The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-04-26

The legislature which adjourned last
week passed an act providing for the
and maintenance of side
paths along the highways of the town
ships of the commonwealth for the use
of bicycles and pedestrians; providing
for the appointment of side path COM
missions, prescribing their duties and
the duties of the assessors in the as
sessment of bicycles; providing for
levying, collecting and disbursement of
tax on bicycles. The act is as fol-
lows:
Section I. BE it enacted, etc, that IL
shall be lawful after the passage of this
act to construct and maintain side paths
along the highways of the townships of
this commonwealth for the use of bicy-
cles and pedestrians, bicycle riders, how
ever, TO have the right of way thereon.
Sec. 2. Upon n petition signed by at
least twenty-five freeholders, residents
of the county in which such petition shan
be presented, who are also riders Of bicy-
Clcs, the court of quarter sessions shall
appoint three resident wheClmcn, one to
serve for one year, one for two years,
and one for three years, from the first
day of January subsequent to their ap-
pointment, and annually thereafter, upon
a like petition, appoint one person for u
term of three years, such officers to be
termed side path commissioners; and
vacancies occurring by death. resignation
or otherwise in such offices, shall be filled
by said court upon a like petition being
presented setting forth such vacancy,
and any person appointed to fill such va
cancy shall serve the unexpred term Of
their predecessor.
PATH COMMISSIONERS
Sec. 8. The said side path commission
ers shall take the oath of office and file
the same with the court of quarter ses.
sionS, and shall form an organization
by electing one of their members presi-
dent, and one secretary. They shall
keep a record of the proceedings had
at their respective meetings, and shall
have general supervision of the construc-
ton and maintenance of side paths in
the townships of their respective coun-
ties, and shall serve without compensa-
tion other than their actual, necessary
expenses.
See L. 1t shall be the duty of the asses
sOrs and assistant assessors in the town
ships, boroughs and cities of this COM
mOnwcalth, in the counties in which side
path commissioners shall have been ap-
pointed, on the first Monday of May Of
each year, or as soon thereafter as praC-
ticable, to assess, in books to be fur
nished ty the county commissioners,
resident taXables with all bicycles owned
by them, and make a complete return Of
same, on or before the fourth Monday Of
May of each year. to the commissioners
of their respective counties.
Sec. .. 1t shall be the duty of the COM
missioners Of the respective counties to
levy tax not to exceed one dollar on
each wheel annually, or so much thereof
as shall be recommended by such side path
commissioners, which said tax shall he
entered upon the tax duplicate issued
to the respective tax collectors. and by
such tax collectors collected and paid 20
the county treasurer as county taxes are
now collected and paid. The fund 50
raised to he called side Path" fund,
and to he used by the side path commits
sOncrs in constructing and maintaining
side paths constructed under the provis-
ions of this act: Provided, that no other
fund now authorized to he raised by tax
alton SHAH be drawn upon tor The con-
struction or maintenance Of the side paths
constructed under the provisions of this
act
ON SIDES or HIGHWAYS
Sec. G. All paths constructed under the
provisions of this act shall be built along
the sides of highways in townships, be-
tween the roadway proper and the land
abutting thereon, and shah not bc less
than three feet wide rtr more than six
feet wide measuring from outside TO out
side of bitches.
Sec. :. II shall be the duty of the side
path commissioners to file with the COun-
~ commissioners from time to time. an
itemiZCd bill with vouchers, for actual
necessary expenses i'm constructing ana
maintaining side paths and said com
missioners shall dIIH their warrant on
the county treasurer for the amount of
bills SO filed, but such bills shall first he
approved by the entire board of side path
commissioners.
Sec. 5. The county commissioners and
county treasurer are hereby required "a
keep accurate accounts in separate books
to be kept for that purpose, of all rc-
ceipts and disbursements, which accounts
shall be audited BY the county auditors
at the same time and place as other aC-
counts are audited by them, and a full
and complete statement of the account
so audited shall be published with the
county auditors annual statement
1t is too late this year for the com,
missioners to have the assessment OF
bicycles made and the innovation vii
be deferred until next year.