The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-11-05
WHY THE LAW IS WRONG

The poll holders are: First ward, A.
L. Moore, O. T. Debnam, T. A. Jones;
second ward, J. w. Denmark, M. L.
Haynes, O. W Lambeth; third ward, Joseph
Perry, E. A Adams, W. d. Forsythe;
fourth ward, Wesley Moseley, ID. b.
Sorrell, r. L. Helm.
1t must be borne in mind that the act
provides that the question must be
determined by majority of the votes
cast, and not, as is usually the case, by
the majority of the qualified voters.
If You Want to
Defeat the Law
You Must
Vote Against 1t.
All the indications point to the defeat
of the Act.
1t is so badly worded that even its
trainers are not sure that it will not de-
feat the object for which it was passed.
And the people do not want their taxes
largely increased, while they get not one
iota of benefit.
Men of all parties oppose the Act.
And the people will see the folly of the
law.
Clerk of the Court Dan Young said:
"My impression is that the law will be
defeated. / have talked with people
from the country, and in the different
townships the sentiment is very much
divided. Some favor the law and others
oppose it, because it raises their taxes.
The city is practically solid against it,
and therefore / judge it will be de-
feated."
J. @. Logan Harris has not even regis
tered, and ne says it he votes, his vote
will be cast against the act.
DR.. r. I'll. Lewis said: "From all |
can learn the law will probably not pass.
| find nowhere any sentiment in favor OF
it. ! want you to understand that IA
vor working the roads by taxation, but
my objections to the law are these:
First, it would interfere with the salts
factory operation of the present town
ship road law, because the work is con-
centrated at the centre, and is OF a per-
manent character. Ii this gener-
al county law be passed, mas
much as the people OF the county
pay their proportion of the tax, they
will want work done Immediately In all
their neighborhoods. This would cause
the force to be dissipated, and make the
work necessarily of a temporary charac-
ter. In order to do that work the
County Commissioners would have to
take the convicts from Raleigh town
ship, and scatter them through the
county, stopping the work on our roads.
The law will put an additional tax of Is
cents on the 800 of property and 40
cents on the poll. This will be added to
the Raleigh township tax of 8 cents on
the 500 and "a cents on the poll. And
with this increase in taxation, the per-
manent road work will be actually
diminished. Roads ought to be i'm
proved from some central point, on ac-
count of the difficulty in transporting
the heavy machinery. And this act
does not require the consent Of ma
jority of the quilted voters, but only
majority of the votes cast.
Superintendent w. c. McMackin said:
my objections to this law are these:
1t will divide all the convicts, now sixty
five, into eighteen different townships.
No quarters can be provided for them,
they will be unduly exposed, it will re-
quire many more guards, and the ex-
pense of working them will be largely
increased, while the work will not be
permanent.
ut is impossible to move the machinery
from place to place over the bad roads,
and the bridges are not strong enough
to support the machinery. Then, again,
this increased tax will raise more money
than is required to work the county con-
vlcts. 1t will more than double the tax
in Raleigh township, while these taxes are
now sufficient to maintain the convicts.
'The perfect plan of road making Is the
extension system, working from the
centre. The present extension of one
mile out from Raleigh township will
hardly be complete until the Legislature
meets again, and then an added three
mile extension may be authorized, and
completed as quickly as the one mile
extension, for the latter has been over
the worst road in the county. Under
the extension plan no tax
payer pays road tax until the road
reaches his house. The convicts are,
under the present management, well
looked after, and have comfortable,
healthfnl quarters; there has not been
death among them for two years and
more. The passage of the law would
stop permanent road improvements, and
simply dissipate the force. And ! want
the people to understand that if they do
not want this to come to pass, they
must vote against the law"
Chairman w. @. Stronach, of the
Board of County Commissioners, said:
1.-THE convicts would be apportioned to
the townships according to the taxes
paid. In that event Raleigh township
would get TWO thirds of the convicts.
The proportion would give the other
townships only one or two convicts
each. Even If they were worked in
squads, quarters would have to be
built, and additional guards fur
nished The people would pay an addi-
tional tax of forty five cents on the poll,
and fifteen cents on the 800, and at the
same time be positively harmed by the
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