The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1907-04-19

some measure of relief might be
enacted into law before the Wor-
ries of the political campaign of
1908 shall be upon us. Is the con
temporary quite so sanguine that
the commission is going to pro
pose remedy that will find such
ready acceptance and endorse
ment by the legislature?
And this question NAV be
asked without the least sugges-
ton of intent to prejudice pub
lie opinion as to the probable
product of this commissions lab
ors. Indeed, it is not too much
to say that it might even be ask
ed in the interest of the commits
sion itself, by way of quietly pre-
pairing the public not to expect
so much of it's report that it will
be disappointed.
There are some able men on
that commission and they are ac-
tuated by a high-minded desire
to serve the state. They will be
industrious and they will be
faithful and all that-but they
will be human. And, being hui
man, they will never be able to
bring in a tax law that will make
it unnecessary for people to pay
taxes.
This ought to be taken into
consideration before the popular
hope of panacea gets raised too
high.
And there is something beside
sarcasm in this sentiment, too.
There never was a tax law that
pleased everybody and there new
er will be one just so long as
men have to 90 down into their
pockets and pay out money in
taxes under any or all of them.
1t is this latent but persistent
touch of the pocketbook that
makes it so hard to find any i'm
prOvement in the statute that
can command sufficient popular
approval to be adopted.
montpelier Journal.)
That this country is taking ac-
tive interest in the good roads
movement here at home IS mani
fest both by the large number of
town road commissioners present
at the meeting held on Tuesday
(only one being ABSENT and by
the money raised by the various
towns this year for roads. Ac-
cording to an act by the last leg
islature the state appropriated
$4,000 to be distributed in the
various towns, the town getting
as much again up to $500 as it
appropriated itself, this to be
spent on main roads Franklin
county stands first in the record,
every town in the country having
taken advantage of the states of
fer with one exception. Washing
ton county stands next.
This state appropriation has
evidently instilled new hope and
interest in the roads which mean
so much to the prosperity of the
towns, county and state. Com
missioner Gates is also to be com
mended for the manner in which
he is recommending the eXpendi
ture of this money. He realizes
that macadam is the best kind of
road but knows that the benefit
of such highways cannot be dis
tributed in the places which absO- )
lutely cannot afford the necessary -,
funds and he is making an effort /!
to suit the kind of road to the
of the locality and the :
possibilities of it's pOcketbOOk. :
This new interest which has =
sprung up on the good roads ques- e
ion is right in line with the :,
greater Vermont idea and in time :.
will show material results. Prop +
,rly expended the money raised =
~ the towns and appropriated 4
~ the state this year ought to :,
make a material Improvement in -
he states roads which will be !,
)erceptible to visitors and Yer =
nonters themselves. AutOmo- -
lilies are becoming more numer -,
JUS every year and this means -
hat many will spend their vaca- :"
ions in travel through countries -
which have the scenery. Vermont y
as this scenery and with good y
Dads ought to draw its rightful y,
of visitors who bring ~
realth within our borders. The -
reat cry in the cities in summer u
) for the country and if the cOun- ~
ry is accessible to automobiles, -
{ the roads are even enough to -
lake driving by team pleasurable 90
'ermOnt will surely get her share q
f visitors looking for the cOun- 7,
ry in all its quiet and beauty. =
Wilmington Times.)
In another column will be found
eprinted from the Swanton COur- !
II a communication from a gen &
eman who wants to know why {