The Alaska citizen. (Fairbanks, Alaska) 1910-1917, 1914-12-07
Be 7 TERR0AD
LAWS ARE
PLANNED
SENATOR O. p. GAUSTAD OUT.
LINED PROPOSED LEGISLATION
FOR IMPROVING HIGHWAYS
THROUGHOUT TERRITORY, BY
AID OF LICENSE FUNDS.
CONGRESSIONAL AID Wanted
lATURE ARE ASKED TO co.
OPERATE IN PLANNING NEW
LAWS; ROAD DISTRICTS TO BE
ORGANIZED EVERYWHERE.

Senator Gaustad has prepared an
outline Of a proposed new law that
provides for the construction OF
roads in Alaska under the direction
of road supervisors, who are to be
elected by votes Of the people. He
has sent copies Of his outline to
other newly elected members OF the
legislature and has asked them for
their opinion.
| The law suggested by Mr.. Gaus-
tad provides for the improvement
Of the roads in each district from
money that can be collected for road
taxes. and from such funds as the
government may direct to be used
for such purpose. 1t is his plan to
ask congress to turn over to the
local road funds all licenses collect
ed outside of incorporated towns
and cities. and also to request con-
gress to pass a law allowing miners
to pay their assessment dues on
mining claims into the road fund.
provided they prefer to have the
money spent that way.
The outline Of the proposed law
to be passed by the legislature, as
prepared by Mr.. Gaustad, is as fol
lows:
Road tax shall be four dollars per
annum. payable at the office Of the
road supervisor or to him personally
on or before the first day Of June
each year; shall become delinquent
on the first day of July, when a
penalty of five per cent will be
added, and if not paid within Is
days from that date, said deliquent
taxpayer shall be liable to arrest,
with fine or imprisonment All
moneys derived from this tax shall
| be used for the construction and
maintenance of public highways and
trails within the district where same
are collected, and shall be so ex-
pended by the supervisor
"All corporations. copartnerships
or individuals employing labor shall
be required to file with the super
visor before the tenth day of June
each year a list Of all persons liable
/ to pay road tax who were in their
or his employ on the first day Of
June next preceding, and If they
neglect or refuse to comply with
this provision they shall be liable
to substantial fine Such en-
ployers shall be authorized to re-
tain from the wages Of their en-
ployees the sum due for road tax.
and turn the same over to the super
visor. taking his receipt therefor.
"The construction of new roads
shall be contracted by competitive
bids, under supervision Of road sup
ervisor
"It shall be the duty Of the super
visor to locate and survey (where
necessary all new highways and
trails. keep main roads in repair.
collect road tax and prosecute de-
linquents, let contracts and accept
work when completed. purchase sup
plies, keep accurate accounts Of all
receipts and expenditures. employ
and discharge men and have general
supervision over all work done in
connection with the construction and
maintenance of public highways and
trails.
"The salary Of the road super
visor shall be SO per day and ac-
tual travelling expenses Except board
and lodging) while engaged in the
discharge of the duties OF his Of
flee
THE boundaries of the road dis
tricts shall be substantially the same
as Of the present recording pre-
cincts.
"The road supervisors shall be
elected semiannually at the general
territorial election.
"The road supervisor may desig-
nate place in each locality where
road tax may be paid. and shall
have power to appoint deputies with
authority to collect and receipt for
such tax"
| The foregoing. 1t is explained by
from which he hopes to have leg
such changes as may be agreed up
on by members Of the legislature.
1t is his intention to have the road
supervisors independent of the Alas
ka Road commission, whose duties
may be limited to the construction
of the main military roads.
Mr., Gaustad is planning, also. to
introduce a bill in the legislature
that will provide for the revoking
of the mining law passed by the
last session of the legislature. The
territorial mining law, as passed.
he thinks. is confusing and detri-
mental to the best interests Of the
mining industry of the Territory.
There are some minor changes
planned by Mr.. Gaustad to the old
law. One OF these is to re-establish
the right OF men owning continu-
GUS claims to do all their assess
ment work on one Of the claims. in
stead of scattering it over all OF
them.