Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1901-02-13
NEW ROAD LAW.
Proposed Measure Creates Boards o
trustees 10 All Districts.

The road law proposed Is intended
and planned to meet the needs of a
mountainous country such as Mon
tana and Is the result OF much agita-
ton. The bill v q typewriter
pages and Is too long for publication
at present, but briefly It's main pro-
visions are to put the government OF
the roads IA near to the people as
possible and provides that each
county must be divided into road
districts, or to recognize the existing
districts, and for the election OF a
board of three trustees for each dis
trict.
The powers and duties of the trus-
tees are as follows: TOprescribe and
enforce rules not Inconsistent with
the laws Of the state for their own
government and the government OF
their districts. To manage and con-
troll the property belonging to the
district and To collect and pay all
moneys collected 10y them to the
county treasurer, 10 be placed to the
credit of the rond fund of their dis
tricts, and to do and perform all acts
and things in relation To which the
electors OF their districts are author
lied by this act to instruct them.
The election Of n board Of road trus
tees is provided for to take place on
the last Saturday Uf March Of each
year, each board to consist Of three
trustees, who shall receive SIS per
year for their services. They will
hold office for one, two and three
years, the term of one trustee eXpir-
ing each year, until 1902, when each
trustee shall be elected for three years.
Th3bill provides the manner ofcOn-
Quoting the election and the hours
during which the polls will be kept
omen.
In prescribing the duties OF road
trustees the new bill provides that
one member OF the board may be des-
ignated each year to collect the poll
tax and shall be paid for his services
not to exceed > per cent of the total
amount collected by him.
Persons against whom the poll tax
applies may work out the amount
due from them at the rate OF 81 per
day Of eight hours work.
1t Is made the duty Of each road
trustee, at least once annually, to
view every road in his district.
For the purpose Of better facilitat-
ing the work at hand and disposing
Of important questions or deciding
matters OF litigation the board Of
trustees is authorized To call meet
ings OF the qualified electors Of the
district. Intact, all matters that the
board does not feel competent to dis
pose Ui they can submit to a special
meeting OF the electors known as
district assemblies"
Even in such matters as the con-
struction ofudditional roads, repairs
or the purchase OF implements for
rond building the board il given
authority To cull II special meeting,
although they have powerto dispose
vi such matters without consulting
the electors.
The new bill provides that con
tracts shall be let to the lowest bid
der, but preferences shall be given To
residents Of districts In which the i'm
prOyements are contemplated.
Special road taxes may only be
raised after a favorable vote Of the
electors Of the district. The county
commissioners ure required to make
the levy when the tax budget is
made up.
Trustees must neither be interested
in any contract or receive any gift at
the hands of any machinery agent.
Violation Of this provision il punish
able by II fine and imprisonment.
The law, ii ii passes both houses
and is signed, does not go into effect
until March, 1902.
\ careful scanning OF the bill would
Indicate that the author or authors
have left nothing tuchance and every
detail OF putting the bill in force and
making it effective seems to have
been taken care of.