The courier-index., 1921-01-28
VOLUME 53.

general assembly, spent the first of the week here conferring with his constituents on certain proposed local bills On Wednesday after noon Col. Wood called mass meet ing at the court house and deliver ed an address outlining his views on the bills directly affecting the interests of the people here. He prefaced his remarks by saying he was a servant of the people, that he believed in the rule of the ma iority, even though the views taken bv the majority might conflict with his personal views, and that his purpose in calling the meeting was to present to the representative cit izens of the county his position on several proposed bills.
 Change Road Management
 He first discussed a bill he had prepared for changing the manage ment of the affairs of road im- provement district number one. He said the old method, in his judg ment, was defective. He thought the county judge should be in charge of the roads. Under the law ere ating district number one the roads are in the hands of commission of five men who work through a supervisor. He had prepared bill to make the county judge an ex- officio member of the commission and the ex-officio chairman. He will assume all the duties and re- sponsibilities heretofore exercised by the chairman of the commission. As remuneration for his services in this capacity his bill proposes to give the county judge $500 a year, in addition to the salary he all ready receives as county and pro- bate judge and as judge of the court of common pleas. Col. Wood said the chairman of the road com mission now receives a salary of $9OO year. He said under his proposed law the county would affect saving of $400 year. The services of a secretary are to be dispensed with and the county clerk will become the secretary of the road commission He shall receive for his services the usual legal fee for issuing warrants. Col. Wood said it was impossible to dissolve the district and abolish the com mission because there are outstand- ing bonds to be cared for. He thought there would be a much better administration of the affairs of the road district in the hands of the county judge who is directly re- sponsible to the people, than in the hands of commissioners who serve .+L nd fa Ea very little interest in the road ques- ton.
 To Abolish No. 2
 In regard to road improvement district number two, created by special act during the last extra ses- sion of the 1919 general assembly, Col Wood said personally he was in favor of the absolute repeal of the act, but that in this, as in other local matters, he thought the land owing taxpayers should express themselves and let the majority rule. A bill is now pending pro- viding for special elections on all road districts. If this bill passes, Col Wood said he would not deem it necessary to pass his local act to abolish district number two, be- cause under the provisions of the general act an election would be called and the taxpayers would be given an opportunity to express themselves on the matter.
 No-Fence Law
 On the question of the repeal of the no-fence law so far as it affects Texas, Oak Forest and Hampton townships Col. Wood said he was going to take a referendum vote. He is going to send out postcards to every land owning taxpayer and re- quest him to indicate whether or not he wants the law repealed so for as it is applicable to his town ship. When these cards are re- turned to Col. Wood he will be able to ascertain what the majority sentiment is and will govern him self accordingly. With reference to the situation in the territory skirting the L'Anguille and St. Fran cis rivers south of Marianna, Col. Wood said the sentiment was so overwhelmingly in favor of the re peal of the no-fence law that he was not going to take referen- dunn on the question. He said he would amend the law to exclude from the provisions of the act the territory south of Marianna, begin ming at the corporation line, run ming south with the wire road to Phillips county, then to the St. Francis river, then along the St. Francis river to the point where the L'Anguille river empties into the St. Francis, then along the LAnguille river back to the cor poration line of Marianna. This takes in what is known as the hlll' territory south of Marianna. Tn taking the referendum in Texas. Oak Forest and Hampton town ships Col. Wood said he had se- cured from the county clerk list of the land owners in these town ships and that each land owner, male or female, white or black, would be sent card and asked to express preference on the issue. Acreage will not count. The man or woman who owns forty acre