Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1911-03-30
The Road Question.


of late we hear much about 1.-The
Specla. Tazewell County Road Law
and the advantages of the "Pay as You
10 Plan" as. compared to the Bond Is
sue law.
Fellow citizens, will you be surprised
when we tell you that the founders.
trainers and authors of this law as Il
now stands on the statute books are the
self same men who come along now.
after public sentiment has been awak-
ened and enlightened, and offer various
/ amendments to this law that they once
held up as ideal and perfect, and now
/ they advocate these amendments go as
TO provide an admirable system for con-
tpuous, up-to-date and economical road
Improvement"
we do not question the gentlemen s
toreslghtednes or their statesmenship
nor do We think it fair or analogous to
compare their statesmenship to that of
our forefathers who looked Infinitely far
into an untried and undeveloped future
and framed our immortal Declaration of
Independence and our everlasting Con-
stltutlon. The condition of Tazewell
county public roads is and has been
ever the same even ''as an open book
known and read of all men," The
trainers of this special law, their ultl-
mate object evidently was: I'VE must
DO something to forestall and fore
shadow the coming bond issue question. but
let US do as little now as we can, con-
slstent with OUR best interests as we
are given to see them"
But now when they are brought face
to face with facts and a fast approach
ing election, do you notice how they
cater to public sentiment to the limit of
admitting that the law as it now stands
Is inadequate, that more money must be
raised, that each district should get its
taxes back on percentage basis, that
towns should be taxed, etc? They even
go so far as to advocate and indorse the
same roads that the bond issue advo.
Gates have laid out. We do not believe
they can guarantee the uncertainties
that must attend, possibly unborn legis-
lators, but granting these amendments
could be enacted, would it not make the
original law look mighty strange in the
lace TO the selt-same estranged fathers?
Ihey advocate the The Pay as You
20 Plan, but what we want to know
Is: Who is going to pay; how we are to
pay, and where and how are we going?
You will remember that the special |
law carries supplement clause, para |
graph No. 8, which provides that in the |
event of private subscription amounting
to one third of the amount allotted to
said road district be raised that said
road committee must spend this entire
smount where h i s subscription is |
raised This means that it takes it out
OF the supervisors hands and out Of the !
hands of the district road committees. |
aud we think this may be Their method |
o1 paying as you go" The inference
Is that If you are unwilling to paw or uo-
go. This supp ement principle, mhefe
1t mas been tried in our county, seems
10 De very unpopular. We want 20
know, our most ing NOUS opponents.
DO" you promise to ameEd this supple
mrnt clause? You have not said 10 your
We Believe" pamphlet.
we also hear great deal said about
the good faith and promises of he
people being pledged to one another"
ms Is now thi Is working as We See II:
These Very men are circulating = peti-
'ioh whereby voters thOuRhtl ssly sign
same, pledging themselves 10 suppor.
the Fay Plan. If you haven't eu-
countered this petition, fellow voter.
think twice what it means before you
lndorse 1t. If you have signed it. think
THREE TIMES. and DO as we understand
number of good citizens have done.
ana see to 1t that your name is taken off
TINS document. Ir seems to US to say
the least of 1t, that this is presumlng
upon your honesty and integrity. This
IS a question of far-reaching and vital
Importance to every citizen in our coun-
tty, and as we look it squarely in the
face we are willing and open to convic-
ton to better plan even up to and up
on the day of this election.
AS we now see it, We are standing
steadfastly upon the bond issue law as
1t now stands, and we believe it is going
TO carry by an overwhelming majority
IN each and every district. Sixteen
counties in our State have tried it and
like it. Russell. our sister county, has
tried it the second time.
individuals borrow money to promote
their private and personal welfare. Cor |
porauons borrow money to capitalize |
their capacity for doing business Towns
and cities borrow money to build public |
improvements Nations borrow money
to keep abreast of other nations Wby
should not Tazewell county, a county
that rightfully boasts of it's rich soil.
pleasant pastures, pure atmosphere,
beautiful scenery, natural, diversified,
and undeveloped resources, her Intellectual
d6'hty, act upon tried and satisfactory
plan adopted by our neighborIng coun-
ties?
BOND ISSUE ADVOCATE OPEN TO Con-
VICTION.