as consist
emit with the good faith of the state the
convicts be put upon the public
roads,
HASN'T CONVENED THE ROAD CONGRESS.
81 do not know why the road congress
has not convened this year, said the gentle
man, as he closed his scrap book at ad-
Journed subject to the call Of the president,
but suppose Col Northen has been so
much engrossed with politics that he has
not found the time to take up the work
again, and now, as he is soon TO be. COVER
nor, he may feel that he should not take an
active part In the matter, but it is safe to
say that he will recommend in his official
capacity as governor that some legislation
be had to give the state better system of
roads. Doubtless Col. Northen will resign
the presidency Of the road congress, in which
Bvent Hon. II. P. Smart of this city, the
6rst vice-president of the congress, will
then have full power to convene the congress
II in his Judgment he thinks it necessary to
do 80, before the leg stature convenes, or it
may be that after conference between the
officers OF the congress 1t may be decided TO
revise the memorial and present it In the
shape it was presented to the last general
assembly. do not know that the situation
can be more clearly or felicitously put than
ene committee put it In their memorial.
They said:
THE roads of our state are in such de,
plorable condition that some remedy is
absolutely demanded. The cry comes from