The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1910-10-27
The Road Tax Amendment.
New Orleans Times-Democrat.

While warmly in favor of good roads,
having worked for them earnestly for
years, and while recognizing that money ISL
needed for road construction, the Times
Democrat cannot recommend to the voters
this amendment, believing that the Legis-
lature has broken faith, if it has not ex-
ceeded the constitutional limit of taxation,
and believing further that the amendment
will create many new political positions,
without affording the improvement desired
in the matter of highways. The tax will
be certain, the roads doubtful, is the view
taken by such conservative papers and
strong advocates of good roads as the Mer
Rouge Democrat, the st. Francisville True
Democrat and others, which see the defects
in the system proposed for Louisiana, for
the Constitutional Amendment must be
taken, in connection with the road law,
Act 40, of the regular session of 1903 which
provides how the money derived from this
tax shall be expended, and which is, there
fore, supplementary to and part of that
amendment.
The road tax which was very strong at
first in Louisiana, has not latterly grown
IN popularity. First of all, too many taxes
have been, submitted to the people at the
coming election. Never before in the his
tory of this State, nor any other State,
have the people been asked to vote three
new State taxes at one and. the same time,
the exposition tax, the road tax and the
Confederate veteran tax.
It was originally proposed to create a
Road Commission to expend the revenues
derived from this tax, but the popular OPP
position growing out of the creation of the
Game Commission and the fear that the
Road Commission would prove another
great political machine killed that scheme.
The work has, therefore, been placed under
the control of the State Board of Engi-
neers, who are authorized to select State
Highway Engineer with a salary of $4,000,
and "such assistant engineers and other
help as may be necessary" We do not
see that these provisions very greatly
change matters or remove the objections
raised to the proposed Road Commission,
as creating large and unlimited number
of new Offices.
| In the parishes the State will give hall
the money needed for the construction Of
road if said road is approved by the State
Board, the latter assuming full charge oil
the work. Application for the money must
be presented by the police juries and town
councils, and will be considered in the
order of their filing. They will not be con-
, sidered unless the parish has the money al
hand to pay for its share of the cost, one
half. There are a large number of Other
conditions, for the statute is very bulky
one, entering into minute details. As some
} of the country papers see it, the tax par
of the amendment is certain; the road
building doubtful.
Under these circumstances, with the
other taxes, likely to be voted this year, i
, will be best to hold the road tax in abey.
4 ance for another election, when the entire
question can be fully discussed and proper
action taken.
In the meantime, however, there neee
be, and should be no cessation in the worl
of road construction. In Texas and othe
: Southern States, and indeed Throughout
: the Union, good roads are being bull
: without the necessity of constitutional
amendment, State tax and a State high,
e way engineer or commissioner; and we Sc,
no reason why Louisiana cannot profitably
9 follow in the footsteps of its neighbors, VIII
have secured good roads without too heav.
burden on the tax payers.