The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1893-01-27

IN. Genera, Assembly WIN Use Asked 20
Eepea, the irsSsst Road Laws.
T1,c recent Indiana road congress Was
a credit 10 the state aad a. q irst s'.p
toward a much needed reform was en-
t-rs,v successful. The attendance was
larre and representative, the papers Were
for the most part able and practical, ana
tle discussions were interesting anu
pro6table. Ii the latter were 1t times
somewhat discursive and scattering TINS
was 70 be expected in tine opening up Oh
= new subject. aud II was noticeable nat
H., courrvss soon got back to the puS-
ness IN hand.
II had \ fitting conclusion in the FOR
nation II an organization 10 DC Ano".
a. the Indiana Highway Improvements
association. and the election OF oineefs
who will take care that the movement
SO auepiciously begun Is nor ahoweo -
die through neglect or naction. tor !.
m,s, 10 understood that the work OF
highway IMPROVEMENT Is but Just begun.
ari tho organization has many years oi
worl before il in bringing public senu-
r,.y,t throughout the state rp 70 the III.
tellisent and progressive stanaiuu "
that which perneated the sonveh'on.
II can be done. however. n the Pupnc
xeIfsre demands that IT shall DE-
The report Of the Legislative comuit
taa which wac finally adopted oy. the
, convention, and which the general az
sa,r,,v will be asked to enact. is a rad
ical departure from the present sys'en.
Z In fact il proposes to repeal the presen'
road laws in toto and 10 snpstitu'ea al
, entirely new system. II aboishes 'ne
> Office IF district supervisor. and ALSO we
4, to,r,,ons now exercised by township
trustees in connection with roads :.
IN Mace of these the COMMISSIONER oi
Zach county are TO appoint a county SD
> r~er,ntendent Of highways and n super
j. VISOR for each township. The super
}, ,s.ora sro 10 have charge CT the con-
u s.rpction Of roads in their respective
townships. subject Ia the control OF ,ne
4 county superintendent. and the supeflh-
4, ,cnl.nt and supervisors In each county.
u ~ connection with the civil engineer OF
~ any city in the county. are to constitute
ia ! comfy loard Of supervisors VI hirh-
e y,avs which shall meet once a year to
= discuss road improvements ana nA NIX
rate Of taxation tor road
Road taxes are 10 be paid IKE otne'
- ,axes and not worked ont. and are TO o.
~ fairly apportioned between cities ane
~ he country These sre the main Tea
'e TIRES Of the system adopted by the con
- ur,.ss and which the legislature Will D
~, asked 70 enact. Whether il shall NEE
'' The anrroval Of the Legislature or ro'
- The journal thinks it was wise for III
congress TO agree on some dehnite Pa
The organization can now 60 before "a
legislature with a request FOR denf1t
action. and If that body does not approx
~ the pIan proposed it can modify 1t
g., about some other.
!, The main thing is to have it impresse
on the public and the legislature IN
the present system is radically ceiccu'
and that a change Is imperativeiy q
!, mandcd. Perhaps the worst feature
tha present law Is that which alloy
ro.d taxes 10 be worked out. thou;
,he district supervisor system Ii aimo
~. equally bad in that 1t places the co
". s,rrcsion of roads In the charge OF n
\, sons who. Is a rule, are utterly inco1
N, ne+ent. No road law can be maze
~. %fective That does not provide for me ps
" nent ~ the road tax in money and
..ib nlacinc the control Of roadbuilding
. H. competent hands.
h one OF TIE best results Of the congr'
tate was the distinct and emphatic recog
y = ton Of this idea. On the whole. the p
= ith rle Of Indiana are to he congratnla
I ~ on the successful Inauguration OF IN
ne ment which under proper managem'
To-, nav and probably Will become an
) ni rortant factor in the progress ana
mt yelopment Of the state--indianap
Journal.
IA. ~.or.1 T~a~ue.