The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1908-02-14
PLANS FOR A ROAD FUND.


which is designed, whether to produce
the fund directly or to provide interest
and sinking fund for bonds, the money
will not be available until late in 1909.
Baltimore city has made its levy for
this year and collected large part OF
the State taxes, and it will not do to
change the rate now. Therefore it
seems all the more desirable to provide
revenues for the work in some other
way.
1t has been urged that = bend issue
will tend to fix the policy of read i'm
provement by the State 80 firmly that no
subsequent Legislature will undertake
to change the law. But the pslicy can
be fixed just as firmly in different way.
When the work once begins there will
be no disposition to repeal the law IN
til the whole State shares in the bene-
fits of it.
1t is hoped by the Governor that near
ly $500, 900 year can be provided from
the Treasury for the roads without =
bond issue and without increasing the
DIR ect tax upon property.
This large sum, if it can be appropri-
atsd annually, will be ~ much perhaps
a. can DO used each year to the best ad-
vantage without an undue expenditure
in machinery and outfit. The Governor
is considering . plan, and bill 10 being
prepared by which it is expected that at
least $1e0, 900 a year will be added to
the revenues Of the State by the increase
of the tax on collateral inheritancss to
per cent, which is double the present
rate. 1t 10 also expected that the liquS-
license tax 8 Baltimore city will DO in
creased, and that from that source an
additional 100000 can be obtained.
An equal sum, it is also expected, can
be dded to the public revenues by a
just and r. asenable readjustment OF
trad ers' licenses, which are now most
unequal.
The bill that it il proposed to intro
duss is expected to DO satisfactory to
the department stores and that 1t will
put An end to the biennial attempts to
burden them with an unreasonable tax.
Some temporary readjustment of the
Shoemaker road law appropriation may
alss be determined upon in order to
utilize = portion Of the annual appro-
priation Of $a0e, 900 to tho general road
fund, all Of which has never been de-
mandsd by the counties.
Important contributions may alss be
mace to the road fund, the Governor
says. by economy, on the principle that
= penny saved is penny gained. The
Legislatu re at this session, some people
think, if it lives up to its promises OF
economy should save 5000 or $75,-
UO0-that is the expenses should be that
much less than they were in the last
session. The State appropriatss nearly
$500, 1000 = year in aid Of private or
semiprivate schools and charities. 1t 10
believed that something like 100000,
or at least good sum can be cut OF
from these appropriations without hurt
ing any worthy institution.
Mr.. Carville D. Benson, the leader of
the House, who is taking most active
part in this great work of improving the
State, is farsighted as we'll as active.
He has been impressed by the prohibit
tory rates on crushed stone and road
material which have been demanded by
the Pennsylvania Railroad Company,
Accord ng to the.reports Of the men en-
gagged in roadmaking, aud no is anx-
ious to find some way to get more fav-
orable treatment. He thinks that the
railroads will be among the chief bon
efciaries of good roads because they
will make the railroad stations access
able to freight and passengers at all
seasons, and anything which improves
and develops the country will promote
the business of the railroads. He there
fore considers it Narrow minded poll
cy for railroad company which covers
SO great part Of the State to prohibit
and prevent a. far ~ it can the devsl-
opment of the State.
Mr.. Benson hopes that the Pennsyl-
vania company can be induced BY prop
er representation to pursue the same
liberal policy toward the State that
Baltimore and Ohio does. He has
therefore addressed letter to Mr.. Der.
nard Carter, counsel for the company,
dir Getting his attention to the matter
and begging his cooperation and influ-
ence to procure for the, State the same
rates on crushed stone that the Balti-
more and Ohio gives. Mr.. Benson
much prefers this method Of obtaining
the action desired to forcing it by legis-
lation or by the threat of retaliatsry
measures, and he IL hoping for a speedy
and favorable reply from Mr.. Carter.
The importance Of the matter lies in the
fact that there is no stone in most of the
Eastern Shore counties, and there il no
practical way of getting it except BY
rail from Port Deposit.
Governor Crsthers has this plan Of
road-improvsment very much at heart
and II the sources Of increased revenue
referred to do not yield = sufficient
sum, then; he says, he will have no hes
itatien in recommending the small in
crease in the State tax that will be nee
cssary. He thinks that . bend issue
would have some advantages because 1t
would distribute the burden Of the i'm.
provement over a good many years.
Still be dses not desire to create a debt
unless it is imperative. 1t is some ad-
vantage to the State to be debt free,
and then the knowledge that 30 vast a
sum as s., oss, 900 is available may lead
to sxtravagance.
ant. n>-no.~t;, -. ~ - II -rl., 4 ~