The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1909-01-16
ROBERTS BILLS
ARE ENDORSED
BY CONVENTION
Continued from PAGE 4

began with the reading by Mr.. Roberts
OF the title of the second measure. which
was an act to establish a standard s,sterl
oil road building. Some one asked that
the Dill be read in full and another oh
Jeeted. Delegate Hewlett was in favor Of
showing all that each measure contained
Mr.. Roberts remarked
can read these measures section b,-
section If you want TO, but if / do it is so
ING TO take up lot OF time If YOU fell
lows want to stay here until some time
next week 1t is optional with YOU. 1 tried
70 tuily explain these measures this morn
ing He received the sympathy of A
number OF delegates, and the chair took a
hanq IN the matter Chairman Dern re-
marked that the measures had been fully
explained, and that it was now up to the
convention to endorse or reject the bills
as tnsy were announced.
q rather stay here ten days or two
weeks IMAM make any mistakes regarding
Ihese measures shouted one delegate.
You betI' shouted another Let 5 stick
till We thresh them all outt'
Another deleg ate succeeded in quoting
the claInor by suggesting that, after read
ing the title of each bill. Mr.. Roberts he
requested to give, in a few words the
synopsis of each measure. so that tn.
conYentiou might vote intelligently This
request was made by the chair without
I
Mr.. Roberts explained that the bin IN
hand made provisions for uniform dimen-
SlOnS FOR county roads. stating where
trees might be planted. where sidewalks
might be laid, where bitehing posts might
be placed. It's to prevent highway com
ElisSioners tearing up a mans sidewalks
and trees aud ether things indiScrimnate-
~. he said There was a loud clapping
OF hands and, on a rising vote. the meas
ure was forthwith approved as it stood.
Able Rad Cor,r,ieeforare
The third measure was read by title Il
was measure TO do away with the old
system of district road suDerViSo-S and
providing that the county commissioners
shall appoint road commissioners bien-
nlalty-fnen who nave demonstrated their
ABILITY along road building. if necessary,
by practical illustration on some road in
the county, fixing their duties. bonds and
compensation. This measure also Goes
away with the labor poll tax, making the
poll tax cash in the sum of s. for ali men
between the ages of p and 80.
A delegate from Sanpete wanted the age
limit changed from y to 50. and this gave
jackson or Utah county a chance for
plauSe.
I hope" shouted Jackson. that tn
time viii come when the old men will be
exempt from all taxation. Let the younS
blood of this state take the burden of the
road tax"
Let the old boys who have made their
competence off our rich lands pay their
share!' responded a white-haired delegate
near the front Of the hall.
An amendment was offered to change
the age limit to read from p to 80 years
of age" but it was lost and the measure
finally adopted as drafted.
LeVying Property Tax.
The next measure read by title and ex-
planned by MIR. Roberts was the one pro-
viding for Lowing on property owners for
permanent road improvements, including
roads. gravel roads and paved
streets The measure provided that the
county commissioners be empowered to
levy property taxes on ali property in the
county, to base the tax according to the
acreage, and the property to be graded
according to the distance from the road
in three grades. making the necessary
provision for notices TO property owners
and the manner of collecting the tax. etc.
There is no provision for taxes on
property owners for dirt roads?' asked
delegate
No"
'Wer. apprehend there viii be more
dirt roads built in Utah than there are
macadam roads, said the delegate.
Probably remarked Roberts shortly, /
and We apprehend that the counties viii
be well enough off to pay for the dirt
roads without ievying property taxes. 1
too
Suppose only one road goes through all
county" suggested another delegate. lis |
it TO be understood that farmer living 4
eighteen or twenty miles off that road. who I
gets no benefit fr1n the road, must slso I
paw property tax toward it, That ain /
hardly right is it,
Il would surmise, under the provisions1
of this law" answered Mr.. Roberts. that
a man that far away from the read would /
not have n very heavy tax to pay. But /
let me toll YOU right here, my friend. that [
there cannot be built a yard of good road
in the state of Utah that won't benefit
every county in this state. every farmer
In this state. -eat applause followed |
this remark, and q motion made to APP
prove the bill as read was seconded, put
and carried the applause continuing.
Annual Vehicle Tax.
The next measure was the one provid-
ing for an annual vehicle tax. BY its pro-
visions buggies are divided into four
classes. from A to d. and are to be taxed !
from 30 cents a year UP to g, according
10 the kind of vehicle, the number of
wheels and the seating capacity up to six
)r over: automobiles are TO be in three
.lasses-E, + and S-and classified accord |
ng to horsepower up to or over 45-hOrse-
power. The taxes on automobiles. accor J. |
ne to class. are 10 be from 81 per year /
I'D to SO. In connection with the measure |
Mr. Hewlett called attention to the eSc~s |
,iVe tax against automobiles over other |
vehicles 'f-rhe tax is greater in eompasi- /
SON he said. but I want to assure the /
farmers here that the automobiles Of
salt Lake where over 200 machines are 4
low owned. approve Of this measure ana I
will abide. by il if it is passed by the leg /
stature"
Good for the auto fiendst" shouted a 1
farmer from Sanpete county. and hearty 1
-o,,ua Of ann1sl1Se was given