The bee., 1896-12-24

pSutlOn VI IdllIOau hIduSpOtta'
ton had become so great that pay
ing toll seemed to travellers an i'm.
position. For many years efforts
have been made to obtain legisla.
ton IN favor OF "free" turnpikes.
At the last session bills were
passed permitting the State to dis
pose OF its stock in the several
turnpikes, and also bill allowing
counties to hold an election for the
purpose of deciding whether the
county should take the turnpikes
within its borders at a valuation
fixed by an appraisement made at
the instance OF the the Fiscal
Court, and issue bonds in payment
therefore and levy a tax to main
tain them in good order free from
toll charges.
Elections have been held IN sew.
eral counties and resulted in a vote
for the condemnation and purchase
oil the pixies. But in some OF them
the debts already existing had
reached the Constitutional limit
and the Courts were powerless to
appropriate money or issue bonds
for the purchase money. Pending
negotiations with stockholders and
efforts to seek some available and
legal method OF controlling the
roads and keeping them in good
condition free OF toll to the travel
ing public, a spirit of unrest and
lawlessness engendered by the ne
cessarily slow process of the con-
stituted authorities broke out in
various portions OF the State as il
by preconcerted action, and DIS
guised raiders destroyed toll gates,
threatened the lives Of gate keep
ers, and gave sinister warnings to
stockholders demanding by mes
sages and placards that toll gath
ering should cease.
In many states the damage done
by these marauders would. when
ascertained, have to be paid by the
county in return for the taxes paid
to maintain order and secure pro-
lection from mob rule. II is
mooted question whether in this
State an action will lay against the
county officials under the common
law in the absence OF statutory
provision.
A resident of Shelby county
speaking Of the destrubtion of the
toll gates says that the taxpayers
Of that county are satisfied with
the present arrangement believing
that those who use the roads pay
less for specific use under the toll
system than they would under the
free pike plan. AS IT is now the
interest on capital and cost of
maintenance fall upon the stock
holders. After purchase by the
county, the interest on the bonded
debt and expense of repairs would
be borne by the taxpayers without
distinction as to whether they used
the roads or not. The probability
is that the lawless raiders are not
taxpayers nor toll-payers but are
actuated by disposition to resist
all lawful control. II is by such
displays of insubordination and
reckless disregard Of the laws. that
the progress and prosperity OF the
State is retarded by the discourag-
ing of business men to invest in
enterprises in our midst. Capital
does not seek such environment
and good citizens deplore such a
state of affairs. A calm discussion
and careful calculation would dis
close the difficulties involved in a
jus. settlement OF the question
with the law.
The average price per mile
which the officials appointed by
the courts would value the roads
at, might be placed at $4,000 per
mile. The lowest tax for repairs
yet fixed upon was IS cts. per
SIoo. When one figures on the
total amount to be raised to thus
Stree" the pixies it will be seen that
the price of such "lreedom" will be |
"eternal taxation"
While the innovation would be-
expensive, 1t would be when
after a vote OF the
people, strictly legal, and not
subject the State to the disgrace
brought upon it by the coniscation
of individual property and SUBJ
version of their chartered rights
attempted by these masked mid
night providers.