The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1903-03-12
THE HIGHWAYS AGAIN.

eOdulOIu . ICOOhb lOoPOSu-
ing the highways and town road adj
ministration would stir up comment,
particularly in the towns certain of
whose people deem themselves, in the
payment of the State highway tax,
the victims of a socialistic scheme for
raising ami distributing money for
highway improvement, as tho local
contemporary phrases it. Still the
'' socialistic," the communistic, "
argument-a cloak to cover a poverty
of other objections
The State and town administrations,
in respect of revenues and appropria-
tions, are honeycombed with socialism
and communism So is the national
administration. and the editors whose
great objection to the State road tax
is that it is socialistic" or "commu-
nistic" are themselves the greatest
sticklers for this sort of assistance for
other things. The important thing
in this particular instance of "social-
ism" is that the money be expended
in strict accordance with the purpose
for which it is raised; that purpose
is wise and good, and needs no defense.
Commissioner Sanford is enforcing
the expenditure of the State road tax
in accordance with this purpose, and
the newspapers can make his task
easier and his labor more effective
by publishing his recent article on
highway management and enforcing
it's precepts upon the communities in
which they circulate.
Some of the new difficulties under
which the commissioner labors are
beginning to develop. In the first
place, the decay of civic virtue in the
State which has been painfully APP
parent in the character and acts-and
more conspicuous in failures or re-
fuslls to act--of recent Legislatures,
was no more strikingly illustrated
than IN the enactments at the late
session affecting the highways. Com
missioner Sanford rightfully says that
what the towns need in respect of the
highways is better administration, not
more of it. But the law makers pro-
vided for more administration in the
foolish act permitting towns to elect
two road commissioners, and large
number of towns have chosen a two
headed commission.
How the Legislature further dis
credited the State commissioner ap-
p,,,.,f, ,1c1x bn Ian i,,cf Ia
lished, in the 'act to pay the town
of Belvidere $7S73, as balance of
State highway tax due the town and
not received from State treasurer. +"
false The State road tax of Belvidere
was $37.1 10. Its State apportionment
was 1857. The town expended of
this sum $79. l5-more than twice its
State tax-and got the money on the
approval of the State commissioner.
The remainder of the State apportion-
ment, S78.73, was not due the town,
it had not expended the money in
permanent road work, the commits
sioner did not allow the claim for
more than had been expended under
the law. but the Legislature went
back of the commissioner and allowed
false and UNJUST claim, and it has
been paid. Now, there are 60 other
towns which, like Belvidere, did not
receive the full amount of their appor-
tionments, and why should not these
towns, Also be paid their unexpended
balances? They are as clearly en-
titled to the money as was Belvidere.
And if the Legislature proposes to
step in and annul the acts of wise,
honest, and efficient official like Mr..
Sanford, what is the need OF having a
State highway commissioner?
The demand is for better roads, the
aim of the State law to assist the
towns in building such roads is wise
one entirely within the lawful power
of the State-a kind of communism"
which ought to be introduced, in other
directions, into State administration
Because some towns are stealing, OF
seeking to steal, money devoted to a
State-and the General Assembly is
aiding and abetting the crime-these
editors rise up and denounce the
law. The denunciation is misdirected
in the same kind and degree as some
part of the State road tax is misap-
propriated The remedy is publicity,
exposure of the abuse, support of the
commissioner whom the State has APP
pointed to superintend the eXpendi-
ture of the tax and who is faithfully
and stoutly doing his duty, under the
combined obstacles presented by few
towns who want the State pay with.
out the work, and-worse still--per-
nicious Legislative interference.
In the application of this remedy
the newspapers can have an important
part, and they ought to take the mat
ter vigorously in hand The season