Danville intelligencer. [volume] (Danville, Pa.) 1859-1907, 1906-01-05
State Gives Pointers.

State Highway Commissioner Joseph
w. Hunter has issued bulletin sum-
marizing the features of the new law
governing the election of road super
visors in townships.
The salient points, to which atten-
tion is called, are:
Beginningawith the February cleo
tion, 1905, every township of the sec
ond class in the State must elect three
supervisors. In any township which
now has three supervisors, or other
officers having charge of roads, elected
under existing laws, no new election
shall be required, except us the terms
of these officers expire.
The Board of Supervisors of each
township is required to organize on
the first Monday of March. One of
their number is chosen chairman and
another secretary. The treasurer must
not be member of the board.
The board is required to meet at least
once month, two constituting a
quorum.
The supervisors receive no compensa
tion for their services, but actual ex-
penses are to be paid. The treasurer
receives compensation not to exceed
per centum of the money handled by
him. The secretary of the board may
receive payment for the work per-
formed by him as secretary
The board has authority to levy a
tax rate not greater than 10 mills; the
levying of an additional 10 mills being
authorized by an order from the Court
of Quarter Sessions. In addition to the
regular levy, the board must assess 81
upon every taxable person.
Upon a petition from at least twenty
five taxpayers, the Court of Quarter
sessions shall authorize a special cleo
tion to be held at the time of the Feb
ruary election, when the question of
abolishing the work tax shall be decid-
ed by majority vote of the electors.
A township which thus abolishes the
work tax is entitled to receive from
the State a sum in cash equal to Ii
per centum of the actual amount OF
cash tax collected by the township.
Each board is required to divide its
township into districts of not less
than five miles each, but there is moth
ing to prohibit the dividing of the
township into districts having more
than five miles each, or one district OF
the whole township. A roadmasteI
must be employed for each district.
Roadmasters are required to work up
on the roads themselves, to oversee
men empl Dyed and to carry into effect
the instructions of the Board of Super
visors No member of the Board OF
Supervisors can be employed as road
master
The board, may, if it deems advis-
able, make contract with any citizen
of the township for keeping in repair
of not more than three miles of road.
On all road taxes paid before June
an abatement OF per centum Is made.
The full amount is required to be paid
on all taxes paid between June 1 and
November /. After November l5 pc,
centum in penalty is added.
The board is authorized to purchase
any material, tools or machinery neces-
sary for making and repairing roads. A
township can join with one or more
adjoining townships or boroughs in
joint ownership of machinery.
Full records must be kept by the
board of its proceedings and audited
by the township auditors, and an an
nual report is required to be made tc
the State Highway Commissioner OIL
or before March 10 in each year.