South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-04-12
OPPOSE CHANGE
IN NE VI COUNTY
UNIT ROAD LAW
Representatives From C0un-
ties in District Make Stand
Known to Goodrich.

DrOvementsS officials or counties IN
The thirteenth district went on rec
ord as opposed 10 a special session
of the state legislature, at meeting
iu the Chamber Of Commerce Friday
afternoon.
Local men say that If the
present county unit road bill is re-
pealed. the northern section OF the
state viii face road crisis and the
plans for road Improvement cannot
bee carried out during the coming
summer.
Following talk by Milton Elrod.
field secretary Of the Hoosier State
Automobile association. who brought
out the problems considered i'm the
amendments a poll OF the officials
of the district was taken and every
member voted that no tinkering
with the law should be allowed at
tho present time They all agreed
To notify Gov. J.. p. Goodrich that
the calling OF a special session Of
the legislature would be needless eX-
pense az the present time, since an
agreement had been reached be
tween county commissioners and
trustees in the state i'm regard 90
road work
Would Call Session.
The action Of the northern Indiana
officials came as a result OF the an
nouncement OF Gov. Goodrich that
- special session OF the legislature
viii be called. probably next week.
unless through an opinion OF the
state attorney general Jurisdiction of
township roads can be placed i'm the
hands OF township trustees.
The amendments proposed by the
governor provide that supervision
of township roads should be i'm the
hands OF township trustees FOR
which they should receive pay.
Under the bill as at present enroll
ed. supervision Of the road work is
I'm charge Of the county commits
sioners and all moneys collected are
placed i'm "a general fund This
means that heavily bonded town
shi.js az the present time can still
continue To have their roads inn
proved by drawing money from
tine general fund.
May stop Work.
NJ the special session Is called and
he amendment added. the local road
work will have to stop The Niles
road Improvement and road work I'm
German township, and in nearly alt
northern Indiana. would have 90 be
halted for some time.
County commissioners, county at
torneys and county councilmen rep
Z
Elkhart. Fulton, kOsciusko and St
Joseph counties. at the local meet
ing signed resolution which was
forwarded 10 the governor. resenting
the action To be taken in the special
legislature The resolution speciifi-
cally states that the action Of the
legislature would upset the plans FOR
road Improvement in the northern
section of the state. At the present
time am agreement exists between
the county officials and trustees
whereby the trustees are paid for
taking care OF gravel roads and
-hen moneys collected for general
road Improvement are kept i'm the
-cucral fund by the county commits
sioners
trustees stand Pat.
All of the trustees OF this district
sisuided their intention OF standing
back Of the commissioners and other
officials i'm their efforts TO retain the
county unit road law as il is IN its
present form
The local meeting was originally
called as get-together meeting for
he district to consider joint plans
n the Improvements o. various
highways Laporte county agreed to
meet It's share Of the repair of the
division ST. road and also OF the
i.ootjack road and the Improvement
90 other highways were considered
80 definite action Will be taken.
however. until the officials receive
some definite information i'm regard
60 what action will be taken bv the
legislature.
Elrod il Speaker
Milton Elrod field secretary OF
the Hoosier state Automobile asso-
citation. said i'm part,
The road situation IN Indiana is
In a very critical condition. The
people are clamoring for roads. and
TO such am extent that under favor
able conditions not more than prob
ably 10 per cent Of the mileage now
petitioned for could he built this
year. II the people fail 90 get the
roads they are wanting the effect
may be to prejudice the public
against the state highway commits
sion law aud against the county unit
law. This prejudice will not be
based upon the equity OF the laws
themselves. but upon the disap-
uointment caused through eNpecta
lions that are unwarranted.
Some people think the highway
commission is going 10 build a sys-
tenn OF 5000 or 40N miles Of state
roads right away Not only is this
physical impossibility but the
state highway commission has not
sufficient funds. The state viii
maintain system OF state roads be-
ginning not later than April i, 1920,
hut Il can construct only limited
mileage each wear
County init Plans.
Another large class OF people