The record-union., 1899-01-21
y NOVEL LICENSE PROPOSITION

In the Sttae of Washington there is
pending before the Legislature bill
authorizing local governments, cities
and towns to regulate the riding of
Bicycles. tricycles. ETC., upon streets or
roads, by levying small license tax
to be used solely for the construction of
Bicycle paths, wheelways, or country
sidewalks outside of the local jurisdic-
ton levying the license tax.
In Washington the sentiment is
strongly in favor Of such a law. Three
years ago Tacoma passed an ordinance
fixing a 81 license tax on all bicycles,
the fund raised to be used iii path con-
raised under that ordinance, and the
money has been judiciously expended,
since no rake downs were possible with
such an army Of wheelnen watching.
Seattle some time later followed the
example of Tacoma, and the system
works well there. The effort now made
is by general law to warrant these
ordinances and remove all doubt as to
authority to pass them. For it will be
remembered that Chicago adopted IL
cense system for bicycles for similar
purpose, and ON test the Supreme Court
held It invalid because there was no
State law justifying it.
Bicyclists in this State are generally
desirous that such law shall he en-
acted by the Legislature now in ses-
sion. The leading men in the move
ment declare that seven out of ten of
an wheelmen will gladly pay the tax
for the purposes indicated. Some
ask that it be made part of the State
tax system, that it may be general, and
tfat the money to be raised may be
applied to building in each county what
ere coming to be known as country
sidewalks. But we doubt very much if
that should or could be done. The bet
ter plan would be to authorize COM
munities to license the use Of bicycles
and tricycles, for fee of. say 81 a
year, less the amount paid on the wheel
as personal property tax. The sum
thus raised should be applied solely to
path construction and maintenance for
the uses Of pedestrians and those. who
ride the wheel.
UnQuestionably the construction of
these side ways are benefcent, equally
beneficial to pedestrians and wheelmen.
The rural resident ought to have easy
and dustless, mudless-so to speak
walkways as residents Of towns and
cities The Legislature has so far recog-
Mzed the benefits of such paths that
1t Is now the law that Supervisors may
provide for them along all country
roads, and in this county several such
in process of dedication.
In Washington the proposed bill spe-
cifies, only cities of certain classes in
which such license tax may be levied.
1t + not imperative. but simply permis-
sive. An imperative law. we think,
would be unconstitutional, but permis-
eve one might not. probably would not,
be so held. Authorization to local gov
ernments to lay on the license tax for
the purposes indicated would meet with
no serious opposition, since it can be
safely assumed that no local board will
place such license If the people sub
ject to It do not wish it. To illustrate
how such a permissive law would WORK
in Sacramento, it may be assumed that
there are fully 100 bicycles ridden up
on the streets Of the city. A tax of 81 a
year upon each would produce fund
that would enable the city to contribute
to the Supervisors money enough to
improve fifteen miles of country wheel
way paths along county roads annu-
ally, and maintain them. But since
there are some 500 bicycles owned in the
county outside of the city, which would
thus escape the license while their own
eTs would enjoy the benefits of the
paths, there would seem to be inequal
fty in the proposition. However, that
is not a question of supreme difficulty,
since it is probable that a permissive
law including counties would be as con-
.sfitutional as one relating to towns and
cities only. But town cyclists desire the
enactment whether their country breth-
zen contribute or not.
The State organization of cyclists is
warmly in favor of a law such as has
been indicated, not one imperative in
its directions but giving to local juris-
o:ctions power to license wheels and ap-
ply the proceeds to path construction
outside of their jurisdictions, which is
to say to contribute to Board Of Super
visors the sum raised to be applied to
path construction, or to be applied di-
rect upon paths along county roads
by consent of the Supervisors Of coun-
ties.
It viii certainly do no harm for the
Legislature to look into the matter and
pass the desired bill. which has not yet
been formulated The wheelmen of the
State constitute large body OF the
people. and amy respectful request from
them is entitled to consideration. More
over 1t so happens that rural dwellers
are now generally favorable to path
construction, and have abandoned their
cre-tine opposition. Indeed, In this
county we recently had an instance OF
an entire rural community in certain
district petitioning the Board Of Super
,,,.or. 20 lay out and construct foot