Daily Kennebec journal., 1914-02-02

ROADS MONEY.
Continued from Page One.)

merclal the DAY II was issued. L dOHl
know what the real motive behind this
resolution is. / am sure the farmers
of Maine are interested, the same as
others are, in the improvement of our
highways. I have spent a great many
years and a good deal of thought up
on this subject, and l want to assure
you at the start that l have no In
terest in this undertaking except to
improve the highways Of Maine for
the benefit of all it's citizens, without
reference to class or occupation. There
seems to be somewhere bureau In
dustriously working to disseminate
misinformation. The reason / say this
is because / have noticed of late so
many misstatements in the public
press which must have tendency
to deceive the public with regard to
what is proposed to be done under the
new law which was passed by the last
Legislature establishing State High
way Commission and providing for an
issue of state highway bonds. Some
one seems to think that there is
chance for an issue between the au-
tomobilists and the farmers with ref
erence to this matter. but I am un-
one has ever yet proposed to construct
with the proceeds of the bond issue
"a few miles Of macadamized high
ways" as suggested in your resolu-
ton. At least, no one in authority,
that I know of. l suspect some ingen-
ious politician thinks there may be
a chance to create over this subject
a prejudice among the farmers of the
State against the automobilists, but
such a one must remember that the
farmers are very fast becoming owners
Of automobiles, and are demanding
good highways. In other words, the
farmers are automobilists, and the
automobilists are farmers, which in
the end can only result, If successful,
in a quarrel with themselves.
feel that the peoplee are not well
posted yet about the new law, and
the purposes of the bond issue.
doubt if the newspaper writer's as a
class have ever read the law, and
whatever is done, the people must un-
derstand must be done under the law,
Chapter 130 of the Public Laws OF
1913, and / invite everybody to get
copy and read it. We live under a
of them. The last Legislature made
1.-THE representatives of the people,
and so far as l know there We're no
political considerations entered into.
II was a strictly economic measure,
supported by Republicans and Demo-
Gratis The law provides for a commits
sion of three who shall take over all
of the affairs of the present State
Highway Commission. In appointing
this commission I recognized two po
litical parties, and am sure that the
commission and the present admins
tration have no purpose but to con-
tinue the work under this state strict
ly along business principles, and | am
hoping that civil service regulation
will be adopted in the appointment of
those who are to work in this depart
ment, such as inspectors and agents.
This law did not go into effect un
til, July. IL. 1913. Consequently the
work of the State highway depart
ment for 1913 was carried through
principally under the old system. In
order that the public may be inform
ed, l want to call their attention to
what was done in 1918 for the State
through the State highway depart
ment. First, let me say that none of
the bond money was used. Second,
that the State paid to the towns and
cities, as State aid, the greater part
of s5S6,777.90. This came from the
following sources:
Improvement of State roads
Estate add 1913; ',..' s,.;c .c:;. $3.50 'ooooo
III
Registration of automobiles. 49,. los $50 SO
Special appropriations for 1873. 1853. s.
$3.50, ,777. 80
find this was paid over in differ
ent sums for State aid to highways, to
nearly every town in the State. 1t
was not all paid out-some balances
are left. / also find that the s106,950.-
80, which was received from automo-
bile licenses, was paid over by ITO
different orders passed by the execu.
tive council in the aid Of roads in Diff
ferent towns and cities. This was
done by dividing this automobile
money into seven equal portions. or
nearly equal, and each executive coun-
cilor took the responsibility of distrib-
uting 1t to the towns and cities in
their respective councillor districts,
which means the whole State. None
Of this was bond money.
The people must remember that the
bond money is separate matter from
State aid money. The act of the last
Legislature, above referred to, by it's
first section. provides this act is to
establish State Highway Commits
sion; to provide for an interlocking
system of State highways; to furnish
State aid for important county and
town highways; to provide for contin-
uance of maintenance Of all highways
to the Improvement of which the
State has contributed or shall here
after contribute; to provide for bond
issue and for the equitable distriSu-
tion Of the proceeds of the same among
the several counties" Now, we see at
the outset a new department, to wit,
State roads and State aid roads, and
the provision for the maintenance of
all roads. The first duty Of the COM
mission is to designate which these
should be, and the Statute especially
provides that the expense of conduct
ing such State highways shall be
borne wholly by the State, except in
20 coo in which towns NAV desire TO