The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1892-02-13
Che Democratic Adroeate.
WESTMINSTER, MD.
SATURDAY. FEBRUARY l3, 1892.
Two Important Matters.

The session of the Legislature is nearly
half over. and another will not meet Tor
two wears. Two matters Of Importance
have been discussed among our people re-
Gently. and there is substantial unanlmlty
upou them Discussion is proper IL Is
necessary, in order to crystalize public SEN
timent But discussion is not remedy. 1t
is only preliminary thereto The remedy
must be in legal form, and this remains for
the General Assembly to do.
The two subjects that call for legislation
are public roads and tramps. As to the
former there is but one opinion-that Is
the roads ought to be improved. This
sentiment prevails everywhere, throughout
the state and in other states. In Carroll
public sentiment is largely in favor OF the
district system, giving to the people OF each
district the absolute control over their own
highways. \ correspondent OF the ADVo-
CATE last week voiced this, when he out
lined the details, in substance as follows
Have three Road Commissioners in each
district. to be elected at general elections
by the voters of the district, no more than
two of whom shall be of the same political
marty; the commissioners to have the same
jurisdiction over the public roads that the
County Commissioners now have, with the
power to levy Il road tax, the tax to be
collected by the county collectors as now
and to be turned into the county treasury,
AMI to be paid out on the order OF the dis
trict commissioners. The district commits
sioners are also to have power to appoint
road supervisors. preference always to be
given in appointing them to those whose
lands bind on the roads large bridges to
be built by the County Commissioners.
This system will not only put the man
agemeut Of the roads directly in the hands
of the people, hut the road lax will be
,pept in the district where it is collected.
The people can then have just such roads
as they desire They can levy much or
little. and every man who owns land on a
public road can be supervisor TO work the
roai opposite his land. Further, the RI
yairy between districts, and between neigh
bors in the same district, cannot but result
in improved roads, for men who own farms
will do more work for the same amount of
money in front of their own property than
they would do in front of some one elseS,
especially if it were mile or two away
The riddiug of the county Of tramps is
necessity all recognize. The Jail is now
and has been for some weeks crowded with
these iders The cost to the taxpayers
has averaged not less than forty dollars
day for six weeks. for board. sheriff (, con
stables and magistrates fees. This in AN
expenditure that should be stopped, and
the necessary legislation should be passed
At once To put aR end to it. No better evil
dence is needed that legislation Is necessary
tdlun the Iiltl Tue SdAi - Al'"NNN "'''4
cramps. And the legislation needed is to
provide work for these oilers. That Is the
only punishment they dread, and no other
means would be so effective in Kidding the
county OF them. If they were made to
cork. no more would come here after law
providing it was known and they you'd
rot be slow in finding it out. They care
aothiug for Imprisonment They seek it,
and prefer season in Jail, where they are
comfortably housed aud fed. And some
tines, when their shoes are worn out, aud
their feet are on the ground, they get Rew
ones, by appealing to the County Comr:is-
sioners. Occasionally, it is said, after get
ting new shoes, if the weather is bad, they
dispose of the shoes, buy whisky and get
drunk for the two-frld purpose OF having
IA good time and getting back to jail
These tramps are not only an annoyance
10 the people, particularly in this city, but
they are entailing heavy expense upon
;he payers Its safe to say that before
the winter is over the cost for tramps will
not be less than 81 500 or $4,000.
But neither will there be road law nor
a tramp law uuless the people act Our
representatives in the Legislature will pass
aay measure the people want, and it remains
for the people to let their desires be known
u a meeting were called to look after these
matters, we haze no doubt it would be well
attended by representative citizens. Now
is the opportunity, aud there is plenty of
time left on which to act. lfit is delayed
IT. will be two years before the Legislature
meets again. and the people will have to
20 along over the same kind of roads and
spend two or three thousands of dollars
annually for boarding tramps sGG officers
fees.