The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1890-09-19
WESTPORT.
TIE ROAD QUESTION.

Interest in the road question seems
deepening as the time of the annual town
meeting draws near. A five-years con-
tract, which, if properly performed,
would have been renewed, willterminate
at that time and the question is often
asked, What will be the plan adopted for
the coming year? No man seems able to
answer satisfactorily to his own mind and
few will even suggest plan, so exasper-
ated are the public over the condition of
things resulting from the contract.
Causes precede conditions and this case
is no exception. First. the contract was
attacked strongly by those who guessed
that they knew that it was drawn i'm IA
vor of the contractor and against the in
terests of the town, but careful inquiry
showed that none of these men had ever
read the contract and they denounced it
because others did or, may be, because
they had dislike to the drawer thereof
and felt sure that 'no good thing could
come out of Nazareth" Intelligent men
who haveiread and studied the contract
say that it is all right and their views are
being accepted. The contractor receives
no small amount of notoricty in the line
p of curses and censures for the neglected
condition of the roads and justly, too,
for, looking either from the political,
moral or financial standpoint, he has
made a disastrous failure of the whole
matter. But all the blame does not just
ly rest here. Older heads are responsible
for no small portion. Charity, to great
er or less degree. could be exercised tow
ard the contractor for these reasons He
was young to have so heavy a con-
tract launched upon him without prepar-
alton; he had no experience and has
seemed unable to profit by that of others,
not even his own after four years of la
Dor, advice and criticism; the contract
or's view that it was rulable to make all
the money possible out of contract, so
long as it will be accepted and the mon
ey paid has been strengthened by the
action of the proper authorities for near
ly the whole period of the contract. They
would not raise their hands to stop the
anu, WUtJllGT GIlt cOUUFdcU was
one half or one quarter performed, those
placed in positions of trust by their fell
low townsmen paid out the hard earnings
of our tax payers without equivalent or
Just excuse. To guard against the nom.
fulfilment of this contract, a superintend-
ent was appointed to examine and know
that its provisions were complied with,
and, where they were neglected, he had
the power to remedy. The remedy has
never been applied. The contract ex-
pires, the public are injured, the tax-pay-
ers are defrauded, the contractor and SUI
perintendent draw their full pay. Is
comment necessary? Westport never
profits by experience. For four years,
this superintendent has coolly and regu-
larly endorsed the quarterly payment of
this contract and yet, at the town elect
ion on October 6, his name will appear
on the ticket for the votes of taxpayers.
The town fathers have tried to shield
themselves behind some of the provisions
of the contract during these years, but
with poor success. While their admins
tration inaother matters may have been
satisfactory, this has not been. They
have had the opportunity of showing
their courage for the right and saving
the town hundreds of dollars, which are