The Robesonian., 1917-05-03
SHALL WE VOTE BONDS
UNDER THE CLARK BILL?
To the Editor of The Robesonian:

To the Editor of The Robesonian:
I notice in YOUR issue of the 18th
inst. that Mr.. Pate, in referring to
8th, makes these statements: Il un-
derstand from the provisions of the
bill that Robson county can bor-
row $4,000 year for six years,
making a total of $480,0O0 at an in
terest rate of 5 per cent for a period
of not over Al years and that at the
end of that time the debt will be
cancelled, principal and all. I'm
stead of increasing our road tax, 1t
ought to be considerably lower fol.
the next six years at least. The as
surance of no increase in our road
tax, coupled with the fact that each
township shall get its pro rata part
of the money borrowed ought to
rally every man in the county who
believes in good roads to the support
of bonds under this bill"
I notice also this statement in your
editorial column:
eff bonds are voted on the 8th of
May, Robson county can build roads
and provide fund for maintaining
them at not a penny additional tax.
The law amply protects each town.
ship and provides that it shall re-
ceive it's pro rata share Of the mon
ey."
Now, let US notice carefully the
provisions of the Clark bill, and al
so the road law under which the
money, if bonds are voted, is to be
| expended.
First, let US see if we are abso-
lutely sure that the 5 per cent inter-
est will retire these bonds in the Al
years. Sec II of Clark bill says:
"At the expiration of forty -one
years said county bonds shall be re-
turned by the State Treasurer and
said county shall be discharged from
further liability on said bonds; Pro-
vided, that if upon maturity of any
series of State bonds issued in pur-
suance of this act, the State shall not
. have sufficient fur.t- to retire the
same derived from the difference in
: interest herein provided, owing to
its inability to keep such difference
:: in interest continually invested, or
| on account of expenses or delay in
cident to its investment, then and in
that event any such deficiency shall
be made good by the counties par
! "ipating in the original proceeds
Of any such State bonds, in proper
tion to the amount Of such proceeds
received by any such county"
! Next let us see if the road law as
sures US that each township shall re-
, ceive its pro rata share of the mon-
ey borrowed.
Sec. 13 road law says: "The sys-
tenn of working public roads Of Rob-
, eson county by townships, expend-
ing within each township the road
taxes collected within that township
is hereby abolished; and thereafter
all public roads of said county shall
be worked, improved, maintained and
repaired, and all public bridges built,
cared for and kept up from the taxes
to be levied and collected under the
, provisions of this act, and the taxes
(, SO collected may be expended for road
or bridge purposes in accordance
with this act as the same may be nec-
essary in any part of the county with
out respect to the township or Sec
tion from which the taxes were de-
! rived"
This to US, is poor assurance that
each township shall receive it's pro
rata share Of any money borrowed
even if the law does make it the du-
ty Of the road commissioners to $50
far as possible keep the roads and
J, bridges in each of the districts in as
I good condition as the roads and
!, bridges are in the other districts
Orrum township remembers onlv toe
well another time when roads were
}, worked (?) by districts.
! Now as to whether or not the tax
rate would, or could be lowered bv
issuing bonds under the Clark bill
i It is time that the rate could be
very materially lowered for the first
three or four years, but the fifth
year the levy would necessarily . b1
about the same or a fraction high.
er than the past year and each wear
thereafter for the next nine, the rate
would have to be increased, and from
the fourteenth to the forty-firs,
year there would be levy of akee1
: twice as much~as at present.
In order that we NAV all see ius,
what the amount necessary to be
raised each year will be, let US ex.
anime the provisions of Sec. 18 anC
o,ASAA w q IlIIlC 41SuIluS OdlO Sec
} ton says that in addition to the
: amount of taxes collected sufficient
to pay the interest on the loan at
: per cent the cost of collecting anc
disbursement, and the penalty pro
:, vided for, in case such penalty be
incurred, there shall also be annu
: ally levied by the board of commits.
sions a separate special tax for the
maintaince Of the roads built from
money procured under said act, which
shall be sufficient. after paying cost
} of collection andN1isbursement, to
| equal each year for the first foul
5 years four per cent of the amount
, borrowed, each year for the next
l. four years eight per cent of thu
: amount borrowed and thereafter eacl
year ten per cent of the amount Dor
} rowed.
Understand this maintenance ia,
levy is made obligatory on the par
of the commissioners, just as mucl
so as the levy for the payment Of
s,.41 J.