Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1909-01-16
IS NOW UP TO LEGISLATURE
Bus Oncred to Delegates Are Amend
cd and In shape for Prcscnta-
lion 90 House and senate.

amended form they will be presented
TO the legislature. In scope they cover
the field OF a system OF road building,
a system OF road maintenance. and a
plan for financing the enterprise by a
vehicle tax
The final session Of the convention
/ hold yesterday afternoon was not So
! stormy as that Of the morning. when
sectional feeling ran free for short
! time. and formed into number of
caustic speeches and rctorts
| Al the opening OF the afternoon ses-
| sion. bin TO provide "a uniform sys-
tenn OF highway construction" was ln-
| PRODUCED for consideration. IL received
a unanimous standing vote.
A third bill, framed 10 do away with
| labor poll tax and substitute a cash
| poll tax OF 50 for all men between a
and 30 years OF age. and 10 provide
a system of road supervisors IN lieu
Of the present system OF district super
visors. also was passed
The age limit on the matter OF poll
tax created some discussion. one dele
gate declaring that the young blood
should bear the burden and the old
men b. excused He wanted the age
limit placed at 40. Let the old boys
who have made a competence off our
rich lands bear their share" was an
argument advanced by a grey haired
delegate which brought out an amend
ment to make II 80 years. Both
amendments were finally lost
A PROPERTY TAX.
A bill grading property into three
classes for taxation, according TO its
location either near to or distant from
a main road, and providing a tax TO
build macadam and gravel roads was
endorsed nimOusly. Mr.. Robert
pointed out that no tax on dirt roads
was provided because he thought any
county could AFFORD to dig its own dirt
roads whenever Ia wanted them without
additional taxes.
TAX on VEHICLES.
I'VE are not going to tax the farmer
for his farm wagon" said Mr. Roberts,
but we do intend TO tax the farmer
who can aford the luxury Of a buggy
for that buggy" With this comment
he brought forward a bill providing a
vehicle tax which graded buggies into
four classes from A to D. with a tax
ranging from 30 cents TO 49,
Automobiles are listed IN the bill in
classes 4, r and G., with a tax ranging
from sl2 up to $40. OrsOn n. Hewlett
called attention 20 the larger tax On
automobiles than other vehicles, but as
sured all present that the automobile
owners Of Salt Lake approved the bill
and We're willing 10 abide by IT,
This brought out a hearty round OF
applause, and the bill was approved
amid comments 10 the effect that eve
won't kick IL the automobile fellers
don't"
A proposition TO employ convict la
Dor on the roads was approved with an
amendment reducing the rate Of pay
from s. TO $3.50 per day. II provoked
some discussion, and several delegates
expressed the opinion that farmers
would be opposed to II.
Wide tires for vehicles formed the
subject OF a bill, and as wide tires had
been discussed prior 10 the considera-
ton Of the bill there was no opposi-
tion TO II. A provision exempting farm
ers from the road poll tax who adopt
wide tires before Jan. Is. 1915. when the
Wide tire law IS to become effective,
was applaudcd.
a bin providing penalties for farmers
whose irrigating bitches overlooked the
highway, provoked the principal dis
cufsion OF the Afternoon. Mr.. Roberts
measure provided "a fine OF not more
than $1,000 and imprisonment for not
longer than one year for destruction
" the roads i'm this way. Officials
failing To- prosecute were 70 be guilty
Of a felony
Delegate Smoot or Provo. held that
gophers often make holes through
which irrigation water gets upon the
highways. that seepage cannot be con-
trolled and that In the best bitches
the water romettmes gets away. He
thought the bill too drastic and de-
clared that the rights OF the highway
were no more sacred than the rights
of citizens. Several other delegates
took this view, and finally the bill was
amended 10 such an extent that Mr..
Roberts declared IL might as well be
burned. since the present law covered
It's amended provisions
MEMORIAL no CONGRESS.
The final matter considered was a
memorial 10 Congress asking for the
setting apart OF 100000 acres OF pub
Tic land Ina Utah for the use of the
state la building good roads and for
the erection OF a state capitol. II
passed without comment or opposition.
The bills were then referred 20 the
legislative committee with power 10
straighten them out in line with the
sense OF the convention as expressed
I'm its voting
Tho report OF the committee on
permanent organization recommended
that Governor William Spry be presl-
dent that each county choose "A Vice
president. and that there bo an oxecu-
| tive committee 10 consist OF ave mem-
beers. two from Salt Lake. and one
each from Logan, ogden, and Provo.
The vice presidents were announced
later "a brief recess 90 consist OF the
following. Beaver r.. r. Tanner. Box
/ elder n. J.. Larson. Cache. John u.
Allen. Carbon, Homer Thomas. Davis.
I ~ W Mhlteside. Emery Alonzo
| Brinkerhom Grand. j. d. Brown.
Naue. John r. Brown; Morgan. n VI
Buffers Nephi. r. a. Burton; SAM
pete. g. ~ Madison, salt Lake. John
] Dem SEWER IA g. Larson, summit.
! George smith. Masatch. Thomas Jcf-
I forsoni Willard. ~. ~ Thompson.
bur the executive COMMITTEES. Utah
] county selected Joseph Dunn. Weber.
] Cd H. Madseni salt Lake. George M
cannon and 3D. III. Hewlett, cache.
] Hersrhrl HuuCn.
Preceding the motion 10 adjourn
/ Governor sppr former Governor CUT
I lcr and thc Commercial club were
] thanked f0r their Interest and services
I ln arranging Tor tho convention. Tho
/ legislative committee win now take up
] ita work with the legislature and 80
3 THAI the bills agreed upon are intro
/ uuccd and supported.
] saa-a .--
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