Saint Mary's beacon., 1911-04-06
The GreenweIi Road Law 20 be
Observed.

At a meeting Of the County Com
missioners, held March 81, 1911.
Leo M. Wathen, OF Leonardtown
district. was unanimously elected
Road Engineer for st. Mary's coun-
ty. under The provisions and re-
qulrements OF the Act OF 1908, Chap
ter 381. commonly known as the
"Greenwell Road Law"
This action was the outcome OF a
Petition OF William P. Powell, of ST,
lniRo's. filed by his attorneys. Crane
& King. March "A. praying the Cir
cult Court for a writ OF mandanus
commanding the County Commis-
sioners Ito appoint some competent
person as Road Engineer as provid-
ed by the laws OF Mary land, Act of
1913. Chap. 38l. and to comply with
all The provisions OF said Act"
The action OF the Commissioners
was somewhat unexpected for it
had been reported that the Board
bad employed Messrs. Wilmer and
Ching to aid its attorney, W. B.
Dorsey, Esq. to defend the action,
which had been set for a hearing
on May 8. proximo. at Prince Fred
erick.
The appointment OF Mr.. Wathen
puts the Act Of 1908 in effect, and
no matter how people may regard
the appointment or the provisions of
the law, it is the duty of all good citi-
zens to obey it, and everyone ought
to aid and encourage the Engineer
in carrying out a.l its requirements
and in strenuously endeavoriug to
better the system and improve the
public roads Of the county. Noman
could have q greater incentive than
the Engineer in making good and
every good citizen ought to wish
him success, because his success
means the betterment OF our roads
aud the Improvement OF our old
county.
To give our readers an idea OF the
scope OF the law, we reprint some
OF its most important sections:
Sec. 103A. provides that the Com.
missioners shall, at their first meet
ing May, 1908. appoint some compe.
tent person as road engineer, who
shall have sufficient knowledge oI
civil engineering TO enable him ia
accurately make surveys and speci-
fcations for the grading, draining
maintenance, repairs and reconstruc
tion OF the public roads of said coun.
~, and also 70 do the necessary en-.
glneering work for the building OF
rebuilding OF bridges, at q salary o
not less than six hundred nor more
than one thousand dollars q year
payable monthly; and said County
Commissioners shall make such ap
pointments without any reference
whatever to the political opinions O
the person appointed.
Sec. 1893 The County Commis
sioners shall, at their first meetipf
in Nay. 1908, and as often thereafter
as shall be necessary by reason OF {
vacancy from any cause, appoint on,
supervisor for each election distric
and percinct Of the county, sale
supervisors in all cases being select
ed with special regard TO their knowl
edge end skill in directing roac
work. and subject to TO the approx
al OF the engineer and to dismissa
by him at any time for incompeten
cy or neglected duty. The compen
sation for said supervisors shall b,
one dollar and twenty FIVE cent.
(sl.25) per day, and for al
lsborers who shall be employed b,
the road engineer or the supervis
ors, subject to the approval of tn,
engineer. one dollar day; and pro
vided, that the engineer or super
visor shall in no case employ an,
person or persons 10 be paid q great
er amount without first obtaining Oh
written consent Of the County Com
missioners.
Sec. l03C. The county road en-
gineer shall reside in st. Mary
county during the term OF his Office
and shall have entire charge, con
troll and supervision OF the working
repairing and reconstructing OF th
public roads and bridges in st
Msry's county, except such road q
is sought to be constructed by ID
State in said county, and shall max
all specifications for the building G
new roads and bridges; he shall en-
| ploy such help, teams and imple