The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1897-12-17
FOUR ROAD LAWS.

The Legislative committee of the Mary
l land Division, League of American Wheel
men, has been doing some active work
during the last two weeks spreading over
the State plans for improved laws.
The committee has had prepared four
laws. which will be presented to the next
session of the Legislature, and is now car
rying on a vigorous plan of education to
| work up sentiment in favor of these acts.
Thousands of pamphlets have been sent
over the State and followed up by letters
to representative men. \ general invita-
ton to farmers clubs, institutes and asso-
Citations to co operate in the work has been
extended and already some strong support
has been promised.
Three of the laws which are being urged
are:
\ bill to create Il department of roads
and highways for the purpose of investi-
eating and reporting on the road question
and of furthering the improvement of the
county roads.
An act for the more perfect construction
and maintenance of the roads and bridges
! of the State.
| A liberty bill III relation to the use and
regulation of bicycles and tricycles.
| The law creating department of roads
and highways provides for an expert en-
| gincer at Il salary of $4,000 year, and,
including this salary, an appropriation OF
S25, 900 for the establishment and main
tenance of the department is called for.
This department is to supply free of cost
to the county authorities data to aid in
building modern highways.
The next bill provides for the creation
in each county of board of highways and
bridges. This board is to have charge of
the construction and maintenance of the
| highways and bridges in each county. The
law requires public proposals to be invited
| work is to cost over $500, the contract to
| be awarded to the lowest bidder When
ever the work can be done to better ad
vantage without such contract the board,
"
sioners, may do the work and purchase
the materials. No member of the board
or no one connected with the State engi-
neer's department can be interested In any
contract. and in case of such interest the
county commissioners may declare such
contract void.
The board is authorized in each county
to appoint road superintendent for each
election precinct and to divide such cleo
ton precincts into road districts, each to
contain thirty miles of road or more, to
each of which one or more road corps may
be assigned. 1t is the duty of the board
to endeayor to have these corps constant
ly at work during such periods of time as
the appropriations may warrant. An i'm
portant feature of the bill is that it abol-
ishes the payment of road taxes by labor.
1t requires that all road taxes be paid in
cash and exempts from all taxation wag-
ons with tires four inches or more in
width, and whose rear wheels run outside
the front wheels. The county commits
sioners are to supply offices, clerical assis-
lance and working equipment. The
boards are authorized to procure such
machinery, materials and labor necessary
to do work not contracted for.
The boards are authorized to call on the
State ell gineer of roads for counsel and
assistance in their work, or to ask that he
detail an assistant engineer, to be attached
to the board for such purpose. On March
LIST, in each year, these county boards of
highways and bridges are required to sub
nit to the county commissioners Il state
ment of the repairs and new work esti
mated for the new year and of the sums
needed for them Each member of these
boards is to receive 800 year for expen
SEES
The liberty bill provides that all per-
sons using or riding bicycles or tricycles
upon public highways in the State arc en-
titled to the same rights and are subject
only to the same restrictions as arc or may
be prescribed in the case of persons using
carriages drawn by horses.
Another bill which will be presented to
the Legislature makes it a misdemeanor
for any person to place upon any avenue,
street, alley, road, highway or public way
any tack nail, piece of iron, broken glass
or other substance, which may injure, cut
or puncture any pneumatic tire. The fine
for such offense is to be not less than s.
or more than $50. Such fines are to be
paid into the street or road funds of the
municipal corporation or county in which
they are collected.