New-York tribune., 1898-01-30
HIGHWAY TAXATION.

The gospel of good roads is certainly making
headway Those who are still young can re-
member when a country road which was good
cne by the happy accident Of favorable natu-
raj conditions suggested to the mind OF scarcely
ANYBODY thought Of his responsibility for the
lad roads with which it was contrasted mat
mental blankness in respect TO matter OF uni
versal concern certainly does not prevail to-
day and the change is full Of encouragement.
Rural taxpayers now realize TO great extent
that they can make good roads out of bad ones
If they want to- and when they oppose progress
in that direction they do so because they are
not willing to admit the economy OF reconstruc-
ton This is by no means satisfactory state
of things but 1t marks. nevertheless, an I'M
l,ortant gain. for it must inevitably result IN
constantly increasing number Of conversions as
knowledge spreads from the object-lessons
which various communities are offering.
In his recent message Governor Black, allud-
ing TO the urgent necessity Of abandoning the
ancient and dscredited system OF working ont
highway taxes. expressed the opinion that While
II might become desirable 10 enact law com
peing them to be pad in money 1t would De
wise TO make a longer trial of the prescns stat
ute. which permits counties and towns TO de-
eide the question for themselves. Though
compulsory measure would doubtless he strong
~ opposed by voters who have not yet COM
p, p,ehended the lucrative character of an invest
ment in good roads. perhaps strongly enough
TO secure its rejection by the Legislature. we
are convinced that such a law would not long
be considered hardship by more than small
minority Of the people. We believe it is rule
TO which there is literally no exception, that
wherever a bad road has been converted into
good one il has made relapse into old condl-
tions impossible by furnishing proofs of its
utility which all concerned have been con
strained TO accept as conclusive But whether
or not Governor Black is justified In hoping
that the permissive law will produce enough
loaven to leaven the whole lump without long
delay there is good reason TO commend and
promote the effort now making in various parts
of the State to induce the voters to take advan-
tagc Of its provisions. Some thirty towns III the
State we believe. have changed to the money
payment system, and in every case 1t is ac-
knowledged that with smaller tax much bet
ter results are produced.
All conceivable arguments are in favor OF
roadmending systematically conducted under
intelligent supervision on fixed scale ana
plan instead of by the haphaZard operations OF
individuals. some of whom defraud their more
honest neighbors by scrlmping even the poor
work which pays their highway tax. We are
glad TO see that this consideration Is being
forced on the attention Of those who, while still
imbued with a false Idea of economy, disdain
TO avoid the obligation which they recognize
and mean TO give full equivalent for the
money payment which they avoid. Such per-
sons are likely TO be impressed with COM
parson of that which is faithfully if unintell
gently done with that which Is n mere pretcnce
and TO be persuaded into voting for policy
which will Dut all on the same footing