Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1897-10-01
FOR COMPTROLLER OF STATE TREASURY
PHILLIPS L GOLDSBOROUGH.
of Dorchester County.
FOR CLERK OF COURT OF APPEALS:
ALLAN RUTHERFORD,
Of Montgomery County.
Much Needed Reform

During all this elegant weather it
would be a good time to be repairing
our public roads, but, instead of being
at work upon them, the corps are at
rest, the mules out boarding and the
supervisors drawing their salaries, or be-
ing already settled with in full, are at
home attending to their private affairs.
These facts demonstrate clearly that our
road system needs change, and now
that an election is about to take place
1t is an opportune time to agitate the
question. Under existing law the Coun
ty Commissioners have the undoubtea
right to pass any road ordinance which
In their judgment may seem practical
and wise, aud with the advent of the
new material in the board, whi,h will
take place after the election, such should
be done. Under the Edelin, law but
$4,000 can be appropriated annually for
road purposes and this sum is ample if
properly expended, and to this end a
change IN the present system should be
directed. Our plan, and we have ad :
vocated it before, is, to have corps for
each election district with foreman
only, under the supervision of general
superintendent, or of the County Com
missioner of each locality, if believed to
be cheaper and likely productive of bet
ter results, and divide the money appro
prlated for the mending of the pnblic
highways between the several districts
according to the number of miles there
IN, but if such suggestion is not deem
ed feasible, then reforms in the present
system are demanded. In the first
place, the supervisors are paid out of all
proportion to the time employed. This
year they began in May and qui. work in
August, scarcely working four months,
when they are paid two hundred and
fifty dollars, tie same sum the law in
tended they should receive for whole
years service, which is radically wrong
And in the second place, TIE contracts
for the incidental expense of feeding the
teams, providing materials, implements
and such like, should be made BY the
County Commissioners. and not the road
supervisors. The former, are, as a class
OF men, better qualified to perform such
duties, are nearer the people in point Of
interest, and should, aud we believe.
have the welfare of the people nearer at
heart
Our people are public spirited and
want good roads. and the tax payers are
willing to pay for such a beneficial in
ternal improvement, and are willing to
be liberal in such an expenditure, but
cannot be expected to tolerate ruthless
waste of their hard earnings The ex
penditure of $1,000 in four months is at
the rate of $3.50 per month, much more
than the law contemplates, and the i'm
provements made are not in proportion |
to the outlay For long time after
the present road ordinance was first |
adopted, the maximum sum appropriated
wa, $40, 900, aud the corps were KEEP
at work for nine months. the
expenditure being little over $1,000
per month, but now it is fully half
As much more without sny apparent ad-
ltional benefit which is suggestive of
BAD management With the induction
# new blood into the board of County
commissioners. regardless of whichever
,arty may be successful at the coming
election, a reform in this particular
houl1 be enacted. Our welfare is in
Common and our views on any question
If material advancement should be ven
.llated now when a change in oul local
government is to take place, that those
to whom we entrust with power and
authority to govern may fully UNDER
stand the peoples wishes so as to respect
them.
I