Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1906-08-30
MIR. Howard Answers MIR. Brooks.
Mr.. V. Il. Brooks.

All honest men court publicity and are
not afraid of criticism, and as try to be
honest | am very much Obliged for your
open criticism of the new road law, and |
partially appreciate your manly and open
spirit in signing your name to the
article
When bill is up for second reading
in the Legislature each paragraph Is
voted on separately, and then all the sep
arate items that are agreed to are put in
to the whole bill and are voted upon as
one whole bill at third reading; and you
must admit there is so mnch good in
the new road law that you would not vote
to kill the whole bill because you did not
like one clause in it, as all such clauses
can be amended at the next Legislature
Really | did not notice this parti-
cular dollar clause in the road bill, and
did not know that it would tax poor
widow dollar road tax and am willing
to vote to change it next year. | also
think it was a mistake not to allow the
road supervisors any pay and will vote
that they be paid REGULAR fixed amount
each year.
This bill did not have a single vote
against it and was voted by all the demo-
cratic members who were present at the
time.
The following copy of the speech on
this bill of the democratic leader who is
now the democratic candidate for State
Auditor General exnlains itself
Mr.. Greasy said: II would like to call
the attention of the House to the bill that
is up for final passage. The bill repre-
sents great deal of work on the part of
the Road Committee And | would like
to call attention to the changes we have
made. This bill is practically a bill Of
evolution. This bill has been before the
House for at least fifteen years and we
think we have fixed it in such manner
that it will suit the agricultural interests
of the State. 1t gives very wide lati-
tude. 1t provides for the election of
three township supervisors to act in
capacity somewhat similar to school
board. They are to have no pay. The
object of not paying them is for the pur-
pose of getting better men, men who are
not looking after the pecuniary end of
the position, and men who will accept the
position for the best interests of the town
ship. 1t provides further that any town
ship may by majority vote of the elect
ors thereof at the February municipal
election after thirty days prior notice
thereof change the system of taxation,
There is also a proviso in the bill
copied from the old law in section two
which says: Provided, That before is
suing the duplicate and warrant for the
collection of road taxes it shall be the
duty of the board Of supervisors Of every
township that has not abolished the work
tax to give notice to all persons rated for
such taxes, by advertisement or other
wise to a lend at such times aud places as
such super isors may direct 50 as to give
s0ch persons full opportunity to work out
their respective taxes.
This is copied exactly from the old law,
50 it will not require many changes for
those who wish to continue the work
tax. In addition to this we have had a
feature copied from the New York State
law that wherever a township abolished
the work tax the State shall put up fift-
teen per centum Of the amount of road
tax collected in said township. The State
of New York puts up fifty per centom
for every dollar collected, aud in the last
fiscal year in New lork there was paid
out something like 1896, 600. But even
If this does become law there will be
money taken from the State Treasury be-
fore 1907, because this matter must be
voted on at the general election in 1906
and returns must be returned not later
than March 9th, 1907, so that no money
can be taken from the State Treasury be.
fore the meeting Of the next Legislature
and in my opinion, looking as the work.
iugs of the law in the State of New Y ork
the first year the amount required by the
State Treasury viii be very small
amount. AS | said, in section seveu we
have taken out the pay of these read
commissioners, and | think that is oae of
the strongest features Of this bill, because
we want the roads Of the State of Penn
sylvania under system and this fifteen
per centum that is appropriated by the
State. 1t the system works well have
no doubt the appreciation will be increas
ep from time to time. following the ex
ample of the State Of New York. s.
tar as | have heard from the country
members, from the taxpayers, I have
heard no objection to this bill, and |
think it should receive the support OF
every member of this House"
Respectfully Yours,
JOSIAH Howard.
WANTED:-At once, two girls to worl