The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1909-08-20
OPPOSES BOND ISSUE.
DR.. G. A. Settler Suggests Change
ia Our Method Of County Gov
ernment.
Editor Herald and News:

Editor Herald and News:
I am somewhat amused IN reading
the discussions in the papers pro
and con" in regard to good roads and
the management of the county affairs
II the reply Of "Countryman" to
John H. Wicker's article [ fail to
find any argument to eontrovert the
questions asked by Mr.. J. II. Wicker,
unless it be the action Of the Georgia
legislature in releasing the eonvlcts
from the penitentiary and putting
them on the roads, which is merely an
experiment to be tested whether 1t
will prove better or not. agree with
J. H. Wicker that the convicts are
not worked as hard as they ought to
be. IF so. why do they continue to
commit crime? Are they not SEN
tenced to "hard labor?" So far as
nv observation extends they are not
REQUIRED to work any harder than the
ordinary farm hands. In regard to
the shackles. how long would the
ove-seer be able to keep them on the
roads without them? They are a ne
cessitv. As to the convict that was so
cruelty whipped that he died, II
this were true why was it not report
ed to the court for redress? So far
as 7 can remember, there has been but
one instance Of cruelty to convlets
brought to the attention of the court,
and in that case the court decided IN
favor Of the defendant.
II regard to expensive road ma
chinery, Mr.. Editor, would be glad
if YOU would tell US what has become
of the engine, rock crusher, and other
road machinery bought some years
AGO, and how many roads have been
worked with it? The only place L
remember seeing it at work was on
the road leading into town opposite
Spells.
As to expenditures, I would say
that some went towards putting steel
bridges over important streams,
which I believe was wisely expended.
I differ with J. H. Wicker in the
idea Of buying more mules. l believe
that four good mules are all that are
needed for the chain gang. But do
agree with him in regard to the utility
of having serapes.
I will now give my opinion OF
wha. is essential to the having OF
GOOD roads. will say there should be
a change in the law. Instead Of hav-
inc one Supervisor aud two commits
sioners have eleven township commls-
sioners-one IN each townshlp-elec-
ted by the voters Of that township
and e:cI! commissioner to have the
chain gang under his jurisdiction for
one month, with full authority to
compel the overseers to work the
roads w:::en ordered to do so.
Now, I shall try to point out some
Of the advantages that would obtain
IN having eleven men instead OF one,
with two sub-commissioners. And IN
this connection. I would like to ask
of what coed are the "subs, any
how? I hear that the one that IS
supposed TO look after the roads
in Nos. 10 and II townships
has been but once over the most I'M
por-ant road leading into Pomarla,
and there are few roads in the county
that are travelled any more than this
road. But [ cannot censure him
much, az I hear that he stuck fast IN
a mud hole. and had great difficulty
in getting out. However, he again ap-
pointed the same oyerseer tor this
road and he hasn't worked the road
vet. Now. if we had a township COM
missioner. who would have been re-
snoosible TO the voters Of the town
ship, and not to the voters OF the
lh,nh,1le county. would not our road
= heau worked? I feel sure It
I'D and would never have gotten
Sae condition it was.
Another advantage to be obtained
@ rom this arrangement is. the com
missioner could easily 90 over and
Finsnsct ali the roads under his jurls-
I.