The courier-index. (Marianna, Ark.) 1917-current, 1919-12-12
Curtis WRITES
ABOUT ROADS
WELL-kNOWN HAYNES CITIZEN
THINKS CONDITIONS NOT RIPE
FOR BUILDING SYSTEM OF
HARD SURFACE ROADWAYS.

The Courier-Index is in receipt of
the following timely communication
from W. B. Curtis of Haynes, mem
Der of the board of commissioners of
Road Improvement District No. | of
Lee county. Mr.. Curtis takes the
position that no legislative act Gre
ating new improvement district for
the construction of system of hard
surface roads should be offered until
it is first submitted to the taxpayers.
He further argues conditions are so
abnormal and construction costs are
so high that the outlay necessary to
build modern roads now would be be-
yond the ability of the taxpayers to
bear. His letter follows:
Editor Courier-Index:
No doubt many of our good roads
enthusiasts feel that the good roads
throughout the state have received a
severe blow through the decision of
our supreme court, declaring all or
practically all the acts passed by the
recent extra session of the legisla-
ture unconstitutional, thereby nulli-
flying all or practically all laws ere
ating hard or surface road districts
throughout the state.
Nor do | doubt that many will be
surprised at the position | take in
the matter. l am frank in saying
am truly glad our court decided as
it did in the matter.
Now, don't jump at conclusions
and accuse me of being knocker on
good roads, for | assure you | am far
from such, and realize as much as the
most enthusiastic the great bless
ings and advantages that come to us
through or by good roads.
| am strong believer in the
principles of democracy. l believe
in government of the people, for the
people and by the people, and this
can be done only by putting all
measures that are to become laws
before the people and give them time
to consider the matter.
| do not favor one, two or three
individuals drafting a bill and then
with a select few wend their
way to our capital, place the
bill in the hands of our representa-
tive, railroad it through, when not a
dozen taxpayers in the county know
what the bill proposes. Through
such legislation you impose upon a
people conditions that fail to meet
their approval, tax that often ere
ates dissatisfaction and one that
might prove real hardship. So we
see the wisdom in a law that puts all
matters, and more especially local
matters, before a people when they
alone are to come under the provis-
ions of the law.
How about most of the bills that
are raiiroaded through our legisla-
ture? How about the one creating a
hard roads district in certain parts
of Lee county? How many of the
taxpayers of Lee county knew any
thing of the measures proposed In
that bill, yet each of us comes under
its mandates.
| wish here to say it is not my pur-
pose to criticise the gentlemen who
drew that bill. Far from that, for |
assure YOU they are my friends, and
| vouch for their integrity and abil-
ity; yet such legislation is to meet
the disapproval of the masses.
| have served on our good roads
boards for several years, and hap
pened to know something of the
measures proposed in that bill when
II was being written, and felt then
as I feel now, that the people should
be informed as to what the measure
proposed before it should become a
law. and I insisted that the bill be
drafted and published in our county
paper before it was placed in the
hands of our representatives for
passage. AS | have stated, felt tnen
as | do now, that the people should
know the provisions of the Dill ere
ating our road district, since they
alone were to pay the cost.
presume some of you will wonder
whv I am writing about thing that
has already been done, law that has
been passed and now declared uncon-
stitutional by our highest court.
Well. am surmising that it won't be
long until our governor will be call
inp the honorable body back.
/ realize there is very great move
throughout the state. Yes, | might
have SAID LnrOuSHOut thS uN'
better roads, and | feel that we need
them and in time will have them. The
only question is, is this the oppor-
tune time for such improvements!
have ascertained from some OF
the leaders that the hard roads, as
MANNED. would cost something like a
million or perhaps million and :, a
half dollars and that it will take all
the funds as proposed in the bill TO
meet the interest on such bond issue,
and, that the bill would have forced
some of us to pay as much as ooc
per acre on our lands--a tax that |
consider out of reason, and under
such conditions none of the BONDS
could have been redeemed only by
the issuance of new ones. Hence
nnder such conditions, we could nave
but a big bonded debt to bequeati,h
our children and our childrens cnil-
dren, and on and on possibly Tor
generations.
But, you say, we must have good