The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1908-06-02
Meeting of Rural Letter Carriers
Association

viz ''"'t ltouSe May oO, l3uS, atN1
O'Clock II. m. Twenty carriers were
present. Minutes Of the last meeting
were read and approved.
II. +. Wicker and j. w. D. John
son made verbal report on the
meeting Of the last State conycn-
tion.
The report of the treasurer was read
land approved.
L. f.. Devore, w. G. Peterson and
1. +. Wicker were appointed COM
mlttce to see the senator and men,
bers of the house of representatives
and ask them to pass law making
"ll the roads travel "a by the rural
carriers public highways.
Il. {. Counts, II. f. Wicker and f.,
L. Dcvore were appointed a commit
tee to push the good roads move
mcnt.
The folloinw preamble and. resolu-
ton was read and adopted:
We, the rural letter carriers of
N"wbrrry county, do hereby declare
and dcn"unce the present road laws
complete failure. The conditions
OF the public roads in many places
IS Il dlScrcdlt to and reflection on our
sense OF progress as Il people.
The following are some of the rca-
sons why the roads arc in such a
lamcntablc condition:
FrSt-N1any persons subject to
road duty neither work the time re-
qulrcd by the law, neither do they
pay the communication tax.
Second When it is paid it is sell
dom put back on the road from which
IT Is collected as the law requires.
Thlrd-ln many cases only two or
three days are put upon the roads,
instead Of six.
Fourth--Thc roads are worked
when il is too wet to work anywhere
else.
tifth-Thc hands accomplish as
ht1!" rs possible. the only aim being
t" put in time.
SiNtll--tEc work done "ivcs evil
dcncc Of carclcSsncSS and incompc-
tcncc.
Scvcnth-Alany persons arc cx-
"mptcd for ,riiIin~ disabilities.
fl"hih--thr law requires one class
OF people. viz: the farmers, to keep
up the roads. while us Il matter Of
justice, since The roads are public
property and benefit either directly
or indirectly TO all classes of our peo-
pie. all classes should be required to
contribute to their support including
corporate interest.
For these and other reasons the
people have lost all respect for the
present road law
!hc effect has been confusing and
d"m"ralizinw. LaXncSs in the enforce
mcnt of the law has created in the
public mind Il doubt as to its validity.
The law has become laughing
stock. 1t is old and out Of date and
respect for ii and confidence in il can
never be restored. .
Wit hthc above facts before us
we feel that the desperation of the
ease demands attention. 1t is not
through choice we are a"itating this
question, if is because Of the ndif-
ference of other classes in the in
tcrcSt of GOOD roads that we UNDER
take the task. We have waited pa
tlrnt'y for road Improvement We
have quietly pointed out the bad
places and bad bridges ON our roads.
and requested that they be fixed. SO
as n"t |" "hsIruct the delivery Of the
mails "n schedule time: we have
begged for more strict Adminis'r.,
tlnn Of the law: we have at various
times pointed out the necessity for
better and more effective law.
We therefore recommend:
Fir$t-Thal the present road law
be rcpcaplcd in lis entirety.
Sccond--that fax of three mills
be levied on all taxable property.
Third---That all persons subject to
road duty shall be required to work
eight days upon the public roads or
pay a communication tax Of two dol
lars.
Foufth-That one Of the provi-
sions Of this law shall require the en-
ploymcnt Of hands to work daily
upon the roads the year round un-
der the direction Of ovcrsccrs employ
cd by the county.
Fiftll--Any persons taking the