The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1913-03-28
NEW ROAD LAWS.

by Tic pdO6u6O VI IuC IAOC1oCh anu
Shattuck bills by the recent legisla-
ture, it is believed that a step has
been taken which will eventually re-
suit in the establishment of a sys-
tenn of good roads in every county
of the state.
The Koelsch bill provides for the
creation of state highway commits
sion; special tax for motor vehicles
and for convict labor on highways
The highway commission will receive
no pay except necessary expenses and
receive no pay except necessary ex-
penses and will have entire jurisdic-
ton over the highways of the state.
This bill is modelled largely after the
uniform highwaylaw which is being
adopted in all states as rapidly as
they can get to it.
A special tax is assessed OH mo-
tor vehicles as follows; under 80
horsepower $40; 81 to 40 horse-po
er inclusive $25; Al to so horse-pow-
er inclusive, $50; above so horse
power, $50. This tax is paid to the
secretary of state and all motor We
hicles are exempt from further tax
alton by the counties. The money
raised from this tax and from regis
trations and fines will go into the
road fund and will be used for no
other purpose.
Another section of the bill pro-
vides for the working of convicts on
the highways, largely following the
plan pursued in Colorado. The min
or details of the bill are similar to
the uniform motor vehicle law.
The Shattuck bill provides for the
issuance of 100000 in state bonds,
the money to be used in laying out,
surveying and constructing a system
OF state highways. The payment of
the interest and principal on this
bond issue is provided for in the Koe-
lsch bill, as follows: Thirty percent
of all moneys collected from license
tax, registration fees and fines shall
be applied to the payment of the prin-
cipal and interest on the bonds; the
remaining 70 percent shall be re-
turned to the several counties of the
state from which collected, provided
such counties shall require the same
for the payment of interest upon
bonds issued by them in aid of the
construction of county highways. Not
more than 70 percent of the moneys
collected in any county shall be re-
turned to such county in any event
and if the whole of such 70 percent
Is not required for the payment of
the interest, then only such part
thereof as may be required shall be
returned. All unclaimed portions of
the 70 percent shall be placed with
and used as is the moneys constitut-
ing the 80 percent
The provisions of the two laws are
therefore such as should encourage
every county in the state to author |
lze bond issues for highway purposes
as the payment of the principal and |
interest on such bonds will fall al
most entirely upon the motor vehicle
owners.
In addition to the greater part that
motor vehicles owners of Idaho will |
now take in the construction of good
roads, under the provisions of these
new laws, it is highly probable that
the state will soon receive federal aid
In this work, as it is the intention of |
the state Automobile association to
petition congress for a grant of land, |
at least $4,000 acres, the proceeds
from the sale of which shall be ap-
Piled to the development and con-
struction of good roads throughout
the state.
Petitions for such a grant have
previously been made to congress, but
the requests have been met with the
objection that Idaho had as yet done
nothing for herself, and THEREFORE The
federal government did not feel dis
posed to act. However, now that the
state has taken a long step in the
right direction, there is not much
doubt but what congress will, within
the very near future, come to our aid
by authorizing the grant of a suffi-
Gent number of acres of land to ma
terially aid in the construction of
good roads in the state
1t must be remembered that as
the number of automobiles increases
from year to year just that much
more money will be available for
good road work in the state.