The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-01-03
sALLEE's NEW ROAD BILL.
Measure Prepared with the Approve
OF KIM. Cauutx au,.,isxtara.s

Measure Prepared With the Approval
OF King County Commissioners.
The bill OF which synopsis is given below
was introduced at the last session of the leglsa-
tufe py The committee on roads aud highways
In the house. II provides for general road
law in the state, and was introduced as a sub
situte for another bill relating to the same sub
ject. but ii failed TO become law. Representa-
tive Sallee and the board OF county commits
sioners OF King county have thoroughly con-
sidered the bill recently and made a few slight
changes In II, and it will now be passed upon
By the King county delegation. and undoubtedly
introduced in the coming session of the iegisla-
ture. Following is the substance of its pro-
visions:
The county commissioners are authorized to
divide the county into convenient road districts
not oftener than once year; a road overseer to
De elected IN each district once year by the
regular electors of the district; the oversaer
TO have general supervision Of the work
On the different roads in his district,
under the direction OF the board of
county commissioners. More specifically
his duties are: To take charge OF the highways
In his district; keep them clean from obstruc-
tons and in good repair; destroy Canada this
ties and other obnoxious weeds growing on the
roadways; make list OF all persons in his district
subject to poll or road property tax and submit
the same TO the county auditor 10 have entered
thereon the amount OF such tax due from each
person, and then proceed 10 collect the same in
money or labor and render q complete account
TO the county treasurer.
The county commissioners are required to
have surveyed. viewed. iayed out recorded
opened and worked such highways as are neces-
sary for public convenience as by law provided;
ABANDON or abolish such as are unnecessary;
levy road poi and road property tax-ihe
former being s.. or two days work on every able
bodied male person between the ages OF y and
ga int hx, nd tha Io.sa
than / nor more than mills on the assessed
valuation OF property, ell these taxes to be paid
in money, or labor at tho rate OF 81 per day. In
addition to these the commissioners are author
lied to levy 4 special tax OF mills, to be paid
in money aud designated '.road and bridge
fund.-" to be used as the commissioners may d.
rect
The overseer is required to notify each person
In his district OF the amount due from him and
compel him to work 1t out or pay In money, and
any person refusing to comply, Or spending his
time in idleness while az work on the road, shall
become liable for an additional IS per cent of
the original amount The overseer shall return
ell such persons az delinquent, to be collected
the same rs other delinquent taxes.
All employers are required to furnish the
names OF employees liable for road tax whose
names no, on the overseer's lists, and also to
retain from the wages of all employees who re-
fuse 10 pay SAID tax sufficient amount to pay
the same anu turn III over To the Oyerseer.
The hours OF labor for those working on the
roads shall not lie less than eight per day. begin
ming at O'Clock in the morning, and the work
shall be done in accordance with the directions
OF the overseer. The oyerseer may REG uire any
person owning 8 team and tools, such as a plow
or scraper, TO furnish the same & per dag addi-
tional TO De allowed for the work of such team
and tools.
The overseer is authorized TO, as far as posi-
bic, open up all roads lawfully laid out in his
district and keep the same in good repair: he
shall have authority to purchase tools and nee
esssry material for making and repairing
bridges well as roads in his district erect ana
maintain proper guide boards at every public
crossing; have authority to call out any num-
Der OF persons he may deem necessary 10 re-
move fallen timber obstructing any public high
way, and, in case they are required to DO more
work than is assessed against them, the over
seer shall give each certificate specifying the
amount OF such oyerwork, which may be trans
ferred and the holder credited with the amount
on his road tax the following year.
The overseer's accounts are TO be audited
once year by the county commissioners. and
any Irregularities in tue issuance OF receipts or
certificates, or any neglect of duty is declared
to be q misdemeanor and punishable by tine OF
not less than IS nor more than s50t be paid into
the school fund OF the state. The wages of the
oyerseer are set at g. % per day.
A clause in the bill declares an emergency,
and provides for its going into effect irnmedi-
ately on its passage and approval