The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1891-03-13

! after years labor in collecting opinions from
all over the STATE, and in urging it's passage
they accompany their report with what might
be called an apology for not introducing
more radical measures. The people are not
vet equal to the emergency, and any too great
| innovations would cause the defeat of the
movement. This shows a lamentable lack of
| confidence in the wisdom and intelligence of
| this able body of Commissioners, on the part
| of their constituents. Certainly no improve
ments can be effected unless the people will
authorize their representatives to adopt and
| execute the necessary measures and aid them
| to carry them into effect.
Although everyone realizes the defects ami
extravaganza of the system prevalent in
Pennsylvania of working out the road tax,
and fees that it should be abolished as
fraud, yet the Commission thought it would
be unwise to attempt its radical abolition at
this time, but proposed a compromise measure
providing for cash tax, yet permitting the
taxpayer to work on the road for cash COM
pensation if he desires, at such times as his
services may be required by the engineer.
But the various features of this bill, as
framed for Pennsylvania, may be better stated
by quoting from recent letter from one of
it's members to Mr.. VIM. II. Rhawn, chair
man of the committee of citizens of Philadel-
phia, organized to urge the Importance of
our roads, as follows:
1t provides for State aid to be devoted ex-
cusiVely to building permanent roads.
For cash tax 20 per cent of which is to
be spent on permanent roads.
For county engineer whose principal
duties are: To act as one of the viewers on all
road matters. To provide specification for con-
struction of all macadam or permanent roads,
according to the most approved methods of
road-making, considering the materials at
hand. To see that the fund is devoted to
that purpose, and that the specifications are
complied with. To designate existing roads
or provide for the laying out of new roads to
be permanently improved, which shall be
known as highways.
1t continues local control, except as to the
duties devolving upon the county engineer.
1t provides for three supervisors to serve with
out pay, but with travelling and other ex-
penses paid, who shall levy and collect all
road taxes, divide the townships into conven
lent road districts and appoint road masters
for each fix the pay for road masters and
laborers.
AS doubt was expressed as to the legality
under the Constitution OF continuing ap-
preparation, the Commission recommended
that the State appropriate million ofdollars
annually to country roads, and prepare bill
providing therefor, for the years 1912.
1t provides for the manner in which this
fund shall be expended and distributed pro
rata to the various townships as they may
collect and expend their local funds during
the year next preceding. Cities and boroughs
are excluded from the provision of this bill.
The practical difficulty attending the in
auguration of any improvement in our high
ways in Pennsylvania, as elsewhere, is one of
raising the money without increasing the |
taxes The methods of accomplishing it are
set forth in a work just published by the COM
mittee entitled "a Move for Better Roads.
They are briefly a readjustment of taxes |
and an extension of the funds available fog
road purposes. Then instead of a direct road
tax upon real estate only, the fund is to be |
augmented by State appropriation to be
distributed pro rata amongst the several |
townships making appropriations for SINH
lar purpose. The money so appropriated is
to be expended only for permanent improve |
ments and is to be added to 25 per cent. of the |
townships tax devoted to a similar pur- |
pose.
The main defect of this bill is in continu- |
ing political patronage by the election of the |
county engineer, whose sole qualification is |
that he "shall be competent" but with no |
provision for securing such competency
1t would seem better, since the County Com |
missioners are elected and have Jurisdiction |
over the county engineer, that they should |
select and appoint him upon due examine |
ton, or upon sufficient evidence of compe-
tency from recognized technical school, or |
engineering societies.
The new law as adopted for the State of |
New York, June Z, 1890, requires that the |
county engineer hold a diploma, as a COM |
petent civil engineer, aud that he be appoint |
ed by the board of supervisors, and may be |
removed by vote CT four-ffths of all the |
members thereof. This will be apt to secure !
much better results and greater economy in |
the reconstruction of our highways
Coming now to the question of local legis- |
lation, find from Prof. J. w. jerks inter- |
esting paper on Road Legislation for the |
American States that in the State of Maryland |
the road laws are in q chaotic condition, and /
each county is permitted to do as it pleases. |
In some the County Commissioners divide |
the county into road districts and appoint |
supervisors. In others the election districts |
are also the road districts In Baltimore county |
the County Commissioners appoint three road |
commissioners in each election district and |
then divide the election district into |
three road districts, over one ofwhich each of |
the road commissioners has supervision. In |
Caroline, Carroll, Frederick, Hartford, Queen |
Anne, Talbot and Washington there is no |
provision on this subject at all. 1t follows |
that Maryland is necessarily one-sided and I
incomplete. The number of commissioners |
varies in the different counties. In Allegany |
general supervisor of roads may be ap- |
pointed. In Somerset, all able bodied |
males between the ages of21 and Do shall |
labor not less than days OF hours |
each per annum. The road supervisors |
fix the rate of Communication. In this respect |
each board is restricted by its local code.
oiro oinlu |
uniformity can be expected and if good re- |
suits are sometimes obtained, it must be more |
from good luck than good management
Imagine gang of railroad laborers, compos- |
ed of every male in the county-working two |
days out of the year, some of whom may |
never have handled the tools they are ex- |
pected to use, and directed by foreman who /
may be as ignorant as themselves; and we |
have a picture of American extravaganza,
amounting almost to folly
In Hartford county it would seem from the |
report oflast years convention OF farmers as /
published in The -Egis and Intelkgencer of |
Feb. z, 80, that there are five general super /
visors who receive from $500 to $500 apiece |
for their services, and yet the roads are in as |
bad condition as ever. 1t appears also that |
there is no individual responsibility attached |
to the Office, and it was then proposed to /
create road commission, of three taxpayers,
to have charge of the roads and be response |
Bile to the County Commissioners. The |
opinion was also expressed that each precinct |
should be permitted to do as it wished.
The result would be, that if some wished |
q good road and its neighbors did not, the |
load would be limited by the bad road and |
the beneficial results of a smooth hard sur
face would be nearly all lost.
If you place the making of roads in the
hands of one single competent person, under |
a suitable salary, you will have individual re-
sponsibility, and If the work is not properly |
done the blame can readily be placed where |
it belongs. The money raised may be spent |
in the district from which it is collected, |