The French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1896-1912, 1911-02-02
ROAD Law AGITATION.

Notwithstanding the action of
the Hendersonvine Commercial
club in going on record against
any new road legislation for this
county, followed by an almost
unanimous sentiment, of similar
import, expressed at the public
meeting held here on December 3,
petitions are being circulated over
the county asking for the enact
ment Of the measure defeated in
the General Assembly, two years
ago.
In this petition, Or bill, rather,
the supervisor is not named, but
will be in the measure introduced
for a term of two years from May
/, 1911. In the original bill intro
duced into the General Assembly
OF 1909, w. G. Jordan was nam
ed as general supervisor for a
term of four years, with an an
nual compensation of $3.50.
This feature Of the measure excit-
ed the first opposition and was
largely responsible for the sue
cessful fight waged against it
later ON. The people of the coun-
ty, also objected to, the taxation
feature, claiming it to be excessive
and thought too mud power was
vested in the supervisor with re-
ference to- bridges This paper
did not oppose many of it's provi-
siOns, but considered some of
them undemocratic and .unreas-
enable. The following petition
signed by hundreds of citizens
was presented to the House com
mittee on Public Roads and Turn,
pixies, which reported the bill un-
favorable:
We, the undersigned citizens
and taxpayers ofHenderson coun-
ty, respectfully petition your hon.
Orable body not to pass the road
law which has been introduced in
the Legislature by Nh, Med Ray
It is not what our people want in
the way of q road law, for the
reason that our citizens are al
ready burdened with taxation
and the proposed law, would, i
passed, heap upon us an addition
al taxation by compelling a spe
cial levy this year of 81 IL cents
on the hundred dollars worth Of
property. Furthermore, the man
who is designated in the bill al
supervisor of roads for four years
would say just what amount O.
taxes should be levied after Thu
year. This smacks too strongly O.
one ma power and is opposed tt
all principles Of a free goVren
ment. The question now is Will
us: Shall the people of Henderson
county be permitted to rule anC
govern themselves, or shall on,
man or two OR three men be per
mitted to say who shall be tn,
supervisor of our public roads, anC
who shall fill other important of
fees in our county? Ii we are Il
have a new road law, in the nam,
of Justice and right let us hav,
one which will prevent one Of
two men from compelling a tai
levy to be levied upon us such a.
that specified in the proposed road
law for this county as introduces
by Mr.. Ray in the legislature. Tn,
proposed road law of Mr.. Ray
makes no provision whatever 70,
the removal of the supervisor o.
anybody else connected with tn,
operation Of the road machinery
for improper or other conduct il
Office. No matter what they do
or how they conduct themselves
there is no power that could re
move them. Ii there is to be a road
supervisor at all the magistrate
of the county should be permit
ted to elect him to serve until oul
next regular election and Their
the people should be permitted tx
elect said officers by popular vote
For these and many other reasons