The Opelousas courier., 1900-07-28
The Road Question.
MR.. EDITOR

MR.. ED1ToR:-
You will please allow me space in
your columns to give an expression on
the oil absorbing topic of to-day. |
mean "The Road Question"
First OF all, !, as chairman on said
committee, made tho following report.
While it is true that the other two MEM
bers whose names do not figure, because
of the fact that the resolution which was
submitted in the June meeting did not
pass, and though having n motion and a
second, was unceremOniOufy tabled in
definitely. Following is the report:
To the President and Members of Tie Police
Jury:
Gentlemen-Your committee appointed to re-
port suggestions looking to the Improvement of
| the system of maintaining the public roads beg
leave to make the following suggestions:
We find that the ordinance adopted by the
Police Jury December 9Th. 1893, entitled "An
ordinance relative to constructing, maintain
ing and repairing the public roads. providing
revenue therefor and the manner of enforcing
payment of the same," was carefully cOnsid-
cred before being adopted, and contains much
that should now be re-adopted, though said or
dinance was repealed before the system there
by established was tested. We endorse and ap-
prove of the following features incorporated in
| said ordinance, namely: Working the public
roads under the contract system; the levy of a
per capita tax upon all persons liable to road
| uuLy, duu iUECluS pofSOIS WIN ldiIcu U pay
the tax to work on the public roads; the leas-
ing of %conyicts to the contractors contractors
to be required to give bond in double the
amount of the contract price; dividing the
| parish into road districts, each Police Jury
Ward to be a road district. the per capita tax
paid by the inhabitants OF each road district to
be expended within the district q supervisor
of roads to be appointed for each road district
to be paid O salary OF -- dollars, and to
be required to perform the duties stated in said
ordinance.
We find upon investigation and inquiry that
the proposit- on of a vehicle tax does not meet
with general favor. 1t is objected the burdens
of such o tax would be too unequally diStrlb-
uted. and it is urged that a direct tax upon all
the property taxpayers OF the parish would
distribute the burden more uniformly and
equally. AS such q tax, however, could not be
levied without the consent of the taxpayers
given at an election ordered for that purpose
by the the Police Jury, such an election would
have to be ordered. A tax of two mills has
been suggested, but as it now transpires that
one mill of the existing tax cannot be diverted
from other purposes to the fnnd for working
the public roads, two mills would not be Sutfi- /
Gent even when supplemented by the per CAPT
ia tax. Therefore, in submitting the question
to the vote of the property taxpayers, 1t would
be for a tax of at least two and a half mills.
Even in case of the imposition of a tax of
two and a half mills, and OF the collection in
addition OF the per capita tax, tho revenue de-
rived therefrOm would not be sufficient, unless
the expenditure OF the proceeds from both
sources be restricted to the main public tho
roughiares. We therefore recommend that the
TUIcC JUL Ill Ii uC" utuludlGG ltC 1 may
adopt, specify the public roads which are TO
be worked under the contract system. and
that great care be taken to guard against the
expenditure OF the public road fund upon any
public road other than ouch as are of public
necessity s1d convenience, otherwise, the sys-
tenn proposed will fail of accomplishing the end
i'll view.
In conclusion, therefore. we that
the ordinance referred to he SO amended as to
conform to the suggestions herein made, and
that as thus amended, 1t be re-enacted to take
effect January LIST, 1901.
Respectfully submitted.
J. KOsSUTH SAEDoz,
Committee.
Now, Mr.. Editor, you will bear in
mind, that in the first place there would
be no cost to the parish, since we have
an election for the Presidency in No.
vember next, whereby n voter can cast
his vote in "a separate o X
In the second instance. so impOrtantsa
question should be given the right of
the constituents to proclaim. AS you
are aware the funds OF the parrish treas
ury is depleted, and every one is clam
oring for roads and bridges.
It is admitted, | believe. by every
member of the Police jury, and | think
I can safely add the masses of the peo-
pie, that the present road system is
failure.
Something should have been done
long before, but the records will show
that all that was ldone was recalled at
meetings to undo and at
considerable cost to the parish. The
per capita tax is a good one, but INSULT
Gent. The vehilce tax | believe unfair,
for the reason that | do not believe it
Ia equalizing for n man who has a car
and owns probably $50, 600. and
another who owns his all, a wagon,
to he taxed as much. {
That / believe IA two and a-haIf mill
tax with the per capita tax, say for a
period Of three years, would be suffi- :
Gent. / contend that by designating
which are the main tiioroughfares and
them by contract yearly-that
each subsequent year would be bid in
cheaper-hecause after being placed in
good condition would require less work
after. | admit that we are already 1
taxed, but common reasoning,
my opinion, will show the necessity
Dc this move, and if submitted to a vote]
will be carried. +,
/ claim that under the old system, it
% nevertheless true, that what work has
been done vas by the poor peOpie. | /
assert from reliable sources that the {
1oOr man has got tired Of this and will ,
stand it no longer-and will insist chat !
t is not always his turn for road duty.
/ wish to add, that it committee
erred in Judgment, we have at !
east q consolation and it is this: that ]
North Louisiana as we'll as other por- !,
of our State have either borrowed !
,r adopted onr ideas for their welfare.
Do not lose sight of the fact that we are d
by the constitution which says
hat all assessments should be equal. '
/ will say, in conclusion, that so for as I
am individually concerned, while | am !,
interested in good roads, yet it q
be understood that / have a duty
o perform OF more moment. / mean +
be responsibility to account to my ON
who have placed me as one Of :
heir representatives; all of which | res !
lectfully submit. !
I j. KossUTH SANDoz. 7
u Member Police Jury 1st Ward. y
f