The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1912-04-06
VOX POPULI.
PUBLIC ROAD AND OTHER
QUESTIONS OF IMPORTANCE

Editor Pensacola Journal.
There seems to be q general opinion
through the county that the most i'm
portant matter that comes before the
county commissioners is the public
road.
While the thoroughfares through
any county is the highway to success
and the greatest developer Of city and
county and must receive a full con-
sideration, the cost of our roads is
enormous The fee system and courts
are to blame for this to a great extent.
as the cost today for prisoners on road
work far exceeds that Of free labor.
For instance, a fellow is caught on
some pretext and under certain odious
laws he Is brought before justice of
the peace, whose office is no more than
that of a drummer for business for the
county criminal court or grist mill
The cost all along the line is added to
the bill and there is sixty or ninety
day sentence with a cost from seventy
five to one hundred and fifty dollars;
say ninety day average or about sew
enty-eight working days; feeding,
clothing, doctor bills, with guard hire,
will bring the cost to somewhere with
in two dollars and fifty cents per day,
not exceeding eight hours work in
same.
We may say this comes out of the
fine and forfeiture fund. We do not
think that this fund is in a very pie
theric condition and borrowing money
on this fund is the order of the day.
Our roads should be worked by con-
tract and the prisoners worked by the
contractor under the supervision Of our
commissioners to see that they are well
fed and cared for and that the work
is done according to practical specifi-
cation Of road building. OF course the
lowest responsible bidder giving good
and sufficient bond for faithful per-
Torrance Of his contract in each dis
trict. This would put the road build
ing in a practical business shape
But as stated, the road question must
be well considered, but there are other
matters that are as important and
must be considered. The commission
ers court Is Of more Importance than
the governor or the president of the
United States to the citizens.
The commissioners deal directly with
the people. They assess the taxes and
disburse same. In other words, they
hold both ends of the public purse and
In selecting commissioners we should
use the utmost care, remembering that
they have questions before them that
interest every hearthstone In our coun-
ty, from the mansion to the howell. This
court should be composed Of men of
They should go slow and thoroughly
investigate the details of all contracts
and correct all errors as far as possible
in the beginning. so as to see that the
county receives the same consideration
as IL 1t were an individual, remem-
bering that the power OF the people IL
vested in them through representation
and the matter OF burdensome taxation
has been a perplexing question for
consideration for centuries, and at
times has become oppressive. This
was the main cause that brewed the
tea of liberty, with its stimulating eff
feet, which produced the greatest ma
ton under Gods great sunshine. The
matter of position and a little emolu-
ment too often causes aspirants for
some public trust. and the spirit Of
rivalry enters political contests, so
the office for the man, instead of the
man for the office is the result
We do not criticise anyone, or do
we feel that we are bordering on
pessimistic lines, but as food is es-
sential for the body, so thought is for
the mind. and now as we are nearing
the date when the question of our Of
fetal representatives on all matters
Will be submitted to the great Jury
through the ballot box It's well TO
think before We vote. In selecting
officers from the highest to the lowest
in our employ let us look at past rec
ords and future promises or platforms
We may say that promises. like pie
crusts, are easily broken. This is n
matter Of education and the voters
have educated the officials in this way
We support some for sympathy. pow
erty or good fellow. generous, brave
etc These are all good, and we should