Rensselaer Republican, Volume 25, Number 22, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 January 1893 — THE DAILY ROAD BILL. [ARTICLE]

THE DAILY ROAD BILL.

The most comprehensive road bill now before the State Legislature, and the one with the best prospects of becoming a law, is the one introduced by Reuben Daily, a member of the House road committee. The following is a brief summary of its provisions: Section T requires the township trustee to levy not less than a 10cent tax on each SIOO and not to exceed 25 cents, one-half of which rgust be expended in permanent road improvement. Sec. 2 provides for tile drainage of dirt roads. Sec. 3 requires pools arul cats on the roads to be opened and; drained after each. rain. Sec. 4'provides that all work may be let to the lowest bidder. Sec. 5 provides that in case work is not done by contract the trustee must place the material on the road ready for work, and requires trustee of advisory board to fix a stated task for each baud in lieu of two or four days’ work. Sec. 6 requires permanent work to be done on the most frequented and principal highways of the township. Sec. 7 provides that first-class highways, being the main throughfares of a county, are to be built by a tax of 50 per cent of the cost on the lands within two miles, and 50 per cent, by general taxation in the county, including ail towns and cities through which the road runs, on the vote of the people. Sec. 8 requires County Commissioners to classify roads. Sec. 9 requires commissioners

to order the levy to be made in not less than three annual installments, nor more than ten; contract not to be let until the levy is made. Sec. 10 requires township trustees to construct second-class roads upon the same plan of yearly installments, and no bond to be assessed in either county or township. Sec. 11 abolishes the road supervisor. Sec. 12 taxes bicycles and other pleasure vehicles $1 per annum for general road fund.Sec. 13 taxes inheritances of SSOO net and upward from 1 to 5 per cent, for roads. Sec. 14 puts a $lO tax on traction engines, timber wheels and protable engines. Sec. 15 taxes all franchises hereafter granted or renewed 1 per cent, of gross receipts. Sec. 1G abolishes the toll-road laws. .l Sec. 17 provides for working county prisoners upon tho .roads. Sec. 18 permits warden to put trusty convicts ou roads of the first-class. Sec. 19 appropriates all unclaimed fees for roads. Sec. 20 abolishes the concurrent, jurisdiction of Mayor iu cities under 16,000, in misdemeanors and State cases. Sec. 21 provides wife-beaters cannot be fined, but must work the roads. ___ Sec. 22 creates an advisory board of trustees, justices of the township aud one freeholder, who shall determine the amount of work to be done, and the task each citizen shall do in building the road. Sec. 23 provides how a day’s work is to be commuted to a specified task.