Undor an act of the Pennsylvania logisla...

Undor an act of the Pennsylvania logislatun; pa.sscd Jan. 22, 1890, a state roa'l coVtunüaion was establisljed. Tlio comniission was appóirited jointly by the governor and the general kmiiibly, and is dompösed as follöwsi Appointcl by the senate - A. D. Harían, Chcslor cuunty; Amos H. Mylin, Lancaster county, and H. K. Sloan, Indiana county. Appointud by tho houso - John G. Foight, of Wostinor.-laiid couiity; V. II. McCtüIongh, Allegheuy; John E. Fanlkner, Bradford; John F. Griffith, MeKean; John L. Shillito, York. Appointed by the governor - David MoCargo, of Pittoburg; ('yrus Gordon, Cleartield; H. S. Goodwin, fcjouth Bethlehcm; Jacob Bolard.Conneantvillo; Samuel K. Dowuing, West Chester. At a recent meeting - the flrst to adopt a definite eourse of action - Senator Harlan said tliat it was his idea to preparo a circular be&ring certain interrogatorios pertinent to the subject, and to send copies to the board of commissioners of each county and also to tho chairmen OÏ the Republican and Democratie county committees to obtain the sentiment of the people on the subject of road improvement. The senator fiom Chester didn't want to start out to formúlate a bilí without conferring with the people. Representative Faulkner agreed with the chairman. Be said many farmers in his seetion didn't know exactly what they wanted at this time, and as they were as mucli intcrestcd in tho matter as anybody they ought to be consulted. The commission, after nearly every member had had his say, hartnonized 6a two important points: that every effort should bo made to get tho views of the people on the subject and that as far as possible the improvements should be offected without increased taxa! ion. Then Dr. McCullough took the floor in advocating a classifieation of state. county and township roads. He also raised a point regarding tho distribution of state aid for road ÜhpróvemeTrts, if it was decided to grant such aid. "There are in the state," said Dr. MeCullough, "1,723 school districts outsiue of cities and boroughs. Now, on the question of state aid which maj' be asked for and granted, how much would you allow to each for the roads? Ou the basis of a million dollar appropriation f rom the state you could give each district over $600. It is settled that we shall ask for state aid, and it is possible that the people of Philadelphia and the otlu-r large citics will not be willin that tlioir tases shall be expended on country roads. Philadelphia pays more taxea than any other part of the state. I favor the reconstruction of the entire road system, with a view to redneing mileage and increasing stone roads without augmenting taxation." Mr. Goodwin precipitated a legal argument in stating that cities and boroughs were subjected to higher taxation for roads and streets than the rural districts, and ho thought it would be unfair to expect sncli coinmunities to contribute to the improvements unless they applied to thoroughfares in cities and boroughs as well as those of the country. Mr. Gordon said they could expect to do nothing if the cities and boroughs were against them. City folks, he argued, were more interested in the condition of roads than country folks. He favored a dual system of roads - one a local system, controlled by the local authorities and kept up by local taxation, and the second maintained by state aid, controlled by state authority. These questions were finally adoptéd: First. Are j'ou in favor of abolishing the present system of working out road taxes, and pa"ing a cash tax instead? Second. Do j"ou favor stato aid to public roads? Third. If so, how shall it be distributed; to the township or committees? How shall the amount be ascertained; by valuation of assessable property, number of inhabitants, road mileago or otherwise? Fourth. How shall roads be superintended and controlled; by state, county or township supervisors or engineers; and how shall the state aid, if any, be. handled the same as local taxes? Fifth. Are you in favor of convict labor on public roads? Sixth. Is the stone in your county suitable for road building? Seventh. Is your county an agricultural, manufacturing or mining county? Eighth. Are you in favor of authorizing townships to borrow money for road purposes? Ninth. Give }-our views upon any other questions relating to road law and construction. The commission decided to print 20,000 copies of the interrogatories in circular form to be sent to all parts of the state. Cunvlct Lubur on the Itoiuls. I find an excellent suggestion in some arguments of á deputatiou of Troy lauudry girla who appeared before a legislativo coininittee to protest against convlcts doing laundry work at prices ruinous to honest labor. A similar grievance has been presented by many different trades, but this deputation advised ajood substitute and remedy, namely, that convicts should be set at work repairing the public roads. I doubt if any better thing could be suggested on this subject. The roads need improving, need it grievously, and there is unlimited work of that sort to be dune. There is in this no competition with any trade. Moreover, good public roads aro a great public benefit. They bring people 80 miich nearer to market, to churck, to school, to railroad, to library. They cheapen the cost of produotion and marketing, enhance the value of property, popularizo suinmer resorts with city visitórs. Every one knows that a bad road of a mile is practically as long as a good road of five miles, and much less invitíng. Let the convicta make good stone filled roads on the main line of travel, and while will add to general prosperity, comfort and intelligtnce, it will giyo the convicta lienlthy out door work and a chance to profit by vature's iilent