The courier-index., 1919-02-21
MASS MEETING VOTES TOKILL ROAD BILL

l over and that the whole proceeding members of the club who think they are public speakers" and who l go cavorting over the county spill ing a cheap brand of palaver under | the delusion they are orators. He had no patience with this sort of l feet.
 McCuIIoch In, Opposition P D. McCulloch voiced his oppo- sition to the bill under consideration declaring taxes were now so high it was impossible to realize on in- vestments in Marianna real estate. He said the proposed project would not only prove burden in it's con struction but that additional levies would have to be made to maintain the road and bridge, and that man at salary of s1,000 year would have to be employed to watch the bridge and open the draw when steam boat blew it's whistle. Instead of spending ten or twelve thousand dol lars a year on a road through the overflow district, which he claimed would be an experiment, he favored using the money to pave the streets of Marianna. He contended if this bill passed it would put stop to public Improvements in Marianna for many years and would become a barrier that would keep factories from locating here
 Robertson Refends Bill
 Senator J. T. Robertson replied to some of the objections raised by the opponents of the bill, stating if the program of the obstructionists was carried out we might as well return to the good old times when we had limbs through the woods and rolled up our brooches and waded through the mud He told of the vast re- sources in the bottoms, how St. Fran cis and Crittenden counties are building good roads up to the Lee county line, thus affording an outlet to Forrest City and Memphis for the business of the bottom farmers, how Helena was cutting in on our trade from the west, and concluded with the statement that if this and other road projects are not carried out property in Marianna will de- crease in value.
 Robuck Enters Protest
 Geo. R. Robuck of Haynes made vigorous speech against including any part of Union township in the district, stating that section would certainly derive no benefit from the proposed road. Upon the contrary, he contended Haynes would be dam aged, and he thought it extremely unjust to the land owners in Union township to be taxed for road leading from the bottoms into Mari anna. He disapproved of the pres ent method of working our roads, declaring better results could be ob- tained if we had township unit with a supervisor for each township.
 R. l.. Nixon voiced his opposition to the bill, stating many features of the measure were objectionable to him.
 ]. M. Hewitt said he thought it was going too strong on one road project, that other districts would in course of time be organized to con- struct roads leading in other direc- tions from Marianna, and with twelve mill tax already on the prop erty here the city would not be able to give any assistance to other pro- jects.
 President Defends Commercial Club
 J. M. McClintock, president of the Commercial Club, following the speech made by Col. Wood, defended the Commercial Club, stating the or ganization had done all its work open and above board, that 1t was the only body in the county seeking to improve conditions, that practical ly all the mass meetings held are called by the club upon request of citizens who desire to assemble and discuss public matters and in many instances the meetings are composed of men who are not members or the club. He resented the charge that eight or ten members run the club, stating that at all the meetings representative number of citizens is present
 Vote Practically Unanimous The proponents of the bill made no effort to induce the meeting to endorse the measure They knew 1t was dead on account of the reported attitude of Senator Ward, and attend ed the meeting merely to correct false impressions that had been gain ed as to the provisions of the bill and the manner in which the entire project had been handled.
 | Col Wood moved that Senator Ward be instructed to kill the bill. M. H. Ford seconded the motion and it prevailed without a dissenting vote.