Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1903-08-14
VOLUME XLIIL-NUMBER 80.
OUR PUBLIC THOROUGHFARES.
Some Provisions of the New Road Law Which
Goes Into Effect the First Monday
in Next January.
By BYRON MILLETT.

of twenty and fifty years outside of
any incorporated city, or town, unless
by law exempt, shall each pay an an
nual poll tax of two dollars in money
on the 1st day of March in each year,
which shall be paid into the district
road and bridge fund where collected.
1t is significant that neither the word
resident nor citizen is used. 1t takes
in everybody who may happen to be
in the district at that time. This tax
cannot be liquidated by work, as here
tofore; the cash must be forthcoming
1t will be further observed that the
matter of exemptions is of slight i'm
portance, as the exemptions provided
by law in the country districts are few.
Section 2 provides that the Commits
sioners shall annually authorize the
collection of such tax at the above
date.
Section 3 authorizes and directs
any person, firm, corporation or COM
pany, to furnish list of his, their, or
its employees to the collector, who
may come within the purview of this
law. and that the money shall be paid
to the collector, which shall be de-
Quoted from the wages of the EN-.
ployes. That is good provision for
employers OF labor owning, or leasing,
mills and plants, who may want high.
ways improved in their respective 10.
calities for their benefit, at the ex.
pense of their laborers.
Section 4 makes provision for the
manner Of collection, giving numerous
remedies.
Section makes the poll taxes of
the delinquents liens upon their per-
sonal and real estate, and provides
that the County Auditor shall extend
the same on the tax rolls against such
property.
Section 6 provides that all remedies
for collection shall be concurrent.
Section directs the board OF County
Commissioners at the regular session
next before the tax levy for 1903, from
the territory outside of cities and in
corporated towns to divide the county
into road districts, not exceeding four.
Section 8 provides that the board o,
Com missioners shall make an annual
levy OF not more than four mills on
the dollar valuation, payable in money
for the purposes Of the general road
and bridge fund, which shall be ex.
pended for the construction, repair
and improvement of roads and bridges
in the county as the board may direct
Section 9 authorizes a special levy
for like purposes, not exceeding ten
mills, to be collected and expended in
the districts where levied.
Section 10 provides for the extension
Of such levies on the tax rolls.
Section IL makes provision that the
County Treasurer shall collect all such
taxes appearing on the rolls and credit
the proper funds.
Section IL empowers the county
board to appoint q Supervisor in each
district for such time - it may name,
his compensation not to exceed four
dollars per day; that the board has
the power to remove supervisors at
will.
It will be seen that Sections and
IL centralizes . great deal of power in
the Commissioners: that a great re-
sponsibility is placed upon that body,
which is likely to be embarrassing at
times, as there are apt to arise many
conflicting interests to subserve and
harmonic.
1t will surprise us, if we do not hear
severe criticisms passed against the
Commissioners, when they shall come
to enforce the provisions of that law.
no matter how much care they may
use in designating the districts, col.
lecting and appropriating the money,
lastly, but not least by any manner OF
means.
Regarding the matter of selection
OF the supervisors: then We shall hear
complaints, ordinations and recrimi-
nations. 1t behooves the Board to
get the best light it can as to their
Unpleasant duties in the premises, ask
the earnest cooperation of all we'll
disposed citizens whose interest may
be at stake, then act with caution.
Now is the accepted time to prepare
for the work at hand.
In the opinion OF the writer, it is
an unwise law to deprive the voters OF
the power to select their own officials
it is both undemocratic and unrepub.
lican, and will cause much dissatisfac.
tion in the agricultural districts
throughout the State, as we'll as
among wage.earners, who have been
, accustomed to work out their road and