New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-05-09
GOOD ROADS LEGISLAIION.
WHY NO ACTION WAS TAKEN AT THf
RECENT SESSION.
THE BILL. DEFEATED IN THE ASSEMBLY ~
THREE VOTES - ASSEMBLY, MAN Aosi'"
MAKES AN EXPLANATIoN-sENA-

THE Bill, DEFEATED IN THE H'"H"'
THREE VOTES - AssEMBLYMAN AUsTiN
MAKES AN EXPLANATIoN-sENA-
tor rAvEYs POSITION.
The failure OF the Legislature to pass any bill
tending TO the Improvement OF the highways OF the
State was a profound disappointment to the large
number OF progressive people who had hoped tnat
Ncw-York would not longer postpone beginning inc
work OF providing the State with a comprehensive
system OF good roads Among intelligent citizens
who keep abreast with the times there Is strong
and rapidly growing sentiment that road-bullding
should be undertaken under the direction OF
State Highway Commission. Bills providing for
such commission considered both by the
LEGISLATURE of this year and by that of 1893.
Tho bill of last year was tho result of an lnvesu-
cation made by committee, OF which Assembly
man now SENATOR Higbe chairman. The
committee made careful Inquiries regarding the
road question and the methods employed in other
States, notably Massa chusetts and New-Jersoy
which have taken tho lead in this important mat
ter and tho highway laws Of various States were
thoroughly considered. The bill providing for
State Commission and the construction OF roads
on n consistent and scientific plan mot with so
much opposition In the Legislature of last year
that the attempt to pass II was complete failure
Substantially the same measure was Introduced by
Mr. Higbe this year In the Senate and by MI
Armstrong In the Assembly and II came to he
known the Hsble-Armstrong bill.
Long before the end of tho session. however, II
became apparent that n measure Of go sweeping a
character had It;Ic chance of becoming law and
as the end approached the friends Of good roads
determined to concentrate their efforts on bill Of
a different character having for its purpose the
doing away with the long-established system
whereby farmers work OUT their road taxes.
Since this system is regarded one OF the chief
obstacles 10 road improvement on broad and In
tcllirent scale It felt that to abolish II would
10 a step OF vital importance toward tho attainment
Of the great desderatum of good roads. The bill
referred to was entitled "A bill to abolish the
labor system Of taxation for highway purposes"
Il provided for the division OF each town into at
least three road districts by the town Commits
sioner of Highways. and gave that official power
10 make contracts for repairing and maintaining
the roads i'm each district.
HOW THE BILL WAS LOST
This bill which was introduced by Senator Hig-
bic. passed the Senate but when it came up in the
Assembly II defeated, receiving only seventy
three votes when seventysix were required for IFS
passage Assemblyman George G. Austin was
asked a day or two ago how it happened that the
bill failed OF passage. In reply to the question ne
said:
TEN of taxation for highway PURPOSES was due pr-
marily TO the opposition Of the Republican leader
Mr.. Nixon. II il also true that some men voted
against IL through misrepresentation, when they
would have voted for it If they had known just
what the bill was and that its passage was de-
sired by tho advocates OF the sood-roads movement
Then there Is tho further fact that three New-York
they had been present. they would have voted for il
and sScured It's pasEe for only three votes bc 0nr
ion that these three men ought not to be blamed
II is almost impossible for. man to be, on hand
every minute during the closing days OF the sos-
going to be brought up
This bill. may say. was not the important
Was the one pI Known as the Iigbe- Armstrong bill
providing for State Highway Commission When
ca me M on tho Wednesday, before the close of the
session the question went round, Is this the Hig-
name, properly speaking. for that bill had been
abandoned because it was found that there would be
no chance OF passing 1t. and so. when the vote on
the ether bill was 9ken some OF the members n
1t when they were really in favor Of it,
FEELING OF THE COUNTRY MEMBERS.
"But as I said the opposition of Mr. Nixon. the
Republican leader. and OF the country members
generally was what killed the bill. Mr. Nixon said
that the farmers all opposed 10 IT, and that II
the Legislature passed IL II would lose the Repub-
Leans n dozen or more Assemblymen. To this we
might have retorted that the Raines law amend
ments would cost the party at least ten Assembly
in tho cities. However, Mr.. Nixon was able
to influence number Of votes. and. owing to that
iatiire did nothing toward improving the roads
"a good deal Of work was done toward securing
lcglslatl0n d" lnQlVldudl WneetHtI anu "HVc'-
mems organizations. received large number
Of letters asking to support the good roads
bills and promised TO do all I could for them. |
am wheelman myself and know what need there
is Of better roads Throughout the STATE and am
convinced that NewYork ought to take its posi-
ton with otner progressive States. But there Is a
strong conservative feeling among the farmers In
opposition to any change. or course, the add
ton TO their taxes If the bill had become law
would be only trife: have lived in tho country
and I know II would not add to their burdens TO
any appreciate extent. ,,.. III,
Next year | feel sure that the Legislature Will
not only wipe out the system Of working out road
taxes, but | hope may have a Highway Com
mission created. The members from all the cities,
or almost ali were in favor of highway legislation
passed the bill in spite of Mr. Nixon ard the
opposition OF the country members
SENATOR PAvEY NoN-COMMITTAL.
Tho question put to Assemblyman Austin was
also asked Of Sena tor Pavey. 1t was not matter
| to which he had given any special attention. he
| said although he had voted for the bills intro
| duced by Senator Igbie Still. he did not see
| why men from the cities should worry themselves
on the subject of good roads In the country, when
the country people themselves did not want them
| Mr. Pavey said that he had received large num-
Der OF letters In the course OF the session ASKING
| his support OF bills for the promotion of good
| roads and they all from people living In
| the cities. He added that he did not care TO be
quoted on tho subject further than to say that ne
| would vote for any measure having road improve
| ment for its object. but he would not express any
opinion ms to the likelihood of favorable action on
| the subject by the next Legislature. OF which he
| will be a member
FURNISHINGS FOR SUMNER HOMES.
In these DAYS It is no longer considered. as un-
| an excellent place in which TO wear out the half
| thnfr d,ttx In