Times-promoter. (Hernando, DeSoto County, Miss.) 1898-1970, 1905-06-16
WHO MUST APPLY THE REMEDY?
Nesbitt Citizens Register Another Wsor-
Gus Protest Against Road Conditions.

| Editor Times-Promoter.
County Attorney Dabney's lei
ter in the last weeks issue O.
your paper leads.us to the con
cluslon that our worthy board 0.
supervisors are up against a hare
job-the working of the roads un
der the contract system-anc
want the people to appear before
them and point out defects IN the
manner of working our roads
designate the roads that have
been neglected, report delinquen
cies on the part of any contractors
etc.
We hardly think this procedure
would end in any practical result.
Should the people appear before
the board for this purpose there
would at once be manifested a
difference of opinion among them
as to methods, and as to the con.
dition of the roads. One man,
who happens to live on one of the
first class we'll worked roads lead
ing to fernando, would assert the
roads were never in II better con.
dition; another, living on road
leading from Pleasant Hill to AL.
den Station, and on to Days and
to Wall Station, would, with all
the vehemence of his nature, as
sert, that they were never so
bad. Neither could they change
nor cancel existing contracts, nor
order special work where needed.
They could do nothing of practi-
cal worth.
The business lies entirely in the
hands and management of the
board, and there it will remain.
The contracts have been enter
cd into, satisfactory bonds given
by the contractors, and it de-
wolves upon the supervisors alone
to see that the contracts are fully
satisfied and the roads worked.
The people elected them, think
ing they possessed the practical
knowledge, the energy and exec
utive ability-wlth Che assistance
ofan astube lawyer az their com
mand-commensurate with the
requirements Of the contract sys-
tenn of working roads.
They confirmed the people in
this belief when they refused the
aid of a road commissioners and
assumed the duties of his posi-
ton, getting for this assumption
of extra service an addition of $50
to each Of their yearly salaries.
The road law (Sec. 3 provides
that "The supervisor of each dis
trict in each county is to- have
general supervision over the pub
lie highways of his district for
which service he is to have a sal
ary of $50 per annum, if a road
commissioner is employed" Ii
no road commissioner be employ
ed then he is to receive $50 per
for this extra service.
Now if he, faithful to bis public
trust, attend to this all-important
duty OF general supervision Of the
roads IN his district, will be not
see for himself what roads and
bridges therein are out Of repair?
Need the taxpayers go to Her
nando, to the neglect of their pri-
vate affairs, to designate to the
faithful, wlde-awake supervisor
the roads in his district needing
special and immediate repair, or
to report to him "any neglect on
the part of any contractor Say
all else you can in praise of the
average supervisor but don t for
get to mention the fact that, being
generally from the country, he
Knows a bad road when he strikes
t, and can lay his hand on the
contractor.
The board, speaking through
he county attorney, specifies the
in nu N b r--b y
which to force contractors to a
nore faithful performance of
Iuty, and thus secure better roads.
These we have no doubt are the
egal remedies. We differ only
$ to who shall apply them. The
'oard, as we understand their
made through the coun.
Y attorney, call upon the taxpay-
rs or private citizens to name
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