Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1906-11-23

sympathizing with the views of those
people who regard with alarm the pros
pect of those unsuitably planned roads
being habitually used by traffic moving
at speed which has hitherto been con-
fined to railroads."
The Quarterly writer has not much |
use for commissions because "any man
of intelligence can form his own opin.
ions from his own personal experience"
The Royal commission, however, makes |
recommendations, one of which is that
the tax on motor cars be ''turned over
to some central department to be APP
propriated in part payment of the cost
incurred by the local authorities, not
on customary repairs, but on works
which have for their object the creation
of more durable and less dusty road
surfaces, and the removal of danger to
traffic" They also recommend an in
crease in the rate of license duties on
motor-cars, the proceeds of which, last
year, netted half million. dollars in the
Kingdom. This the critic thinks is
utterly inadequate when the mere up
keep of the roads costs twelve millions
annually in England and Wales alone
This tax he considers is of the nature
of sumptuary tax; it is a tax the princi-
pie of which is that it is borne by those
most capable of bearing it, a tax upon
luxuries and must therefore be extended
to its greatest revenue capacity. But
this writer says, if this tax may be di
rected to the. use which the tax payer
dictates there is no reason why other
classes of taxpayers should not say
where their money should go; and he
thinks the government may take full
advantage, tax motors highly, and use
the tax when and where they please:
The Commission gives no help regard
ing the dust nuisance; but it does en-
phasze its horrors and the grea' damage
it does; hedges are injured, grain crops
are rendered dangerous to livestock by
the dust lodged in them and it ruins hay.
No single article could do justice to the
dust; to walk out on Sunday in the dust
is painful in some places. A speed of
less than ten miles an hour however,
would almost eliminate the dust nui-
s4nce. The Commission find that the
people mainly res onsible for the crea
ton of the dust nuisance are wealthy
folk who use motors for recreation or
pleasure; and that ''the pleasure of one
/ class cannot he permitted to interfere
with the health and livelihood of much
larger class is "A truth of which Parlia-
ment will be bound to take cognzance;
and when it comes up for decision it will
have to aim as well as all other legisla-
ton OF the present era, at the promotion
of the greatest good to the greatest num-
Der"
The question of speed limit is dis
putatious one. The Royal Commission
sought Information on that point far and
wide. France has a general speed law
of 49, miles an hour, reduced to 124
miles in inhabited places; tlvesiXths of
the United States have maximum speed
and 10 miles in inhabitei places; Austria
had no limit but was forced to make one,
it permits % miles in open country,
miles in inhabited places and five miles
in narrow winding roads. In Germany
there is no speed-limit in open places
and about nine miles in inhabited places.
The RoyIl Commission recommends
the adjustment of the present general
2O-mile speed limit and to substitute a
12-mile limit in inhabited and danger
GUS places. 1t also wishes to adhere
to the general 12-mile limit for heavy
motor cars, except cars that weigh
two or three tons with solid tires, to
five miles. 1t is the wealthy motorists
who wish to abolish the speed limit.
Every rural road authority fas COM
planned of the burden imposed upon
them by the motor car traffic. On GER
tain roads the cost of maintenance be-
tween 1903 and 1905 was increased fifty
dollars mile and the Commission es-
Inmates that if the heavy car traffic
increases at the same proportion the
cost will soon double from that Of 1900.
In the opinion of the man who gave the
evidence the increase was wholly due
to motor traffic. The main part of the
damage must be laid at the door of the
heavier forms of traffic, but the light