Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1914-01-30
MINORS ROAD BILL.

morning by Mr.. Minor OF Noxu-
bee and is the outcome of his ex-
perience as counsel for one of the
districts in his county. The law
is designed to provide for the
convenient and economical yet
thorough working of the roads
without issuing bonds, and the
introducer of the measure believes
that districts without cities or
large towns in them to help pay
taxes should not issue bonds. A
brief synopsis of the salient fea-
lures of the bill are:
The supervisors may organize
road districts and make them
taxing districts for road purposes.
Funds are to be provided by tax
alton and communication Of road
duty. Three road commissioners
are appointed for four years.
They are to purchase or hire
teams, road machinery. tools,
supplies, etc., without competi-
tive bidding unless required by
the supervisors, but all their acts
are subject to review and rejec-
ton at the next meeting Of the
supervisors. They must report
all their actions to the supervis-
orS.
The commissioners appoint a
road superintendent who gives
bond and holds Office for a year.
The supervisors approve the ap-
pointment and fix his compensa-
ton. He works under the direc-
tions of the commissioners and
may require all their directions
to him to be in writing. He
gives all his time to road work
unless otherwise directed. He
takes care of all the property
owned or hired by the district
and employs all labor. His month
~ reports and pay-rolls are re-
viewed by the commissioners and
thens by the supervisors who,
when they approve them, order
payment. His monthly report
must show number, amount and
condition Of all the property
owned or hired by the district.
and his report and the report of
the commissioners are to be kept
on file subject to inspection by
any resident or tax payer Of the
district.
Provision is made for some con-
tract work. Certain bridges,
courseways and bad places in
roads may be built and kept up
by contract, and even a whole
by-road or section of main read
may be worked by contract; but
such contract may be required to
be let by public bidding, and
must not run for more than a
year.
The supervisors are to retain
plenany powers under this act.
They may dispense with or re-
quire advertisement and public
bidding for contracts or purchas-
es when they deem it best. The
commissioners are to check the
superintendent and the supervis-
ors to act as check on the road
commissioners as we'll as the SUI
y Road districts heretofore orga-
nized and not issuing bonds, may
be placed within the provisions
of this;act.
Districts under this act may
borrow money with the consent
of the supervisors, but this pow
er is SO limited that such loans
will be only for one or two years
income and must be paid in five
years, and their repayment pro-
vided for in the ordinance max
ing the loan. This is to enable
districts to purchase teams and
equipment to start with and pay
for gradually in five years.
Under this act it is believed
roads in country district can be
worked year in and year out
most advantageously and with
out violating the law by failing {
TO observe various regulations
prescribed by general statutes. ,
In country districts competitive 1
bidding is generally a farce, ex-
pensive, inconvenient and dila-
tory and accomplishing no good.
Isolated Lridges and bad places
in the road can BEST be main
tained and repaired by local resi-
dents most interested in their up
keep. The bill is drawn on the !
theory that the supervisors of :
he state are for the most part
honest, sensible, capable men, 9
Hat the road commissioners will
De of the same kind, and the peo- i
pie Of road districts can be de- n
pended on to keep a fairly good n
ook-out on their own affairs, es-
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