The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-11-07
Throckn1orton Tells Of Benefits
Of Proposed Law to ~.
Henrico County.
BELIEVES 1T WILL PASS
Would Give People More knowl-
edge Of How Their Money
Is Spent.

approving the measure, u w. InrOCR- 4
morton now believes his plan will be
ratified by the V, ers of Henrico coun- |
ty at the polls tomorrow He thinks
that others will take similar action
when the lacts are known to them. and
that they will go to the polls and vote
for the bill.
Mr.. Throckmorton attributes the OPP
position and the animus of the petit
ton to the influence of the Board OF
Supervisors. whose power over road
building will be taken away If the
law is approved by the voters, and
given instead to a road board. He
says:
."rhe petition gotten up by the SUPER
visors is SO misleading that l am sure
many persons signed it under misap-
prehension. In orde, that the voters
may understand the bill, l will en-
deavor to answer these objections SO
far as I recall them.
Selection of Officers.
First: They say that the new road
law will take the selection Of the
road commissioners away from the
people and vest it in an appointing
board During the session Of the Leg
| islature of 1908, l got Dill through
the House leaving the election of the
road commissioners to the people.
These same supervisors were as stren-
uous in their opposition to that bill
as they are to this. SO we may we'll
be little skeptical of their sincerity
in urging this objection. Besides. they
do not allow the people to have any
voice in the appointment of their road
foreman. The members Of this APP
pointing board, under the pending bill.
WITH one exception, are answerable
to the people, and the people can see
that they appoint the proper men or
know the reason why. l have no OBJ
lection whatever to the election of this
board by the people if they want it.
Second: The superviaprs complain
that the road commissioners would
not have to account to any one for
their expenditures This is a gross
mistake. One of the objects OF the
bill is to have the road money prop
erly accounted for. The road board
would have to report all bills to tho
chairman of the Board of Supervisors.
!. who would be required to audit them.
: Under the present law, the supervisors
!, make the bills, report to themselves.
order the money paid to Themselves
: collect it and pay 1t out without hay.
/, ing to report to any one.
/. Would Have Appeal.
Third: They say that the road board
would act as viewers and appraisers
in opening new roads. and that the cit
liens would have no redress. That is
a mistake. Under the present law, the
/, supervisors appoint viewers and APP
praisers. who report to them. and any
person dissatisfied with the report ha:
an appeal to the court The new law
simply requires the road board to act
without compensation In order to save
the county the expense of tho viewers
5 any any person feeling himself ag.
grieved can appeal to the court JUS
as under the present law.
Fourth: 1t is urged that there II
no limit to the number of men wh'
might be employed by the road board
a do not think it consistent to urg'
y that as a defect when there is nj
:. limit to the number the supervisor
r may now employ These men will b
| selected because of their knowledg
4 of road work. ana WA not cmplo.
d any more than will be necessary.
Y would be wrong to limit them In thi
n respect.
: People Get Facts.
y Fifth: They allege that the roa
,e board would levy taxes This is a
in error The bill expressly provides
s. that the supervisors shall make tn
lg levy for road purposes in such a
ID amount as the road board thinks wi
10 be necessary--not less than 10 cen,
= nor more than % cents on the $40
v In this way the people will know ho'
G. much of their taxes go to the road
ed At present the supervisors do not Il
%. the people know They include it
70 the general county levy am ir
ed formed that one-half Of the count
la levy goes to roads. or 20 cents o
the 500. Are the people gettin
lis value received for one-half of .the
be taxes fom the county levy? The boar
no is spending $4,000 year. Wher
does it go? Would it not be bette
= to have a road board which would tai
the people into It's confidence?
sixth: Objection is made to Il
e term practical road builder as al
piled TO the road superintendent. The
say he should be an expert or 'scient
fc' road man, How many of the en-
ployes on the road now are 'exper
or scientific? 'Practical includes bot
know the people of the county a
\ I'll VIKING TO trust tSTdWIoIu iNcCQ, WI
would be member of the appointir
board, in the selection of a proper mi
.tc. for superintendent.
Up to the People.
'er- II have but one object In view
de- benefit the county, If tn people a
satisfied with the present road ma
agement. ] have nothing to say.
not think we are getting as good ron
as we should have for the mon
spent. and | secured the passage
= this law to better conditions. 1t
"A for the people to decide,
II Il fail 10 understand why the Boa
i H of Supervisors should be so anXto
\ to retain control of this $4,000 a ye
when they get SO little for eXpendi
1t. Are they such business men
n not to be criticized? They left abe
IL $4,000 in the treasurer's hands for
year, Had he died, his successor wol
have received 8 per cent or ST.:
in commissions, dead loss to I
county. Was that business-like?
IF there are defects in the law