The leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1895-1905, 1904-10-01

Editor Brookhaven Leader.:

paper for two reasons:
First, / learn that I have been
suspected Of being the author of
the article appearing ID The Lead
er of Sept. 21st.. taking the Board
lof Supervisors to task. While /
have no kicking to do, and do not
condemn the article, ] did not
write il. am sure that the men
who make no mistakes are alldead
and there will never be another
crop raised on terrasfirma. 4 am
equally sure that there have been
some very great mistakes made in
this road contract experiment and
lit seems to grow worse. ] have
some experience as a public SER
want aud know how hard it is to
please the people, though it is
never a hald task to find people
who know better what to do with
difficult matters, than the man
who has the responsibility and
where there is no legal or moral
obligation. Kicking is a privi-
lege. / don't think our Board of
Supervisors have done the fairest
Thing; but very probably they
did the best thing under the cir
Ecumstances.
My second reason for writing
! this article is to air my objections
to the manner in which the COM
mutation tax in lieu of the eight
Idays special road service on the
lpubIic road under the contractor
is collected, and to the employing
Ia Road and Bridge commissioner,
which | understand, will terminate
with the present road era. Ac-
cording to the action Of the Board
of Supervisors | have never
thought that such commissioner
was necessary to the better work
ing of the roads.
There is too much machinery to
keep up. Let the Supervisors,
each member in his own district,
exercise general supervision over
the public highways at salary of
$4,000 per annum as provided in
section 3, chapter 119, acts 1900,
and let the county assessor list the
hands, under oath for his one
cent each Communication tax assess
ment as provided by section IL, of
Esaid chapter, and then let the tax
collector take up the Communication
money as other taxes. / do not
commend the efforts of the con-
tractors to give US good roads for
/ do not believe they have done
their best; but there are facts
which cut both ways; for instance,
Smith & Son contracts to put the
roads up to certain plans and
specifications and keep them so,
for one half the Communication tax
and one half of the one mill adva-
loren tax less one half the COM
missioner's salary, supposing that
| the tax would be collected in full;
| but owing to the imperfect man
ner of listing the hands, and col
| lecting the Communication tax / dare
say they have sustained great loss,
for which there is not much kick
ling.
| | suppose every one has done
| his best in the manner adopted
to accomplish the end; and while
those engaged to collect have done
the best they could to do so, many
have done the best they could to
i beat the tax and have succeeded
nightly. Why, yes; just let a
man get behind one year and ask
| him for the delinquent amount and
he will cuss the bad road to your
face and no telling who when he
| is to your back; but it makes a
fellow madden still when he has
paid his $500 for bad roads and
has his receipt, to show him his
name on delinquent list, and
this occurs often in my expe-
rience, when it should never oc-
cur, and but for the imperfect
manner in listing it would seldom
occur. Call man Dick Smith in
carelessly listing and when he
pays his tax he gives his name r.
A. Smith, and many other defects
/ but / wanted to mention this:
Individually, hold that no man
is delinquent for his commutation
tax, until the LIST of September in
each year and can not lawfully be
proceeded against as guilty of a
misdemeanor, for the reason the
law requires eight days. special
work service of every male per-
son (not exempt) and be has a
perfect right to perform that ser
vice under the contractor at any
time prior to Sept. st, each year,
or in lieu thereof, he may pay
$500 and commute his time, but
refusing or neglecting to do the
work or pay the money by the LIST
of Sept. he is guilty Of a misde-
meanor and must be proceeded
against. For this position | refer
to sections 6 and I, chapter l19;
acts 1900. Now we ought to re.
duce this thing to certainty and
. stop this fussing. So mote it be.
CONWAY.
The stomach is the Man.