The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1909-02-18
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Crescent Clly .Feb.io 9 Editor Lead.
er L is gratifying to see the in-
terest that IN being takafi IN the
subject Of good rouds by al classes
Of our citizens. by members OF the
leelsatHre 1pd even by our state
and oelAig officials AND since, It
strdng public sentiment demands rs
thc condition OF the highways makes
It necessary and many Of our repre-
sentativcs made their campaigns on
this issue. solcmnly promising their
constituents that II elected they
would do their utmost to biting it
about. believe that The time r. ripe
for the enactment OF modefn high
way laws that are suited to Oklaho
ma conditions and needs, and that
VIII result In q systematic and con.
ginuous roa,l building policy. But OK
lahoma X & state OF widely varying
conditions OF soil, valuations, density
Of population and natural resources;
aud the framing OF laws providing
for working and caring for the roads
III ali sections OF the state VIII likcly
prove to be q more difficult problem
tnnn many suppose Il TO be. e Is
very evident that no one cr the same
administrative system can De made
applicable 10 az parts Of the state,
for even n Oklahoma. n territorial
days, the syetem now IN vogue work.
ed well Ia sclae place, but was q
nisat and a dismal failure IA nlny
others. ! believe that genera aigh
way law should be broad enough or
castle enough 60 admit Of the adop-
ton, by any county. OF any one Of
b nrmhe. S well Enow,i sysseme.
suited Il tllS conditions axlstiag m
such county. believe that any coun'
ty. CIR even any township, should be
/ given the authority 10 vote bonds for
4 tho raising OK revenue with which 10
I Improve their roads. with the the poM
er to either contract for their con.
structioa or hire lhe work done un.
der competent supervision. Also, any
county should BE glyen the option
ol collecting The poll tax N cash to
/ ba expended IN the township or lis
4 lrct In which the person paving the
I tax ilges. or Of utilizing the labor In
The payment Of the tax. fcr caring
for roads that have peen built OF for
/ use IN care Of uashouts or other rmef
7 getcles The poll tax Is paid n labor
T ID more saii6iGelory II utilized In an
/ emergency or maintenance syssem
than as an aid 70 primary tonstruc'
/ tlon fuad,
The constitution authorizes The los.
islature TO pravldc for the uiillza
( ton of convict and other primitive
labor IN the Improvement OF the high
ways. aud while there seems 70 exist
az tbc presenl time. some acuht as
10 the wisdom or safety Of entrrst-
4 ine any o. the state eOuvicta 20 cOnn-
( ty control or custody. I have never
scen able 10 learn, from those who
I cpp0so their rso ~ this wny why.
on IA shat Say q wolilG Be less safe
! or wise. than II thoy were coins iae
pame kind az work un0ef state con.
trcl The county lhit has oeen in
lured Ay tho taEmisaiol Of crime
and wh1e ananclal funds tave brea
lncrensod through the apprehension
+ tlit niOaftut1H On ih' NftAhih@e
ssnuid have tae Benefit 81 MS lahcf
/ while sccsins his sentence 4 this
can Ae doae without lniurne hts
hoasih and If hia reformation an'
restoration TO good citizenship caa
he promoted as we'll this WAY es n
aay other. The county prisoners
however should te put 70 werk up
an tlto reads resardless 0l what cia
position ID made 81 The sntes con
viota. ant provisions Hhaull De male
+ FH tha addition 10 this force f sues
PERSONS as mas eanianced to t. ireHH
1 cily police soars
There ara hundreds Of ahlp boiled
mon ia Che a0unly end city ialls q
ma STAGE Who are Haic. and erewlna
verso IA character fecause 0i suci
ldleacss. anil whose tiainlenance #
heayy burden upon taxpayers. wht
n ai work upon taa eoads hnllllnt
cuiverls aud reducing grades voult
not only be deriving heneat 70 then
sei8es ia healihy emplosmon bur
.heg would be ropayine the puhll'
lof Tho injury done II ;he commission
Of crime. respectfully
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