The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-08-04
PAPER ON GOOD ROADS
Was Read Before The County judges and
Commissioners, Who Adopted II.
CAMERON is THE NEXT PLACE OF MEETING
OFFICERS Were Elected by Judges As
sociation--ResoIuti Of Thanks
to Galveston Commissioners.

Galveston. Texas, August 3.--The Sec
ond days session OF the quarterly con
vention of the county judges and commits
sioners was convened in the county court
room this morning at 10 O'Clock. The
only paper read this morning was an essay
on Necessary Amendments to Probats
Laws" by Judge c. A. Sumner of Cuero.
The paper of f. T. Woodward of Dali
las, Road Construction" which was real
yesterday, was adopted and ordered hlod
as part of the proceedings. 1t is as fol-
lows
That the many counties in Texas now
desiring to improve their roads may be
enabled to do so, think 1t necessary that
our present road law should DO amended
as follows:
/. Make 1t a misdemeanor for a road
overseer to fail TO exact from every man
under his supervision subject TO road
duty who has failed to pay in cash the
amount prescribed by law five full days
work on the county road.
! 2. That the road oversoer be not al
lowed to dsburse any money collected by
him from persons subject to road duty
in payment OF such persons road tax, but
that he be required to pay over TO the
county treasurer all such sums so col
lected less his fee for collecting same.
I 3. That the road oveTseer be allowed
q commission OF 10 per cent OF all sums
collected by him in cash, the same to be
his full compensation for collecting from
road hand and paying TO the county treas
( urer.
a. That where an election is held for
the purpose of voting an additional road
tax. that such tax may be voted by COM
missioners precincts, and not necessarily
by the county as whole.
This was thought to be unconstitutional
Ior IL not unconstitutional. at least I'M
American. ] now have another plan TO
submit for your consideration, which IL
carried out will supplement your road and
bridge fund to such an extent as TO make
good roads possible
Our present road law, or several ROAD
laws, provide for the payment of $3.50
or 50, or the performance OF five days
work each year by every man subject
to road duly.
1t is a well known fact that very few
pay 81 so or SO, and 1t Is equally true thai
but few perform the five days work.
Now my idea Is to make the fivs days
labor operate as a penalty for the non-
payment OF the tax In cash, and TO this
lend ! would suggest that our present
road law be so amended as to require the
road Hoverseer or some other person tc
exact of all persons subject to road dut,
who do not pay the tax in cash, FIVE full
days labor.
! believe that under such law, n
or so per cent OF those subject to roa(
duty would pay the cash. That they dc
not pay II now is largely, II not wholly
due TO the fact that they we'll know tina
they will not be called upon 10 put II
ave days work and In many localities the!
are reasonably certain that they will no
be called out at ALL Under such condi
tons you can not expect the pBymer
OF the tax, but with such a law as viii
require the road oyerseer 10 make specia
report on each man allotted to him 10
road work. and state under oath tina
each and every one OF them has eithe
paid the tax in cash or actually performe
five full days work on the county roaf
believe that nearly all would pay. an
the revenue derived from this soure
along with the tax OF IS cents on the $40
as now levied. would in all thickly set
tied counties be sufficient TO keep II
J roads in first-class condition.
Having frst provided the money VII
] which to carry on the work ] would In
(. cases recommend that II be done By n
county and not let by contract. The coun
~ will need no more teams. machinei