The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1913-04-03
GOV. ODD|f YFTOfS
THREE ROAD BILLS

J On march 81 Governor Oddie vetoed
the three road bills passed by the leg
islature, making an aggregate appro-
priation of 100000. One of the meas
ures carried $4,000 in aid of the an
tomobile road through the state, from
east to west, which would have passed
through Humboldt county. Follow
ing is the message which accompanied
the veto
To the Honorable, the Secretary of
State:
i herewith deposit with you, without
my approval, substitute for assembly
bill No. 81, entitled can act to pro-
vide for the construction of a public
highway and making an appropriation
therefor
In submitting my objections to this
bill | shall include, also, senate bill
No. 157, entitled can act providing
for the construction of the Nevada
state highway in the counties of Esme-
ralda, Eureka, Lander, Churchill.
White Pine and Nye, and other mat,
ters relating thereto, and making an
appropriation therefore, each of
which makes an appropriation from
the state treasury to construct public
roads in certain counties, and each
OF which ] have, for reasons herein
after stated, this day deposited with
you without my approval
Assembly bill No. 81, herewith de-
posted, carries an appropriation of
S2o,ooo; senate bill No. 157, referred
to, carries an appropriation of $10,-
600, and assembly bill No. 2S4 an ap-
preparation of $4,000; aggregating
Af0 000 a.
highway construction.
No Way to Raise Money.
The legislature made no specific in
crease in the state tax rate to meet
this proposed outlay; nor are the f.
nances of the state in such favorable
condition as to be able to meet this
unusual disbursement without Great
ing an embarrassing deficit. While
thus is presented as a more or less de-
cisive reason for disappearing these
bills, there are certain other objections
which appear to me as worthy of
special discussion.
1t is obvious that whatever money
Is expended by the state in road con-
structlon must be contributed by the
taxpayers in the several counties. If
the state expends 100000 in road con-
structure, unless it is divided in the
approximate ratio of each county's
taxable property, any county which
gets less than its prorata, or no part
thereof, is contributing to road con-
structlon in other counties from which
II derives no direct benefit. On the
other hand, any county which gets
more than its pro rata thereof would
be the beneficiary at the expense of
the taxpayers of other counties. I'm
der the provisions of the three bills
mentioned, appropriations are made
tor roadwork in certain counties, leav-
ing other counties receiving no appro-
priations and the taxpayers of which
would indirectly contribute for road
work to be performed in the former.
In my message to the legislature, in
discussing the proposed transcontinen-
tai automobile highway from the At
lantic to the Pacific, and the likelihood
OF its passing through Nevada if our
people awakened to the necessity of
extensive highway construction, I
stated: cit is obvious that the coun-
ties through which such road may be
built will be the chief benefciaries of
its construction, and for which reason
| recommend the passage of general
act enabling any county to bond itself
for its prorata of such cost and 9TH
erwise meet the terms and conditions
likely to be imposed by the govern
ment and contributing associations"
Road Bills Approved.
In compliance with the foregoing
recommendation, assembly bill No. 302
passed both houses of the legislature
and was approved by me March 26.
Under its provisions any county in the
81 OF r+al
road work as its taxpayers are willing
to perform, either by a direct tax or
by issuing county bonds. In respect
to the issuance of county bonds for
road improvement, the state invest
ment board, of the state school funds,
under the provisions of assembly bill
No. 249, approved by me March %,
are authorized to dispose of any of
the bonds now owned by the state
school fund and convert the proceeds
into county bonds, under certain re-
strictions. Thus counties desiring to
issue bonds for road improvement
would likely find the state ready and
willing to take them; the interest
practically being returned to the coun-
ties in support of the public schools.
Thus, under the provisions of these
two acts last mentioned, a complete
modus operandi for counties to under
take the Improvement of their roads
and highways is at hand.
While, under the provisions of the
three bills under discussion, the $780,
600 aggregate appropriations would
mean serious drain on the state
treasury, this amount when divided
among the IL counties would not make
sensible impression upon the good
Continued on Page Four)
l k.aa.a LII ~ ha fir1aa thu