The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1907-03-15
THE ROAD
QUESTION
AN INTERESTING DISCUSSION or
THIS MOST IMPORTANT
QUESTION.
Many Men of Many Minds Undertake
TO Tell Their Legislative Rep
resentatiVes What They
Want Done.

The meeting called by Senator
Greenlaw and Representatives Lip
scomb and Galloway to hear discus
sion of the road system in Maury, in
conjunction with the Work House sys-
tenn, was we'll attended Friday, and
lengthy and not embarrassing dis
cussion followed, out of which the leg
islators are expected to evolve law
for the general good"
! Senator Greenlaw and Representa-
tives Lipscomb and Galloway occupied
the judges stand. and on motion OF
Mr.. Galloway Mr.. Greenlaw was made
chairman of the meeting.
Senator Greenlaw stated that quite
number of citizens seemed to be
greatly interested in the road ques-
ton. and that he and his associates
in the legislature had been approach
ed with so many and such varied sdg-
gestions, that they had concluded to
call a meeting and give every one
chance to present his view on this
very important matter. Speaking for
himself and the other two represen-
tatives as well, he assured the citl-
zens present that the representatives
had no pet scheme of their own; no
private axes to grind; no political
debts to pay but as public servants
were anxious to hear advice that they
might act intelligently for the best IN
terests of all the people. 1t had been
suggested. he said, that the present
Work House system be abandoned,
and the present road law system be
amended. They were there to dis
cuss these measures, and not to dis
cuss men. and he hoped the speak
ers would confine themselves to the
real question. We cannot expect
whatever we do, to please everybody,
hut we want to do the best we can for
the interest of everybody. Maury
county he thought, ought to have
good roads. II was able to have good
roads; and money judiciously spent in
the building of roads, was money Wen
spent. He was opposed to any ex-
Ltrayagance: but Maury county could
afford a higher county tax rate than 1t
had. if it needed the money; for Maury
countys county tax was only $l.o9 on
the hundred, and there was only about
half dozen counties in the state WITH
less tax, whereas some of the coun-
ties paid county tax of ST. But that
is matter for this meeting to deter
mine he said and ] now throw the
meeting omen for full, free and fair
discussion of the question.
Esquire James A. Sanders was cali
ed for Every man in Maury
county, he said, wants good roads and
better roads, but the average citizen
wants the other fellow to pay for 1t.
To levy special road tax, and make
It high enough, was the only feasible
way, he thought He did not favor
the present system, nor was he in ia
yor of going back TO the old system
BY the present system, he said, 20
per cent. of the money appropriated
for the building of new roads is vast
ed. simply because the men employed
to do the work were inexperienced
and didn't know how. But to return
to the old system was even worse, as
It would virtually stop road building
in the county.
What is your remedy for these
evils?" asked Senator Greenlaw.
MY remedy would be for the legis-
lature to authorize the appointment
of Road Commission, and to fix the
minimum tax at 20 cents, and to make
il high treason and misdemeanor in
office for the Commissioners to APP
point any sub-commissioners or road
builders who are incompetent OF In
experienced, and who will waste 70
ner cent. of the money by doing their
work wrong"
Squire J. w. c. Church said he de-
sired to be heard upon the md'VeA'
This business was in a pitiful condi-
ton. he said; the money appropriate
ed for the roads has not gone where
Il was intended to go. The County
Judge and the district commissioners.
or at least some of them, he charged,
had builded roads for themselves,
} leading to their own property. In
these days Of graft he was opposed to
giving men autocratic power; power
10 improve their own property with
: the public money. Elect me County
Judge" he said, and in ten years l
can be one of the richest men in this
county. by buying farms and building