The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1910-05-28
WHAT ARE THEY FOR
Wy E are being asked from vario
w quarters OF the county what t

N -
" quarters OF the county what the
Commissioners are proposing
to do this year in the matter OF the
public roads. We are. OF course, who'll
ly unable to answer that question. We
rather think, however, that they are
not proposing to do anything. In fact,
County Commissioners in this county
seem to be an entire superfluity at the
present time, and it would be hard for
anybody to tell what they do-except
to draw their salary. When that sal
airy was increased a few years ago, it
was increased ON the theory land with
the express provision in the law that
the Commissioners should give more
careful personal supervision to the
county roads. The people of the county
can judge, and are Judging, how nearly
the Commits sioners have come to liv-
ing up to that expectation. One of the
most fragrant examples has been in
connection with the Deshane system
of selling the roads which has been
pursued for several years. 1t was
hard to find anybody, except Deshane
ion OF the system; and the way it was
worked constituted one of the great
est outrages which was ever perpetrat-
ed on this county-a shameful and in
defensible wasting OF the peoples
money. The roads were supposed to
be sold" UNDER CERTAIN SPE-
CIFIC CONDITIONS. Such was the
pretense. As matter OF fact, no at
tempt was made to exact the condi
tons, but the peoples money was sim
ply handed over to the purchaser with
out any pretence OF work done or
value received We are prepared to
make oath that men in this county
have been paid in full for their bids
on sections OF county roads, who have
never touched those roads. There are
plenty oi other reputable citizens pre-
pared to make the same avermcnt.
Yet the Commissioners have passed
and paid these bills, in spite OF the TACT
that they are paid $1,000 apiece per
year to supervise this work-to see
that it is done and properly done. be-
fore it is accepted and paid for. This
is a sample of how valuable our high
priced Commissioners have been to
the county. Another sample was fur-
nishcd last winter, when the roads
were blockaoei with Snow--but we
shall not rehearse that story wherein
the Commissioners did not show up as
even good SIZED citizens. much less ~
vigorous and responsible public Off
Gals. And now we come to even date.
The summer is on us--and neither the
Commissioners nor anyone else seems
to think the roads are worthy Of cor
sideration. The Commissioners have
apparently concluded that the new
Crothers road law relieves them OF all
responsibility. Ii so, what duties are
lett them. to justify their drswing
$4,000 per year from the county treas
ury? The county would go on quite
as we'll without them as with them
and save lot of money In fact, be
tween the Board oi County Commits
sioners, oi exceptionally small bust
ness capacity. and political master
who wouId pose as a general readJrSt-
ter this county is getting into very
bad shape. The road business is only
one illustration. Other impressive and
distressing illustrations will lie further
furnished, a little later, when the
county's financial condition is exposed.
in other words. when public business
is committed To incompetent hands and
to professional politicians, the public
must pay Tor the Consequences. That
is what this county is dong now and
will have to do Tor some years to