The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1897-04-22
re heartily in favor of the tar 10 be

paid entirely In money. This bill,
however, proposes only one-half in
money. and the other halt may be
paid in labor.
Under u present law many tax
os run as low as ten, fifteen and
twenty cents. Such sums r prac.
%ticallv un~collectible. The proposed
law levies a tax of $1.OO upon every
male taxable of the age of twenty
one years ana upwards, and does so
on the ground that every citizen is
advantaged by good roads each year
to the extent Of at least S1.O0.
Under our present law Supervis.
ors are expected to personally over.
see the working out of the tax by
the citizens of the district. This
effectually precludes busy men or
business men from undertaking this
Office, because they cannot afford to
spend their time away from their
business for the compensation that
IA Supervisor receives. The new law
proposes to relieve the Supervisor
from this duty, and place 1t upon a
Road Master, who IS not elected by
those who work under him, but is
appointed by the road Supervisors,
and who can therefore, insist that a
days work shall be performed by
each person reporting himself for
such service on the public road.
The effect of this system will be to
make it possible for the best men in
each community to accept the office
of Supervisor, and give to the man
agemenl of our roads the best in
telligence that each community pos
sesses, and will insure that theroads
will be in charge of a competent
workman, who will see that all nee
essary repairs + made promptly
and in Il workmanlike manner.
The new law also provides for a
Treasurer of the Board of Supervis
ors. This individual is expected to
perform the duties of a clerk, to
make out the duplicate, keep the
records, collect the money and do
such other things as may be neces.
sary in order that the Board may be
made effective. This individual IS
not to be a member of the Board,
but may be any one outside. The
Supervisors may select the town.
ship clerk or township treasurer or
any other person who is competent
TO perform the duties of this Office.
The purpose is: First, to relieve
the members of the Board from
clerical work and Second, to insure
that the duties of the Office will be
promptly and efficiently performed.
In no case can the expense of the
Board exceed $500 per year for
their salaries, thus removing the Of
flee from competitors who wish the
position for the money that is in it.
Under the present system the
roads are liable to be neglected at
seasons Of the year when they most
need attention. The new law pro-
poses to district the townships into
sections not exceeding twenty miles
of road to each section Of good COM
mon day laborer, who is to keep the
road in repair and supervise the
labor that reports to him, and seq
that everything is done in accord
apce with the directions that he re.
ceiyes from time to time from the
Board of Supervisors. This will in.
sure that whatever is done will be
kept in place until the next season,
and additions made year by year
will gradually bring u roads into
fine condition.
These are the leading features OF
the Bill proposed. 1t is believed
that this law will meet the genera.
sense of what is needed in the way
of road legislation at this time. Tn.
usual interest has been manifested
i'll it by all classes of our citizens
and the attitude Of the farmers o.
the Commonwealth toward this
proposed bill may be judged from
the fact that out of one hundred anC
eight oranges who have replied to ,
memorial asking their view of tn,
bill, one hundred and one have an
swered in its favor.
kREAMER.