Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1915-01-14
FAVOR CASH
ROAD TAXES;
TOW N SHIP SUPERVISORS or
GRAND FORKS COUNTY ASK
FOR CHANGES IN LAWS

that the matter of progressive ROAD
legislation is being given constructive
consideration by the township super
visors and farmers is one very encour--
aging sign which seems to point to d.
cided improvement in North DakotG.
Road Laws at this session of th0s
Legislature. The township supervisors
are the men who are most closely ins
touch with the matter of country road
building and when they decide to ask
for better road laws, changes will
come as their influence is considerable.
with members Of the Legislature.
In Grand Forks County the fifty
two townships have County Town
ship Supervisors Association which,
meets regularly and frequently tca'
consider matters of interest to ak
parts of the county. At q recent meet
ing of the legislature Committee Of
this Association the following resolu-
tions with reference to road laws were
unanimously passed:
Resolved, that the state Legislature,
at it's session in 1915 be petitioned to-
make the following changes in the.
township laws on the statute books
and to enact such further legislation
as is herein mentioned.
First-that all laws requiring O..
property qualification for eligibility
to hold any township Office be repeal
ed. And that any legal voter be-.
eligible to hold any township Office
Second-That all township officers
now required by law to furnish bonds
with sureties for the performance of
their several duties, in the future, be-
required to furnish bonds in the same
amounts in some acceptable indemnity
company. The cost of such bonds to-
be borne by the township.
Third-Resolved, that all laws al
lowing property owners to work out
their road taxes, be repealed, and thar
all road taxes be made payable in cash:
to the county treasurer the same as@
other taxes.
Fourth-Resolved, that the town.
ship boards of supervisors shall have
complete supervision over the build
ing and maintaining of all public
township roads within the severaE
townships. That they shall have COM
plete control over the expenditure Of
| all township funds levied for such pur-
poses. That they shall have dis
cretionary power, to enter into cOn--
tracts for the performance of sucES
building and maintaining of sucEBss
public highways, or they may employ"
such labor as they may deem neces-
sary by the day or by the month tC
accomplish the desired results.
Fifth-Resolved, that all laws ana
enactments creating the Office of coun--
ty superintendent of highways and
township road overseers, be repealed.
Sixth-Resolved, that all property
owners be required by law to cut the
weeds and grass on the roadsides ad
Joining the land owned by them. SucfE
service to be rendered at such times
and in such manner as the board OF
supervisors shall designate. In case
of neglect or failure to so cut and
destroy such weeds and grass, it shaIE
be the duty of the supervisors to see
that the same is done. and the expense
Of such service shall be returned byc
them to the county auditor, to be en-
tered by him on the books of the coun-
tv as a special tax against such lands,
the same to be collected at the same
time and in the same manner as other
taxes.
Seventh-Resolved, that any person
willfully plowing, cultivating or In.
any manner destroying or injuring the:
public roads Of any township, shall be
deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and
upon conviction Of such offense shalE
be punished at the discretion of the
court.
Eighth Resolved, that the county
commissioners of each county be Pc
titioned to lay out and build system
Of county roads to connect betweers
the different towns and villages of the
county. Such road system to connect
insofar as may be practicable) with
similar road systems of adjoining
counties. In the building of such ae
system Of roads the county road fund
and the automobile funds to be used
Such roads to be maintained by the
townships through which they pass
All bridges and culverts in such roads
to be maintained by the county.