The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1906-01-10
NEW ROAD LAW.
Supervising and Caring for Highways
Will Be ReyOlutiOniZed.

1t is perhaps not generally known that
a new road law, which was approved by
the Governor April H. 1905, becomes eff
fective this spring, that will completely
reyolutionize the method of selecting
road supervisors, the levying and col
lecting of taxes, repairing and maintain
ing OF roads, etc., in every township in
the county.
The new law provides for the election
on the third Tuesday of February, A. d.
1906, of three Supervisors; one for one
year, one for two years and one for three
years and annually thereafter, one for
three years. Supervisors shall meet the
first Monday of March, 1906, and yearly
thereafter. They shall be sworn and then
organize rs board by the election of one
of their number as chairman and one as
secretary, and shall appoint treasurer
who shall not be member of the board;
they shall levy road tax not exceeding
ten mills. This tax may be worked out
as now, or it may under certain condi-
tions be made payable in cash. These
conditions are that the voters of the
township at any February election by a
majority vote adopt the system of paying
taxes in cash. Such election may be au-
thorized by the Court OF Quarter Sessions
by petition of at least twenty-five of any
township. Thirty days notice of such
election shall be given. If township
shall by vote abolish the work tax and
substitute the cash tax such township
shall annually receive from the State
fifteen per centum of the amount ex-
pended upon the roads by said township
for the preceding year.
The Board of Supervisors shall divide
the township into road districts of not
less than five miles in each district; the
number and size of the districts, subject
to the Limitation above referred to, is dis
cretionary with the Board. They shall
employ roadmaster in each district,
whose duty it shall be to work upon the
roads himself, oversee the men employed,
keep the time of the employees and report
to the Board ofSupervisors. The Super
visors fix the wages of the roadmaster
and the wages to be paid to laborers;
they employ both laborers and roadmas-
ter, purchase all tools, machinery and
make all contracts for the township. They
meet once month, keep minutes, which
shall be subject to inspection by taxpay-
ers at any reasonable time, and generally
do all business for the township. They
receive no compensation. but may be al
lowed necessary expenses, including
office rent, stationery, light and fuel to
be paid out of township funds.
Vacancies in the off ce of Supervisor
are filled by appointment by the Court OF
Quarter Sessions. Supervisors may not
be interested either directly or indirectly
in any work done, purchase made or
contract relating to roads or bridges or
furnish any materials to the township.
A violation of these provisions is made a
misdemespor punishable by not more
than five hundred dollars fine or six
months Imprisonment. Two Supervisors
shall constitute a quorum for the tran
sactiou of business.
The treasurer elected by the Board o.
Supervisors is the collector of road taxes
duplicate is issued to him by the Su-
pervisors. Within ten days after receiv-
ing the duplicate he shall give written
notice to all taxable persons of the
amount assessed against them. Any tax
payer paying his tax before June first o.
each year shall be entitled to an abate
ment of FIVE per cent. On all road taxes
paid between June first and November
first of each year the taxpayer shall pay
the full amount of tax levied. On all
paid after November first an additional
five per cent. shall be collected. On No.
vember first in each year the treasurer
shall make a list of delinquent taxpayers
with the amount due from each and de.
liver the same to the tax collector of the
township who shall Immediately proceed
to collect the same. The treasurer shall
receive for his services such compensa.
ton as the road supervisors shall pre-.
scribe, not exceeding two per centum Of
the moneys received and disbursed. The
funds of the township shall be paid out
by the treasurer only on the written or.
der of the township Supervisors, signed
by the chairman and attested by the Sec
retary thereof.
Referring to the foregoing provisions OF
the law, A. M. Woodward, former dis
trict attorney of Clearfield county, says:
"The changes made in the system, as
will be seen are radical. The District
Treasurer Act is affected and the District
Treasurer will no longer be the custodian
of the road funds. The Collector of Taxes
is affected. He will hereafter, as to road
taxes, be the collector of delinquent taxes
only. 1t seems, also, that the Town Clerk
is affected, as his duties will be performed
by the Secretary of the Board of Super
visors. Those townships desiring to vote
at the coming February election upon the
question of cash or work tax should take
steps to have such election ordered by
the Court, as TO make such election valid
it must be advertised thirty days preced-
ing the election"
A jamaican Lady Speaks Highly of Cham-
berlain's Cough Remedy.
Mrs. Michael Hart, wife of the super