Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1903-06-10


purposes, when authorized by ma
jority of three.fifths OF all the voters
voting upon the question OF confer
ring such authority.
A grave doubt exists Of the right
of the Court to issue bonds on behalf
of any district for road purposes
even if a majority of three fifths Of
the voters of such district should
vote to confer that authority. With
such doubt existing the bonds
could not be sold. Doubtless the
legislature could authorize such
bonds. binding the property OF the
district, but apparently it has never
conferred such authority for public
road purposes, though it has done
so as to railroads. 1t therefore
would seem that the only practicable
plan for improving the roads OF the
County is by the County and dis
trict leyies, and by sale Of County
bonds.
Public opinion needs to be arous.
ed, stimulated and directed to the
necessity of good roads. the best
way to make them, and the easiest
and most economical way of pro.
yiding the money. The Court will
be powerless unless aided by public
opinion, and backed by the necessary
popular vote. Each citizen should
try to inform himself upon all the
points involved. Each should APP.
proaeh the subject in a fair spirit of
inquiry, and not with eaptious
criticisms or objections.
The first good roads convention to
be held in this State will convene in
Morgantown, on the 10th and llth
of July. The Honorable Secre-
tary of Agriculture, or high off
Ger of the Department, Hon. Martin
Dodge, Director of Office of Bureau
of Public Roads Inquiry, will be the
official representative of the United
States, the Hon. Walter p Brown
low, patron of the bill pending ia
Congress proposing to grant Nation
al aid in money and supervision,
Hon. Geo. A, Pearre, member of
Congress from Maryland, and an
alnmnus of the University, Capt. B.
B. Doyenor. Hon A. G. Dayton, and
others with the experts in the en-
ployment of the bureau of gosd
roads. with representatives who have
been invited from every County, will
be present. 1t is expected that
Governor White will participate,
although no official acceptance has
been received to the invitation ex
tended to him. On the second day
an opportunity to inspect the meth
DDS of work will be given on the
road now building between Morgan
town and Granville. The Committee
urge the attendance of as many of
the citizens of the County as can
find it possible to be present
At this convention, the manner OF
raising the money needed for the
work of making good roads will con
stitute one Of the questions to he
discussed.
The right of the voters of the City
of Morgantown to vote upon the
question of County bond issue for
road purposes has been considered
by this committee, and it is of opin-
ion that they have the right to Sc
vote, and If the bonds should be
issued in pursuance of such a vote,
the taxaple pro- erty within the City
would be subject to equal taxation
with other parts of the County &C
help pay for the bonds, and the in.
terest thereon. On the other hand
the City would not be liable to pay
any part of any District Road tax
so long as it keeps its own streets in
repair.
In conclusion, the Committee
recommends that the Court be re
quested, shortly after the good-roads
Convention shall have adjourned
and the practical results Of the new
road now building can have been
inspected, to submit the question oil
issuing County bonds fer the par-
pose OF raising fund to be expend-
ed in improving the public roads OF
the County. to a vote of the qualified
voters of the County, and for such
additional authority, if any, as may
be necessary to carry out general
plan for improving the roads of the
County.
BY submitting the question to the
voters, the responsibility will be
placed where it belongs. 1t will
provoke discussion and if defects
exist in the plans, or in tie laws,
they can be corrected. 1t is always
safe to trust the people, especially
in all matters that touch them at sc
many points as do the highways OF
their local commerce and inter
course.
This report was submitted by Mr.
Sturgiss as chairman of the Com
mittee composed of one member from
each Magisterial District.
Hon. Geo. c. Sturgiss made d
strong speech in favor Of these reso-
lutions. Chas. A. Goodwin moved
their adoption. Deputy Sheriff Wat,
son, who acted as chairman, put the
motion, which was carried without
dissenting voice.
w. O. Eldridge. the II s Govern.
Il Il