Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1901-08-22
OPPOSE ROAD LAW
AN ADDRESS TO TAXPAYERS
AGAINST ITS ADOPTION.
Some Leading Farmers Of the County Present
Their Reasons for Desiring the Defeat Of
the New Road Law At the Election to
be Held on August 18TH.


To THE TAX PAYERS OF CHEHALIs COUNTY :
On Tuesday, the eth Of this month,
an election will be held in each precinct
of this County and a referendum vote
will be taken to determine whether the
road law now in force shall be repealed,
and one which was passed by the last
legislature-subject to the vote of the
people-be adopted in it's stead.
Under the present system we have in
this county forty.five road districts and
an equal number of road supervisors.
Under the proposed new law we should
have but four districts and four super.
visors.
We are astonished that any men should
resort to such argument as some are
using who favor the proposed law. For
instance, 1t is stated THAT under the
present law the salaries Of the supervisors
amount to $112.50 per day, whereas
under the new law, four supervisors at
$500 would cost but $1,000 per day."
What are the facts? Simply that
while supervisors get $3.50 per day they
are limited to fifty days in each year, go
the most that any one can draw is $l25.00
per year, but under the proposed law the
supervisors to be appointed are to receive
$500 for every working day which would
amount to about $13OO.O0 per annum.
As an economic principle it is better
that the salaries be scattered out among
forty.five men in everv part Of the county,
than that four men, possibly not citizens
of the county, and probably not tax.pay.
ers, should receive large salaries.
As matter of fact the salary question
cuts no figure in the question. The sala-
ries would be almost exactly the same in
either case and has been noticed simply
to call attention to the weak things that
are often used in place Of argument in a
cause which has no merit.
The country property will pay into the
general road fund Of the county, (city
properly pays nothing inso this fund)
sums ranging from thirty thousand to
forty thousand dollars per year-it was
1925. 70 in the year 1899, and $23740 10
during the FIRST half of the year 19O1-and
whether We have forty.five supervisors or
only four, it will all be used, and it is
outrageously begging the question to talk
about (Which will cost the most per
day."
The question then is not, which will
cost more, but which will result in the
greatest good to the greatest number, and
which will be the most satisfactory means
Of improving our roads.
At present the Taxpayers of each dis
trict may. if they choose to do 80, pay
their general fund road tax in labor upon
the country roads which, with rare ex.
captions, they do with more interest and
iaithfulness than contractors ever do.
Under the proposed law every one
would be compelled to pay all his tax in
cash.
Upon the farmer more than any other
rest the burden Of supporting county
government, which he does without com.
plant, but the frrmer is no fool and can
be depended upon to repudiate the con-
temptable scheme which would add to
his already enormous burden, deny him
any voice in the management Of the roads
which he must pay for, and take from
him the poor privilege Of paying small
part Of his burdensome tax in hard work.
There is rapidlv.growing sentiment
in favor Of the people having more voice,
instead Of less in the management Of their
public affairs. Shall we surrender the
local control OF our roads to men who
cannot have go much interest in them as
the local supervisor and the men who
use the roads have?
We do not question the honesty Of the
present board Of County Commissioners.
OF course they would try to make coed
appointments but it is q fact too we'll e.
tablished to need evidence to prove it,
that appointments made by any, except
to positions where clerical ability is re-
quired, with very rare exceptions, are
made without regard to fitness. In spite
Of the best intentions on the part Of those
who appoint, under pressure Of political
influence, or more properly what is known
in politicsl parlance as "pull," men are
appointed to positions of trust and emolu.
ment who have no interest in the tax.
payers except to fleece them, and we may
we'll regard with suspicion, those individ.
uals who pay no taxes, but who are 80
interested in the "dear people" that they
are voluntarily using their brilliant ~
intellects to show how this new scheme
would result in utopian splendor, that
the muddy roads Of Chehalis County
would be at once transformed into golden