Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1918-01-11
Senator Williams Disapproves OF
Legislation Increasing Road
Taxes, Except In Emergency.


feel. with pardonable pride. may claim
some measure of credit
Until the Session of 1916 of the General
Assembly road legislation providing for
county, or district, bond issues in connec-
ton with State-aid appropriation was con-
sistently limited to the amount of State-aid
allotment available within the two years
following the session authorizing the ex-
penditure. In the Session of 1915, however.
road-bond issues, amounting to 100000.
were authorized and directed" by the
General Assembly to be issued by the
County Commissioners of this county, and
the special Session of 1917 increased this
amount by $4,000 AS most of the roads
authorized and directed to be improved
can only be constructed by an equal ex-
penditure of State-aid money. it follows
that county, or district, bonds of nearly a
quarter million of dollars were directed to
be issued and total outlay of nearly half
a million of dollars of State and county
funds appropriated for the purpose.
Since this road legislation of two years
ago, local district road in Wheaton, a
State-aid and district bond-issue road from
Jacksonville to Poolesville. and the district
bond-issue road. known as the Muncasters
Mill road have been completed. The Glen
mont Colesville State-a aid road is now being
constructed. About half of this road is in
Colesville district and the other half in
Wheaton district. State-aid pays half the
cost of the road. bond issue on Wheaton
district pays the balance.
am informed at the Office of the County
Commissioners that application, in the
order named, has been made for State-aid
on the following roads. except the road to
be resurfaced, not as yet improved but
authorized and directed to be improved by
the Session of 1916 and the Session of
1917:
|. Darnestown-Seneca road.
2. Potomac Conduit road (resurfacing).
8. Martinsburg- Dickerson road.
4. Dawsonville-0 Germantown road.
S. Jamestown Old Germantown road.
6. DerwoodMt. Zion road.
7. Road through Poolesville.
8. Connecticut Avenue through the town
of Kensington.
| am further informed the next State-aid
allotment will be on March 1, 1918. that
about 100000 is to be credited to Mont
gomery county from this fund. and by this
allotment and bond issue on Jamestown
district the Darnestown-Seneca road is
purposed to be constructed. There still
will remain six or seven roads of this pro-
gram unimproved, requiring in ordinary
times, if improved with the help of State
aid as authorized, about as many years to
accomplish their completion.
Interested as | am in the proper de-
desiring to bring about improvements
in which ! might rightfully. and with
pardonable pride as the State Senator
of this county. claim some measure of
credit. along with my colleagues. in exer-
cising the prerogatives of the respective
offices to which we have been elected. and
wishing to embanass in no respect such of
the Improvements authorized as have met
with approval. yet | am unwilling at this
time to further add to an already extern
sive road list, further increase taxes. and
issue bonds, when the resources of our people
are now strained to the utmost responding,
as they so generously are. to the needs of
their country and its soldiers in the strug-
gle to wage to a triumphant victory the task
which. as nation. we have set for our
selves believe it would be poor bust
ness administration for US to act otherwise
Although have been urged regarding sew
eral large county and district bond issues,
is it not best to have this already contested
road situation settled one way or the other.
and the national crisis ended, before fur
Their legislation is enacted, unless, of course,
action of some kind is demanded by some
county, State. or national emergency
pledge the people of this county that while
hold the office of State Senator no
appropriation shall be authorized when
the improvement for which the approprla-
ton is made cannot reasonably be expected
to be made before the converting of the
General Assembly two years thereafter.
If an improvement cannot be so made.
consider it the part of good business mana
cement. and certainly of consideration for
those who shall follow in authority, to
await the convention of the next General
Assembly.
This position does in nowise affect the
State roads, and their extensions. in Mont
gOmery county. These roads are con-
structed by State funds solely. When the
first State Road Act was enacted there
was an attempt to ignore county lines and
make Baltimore city the hub" in the good
roads system. Under such a plan Mont
gonery would not have the many miles of
State roads it has to-day. introduced the
amendment. and originated it. whereby
the State road fund was divided among
the counties on a mileage basis and
still believe such is the proper basis of
distribution. Even here, however, as true
and patriotic Americans. we may be com
PEELED to accept such a war situation ex-
isting. regarding both labor and material,
as to prevent an extensive State road
program. if any, for the time being. 1t is
condition the General Assembly will. no
doubt. carefully consider.
There is, however, subject of road leg
isation that should be carefully consid-
cred at the coming session. This county
has number Of State-aid roads, the total
cost of maintenance Of which is met at
considerable expense, annually by the
county. By Chapter 536 of the Acts Of
1915 these roads are brought into the State
rnads svsfem and their future mainfe-