The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1915-02-12

TAKE UP GOOD
ROADS BILL
PROPOSE COMPLETE REVISION OF
HIGHWAY SYSTEM - AMEND
MENTS MADE AS MEASURE is
ADVANCED.
(From the Oklahoman)


good roads bill proposing complete
revision of the state highway system,
and which is regarded as one of the
most important of the administration
measures now before the legislature;
the final passage of five bills, and pas
sage by the committee of the whole of
thirteen others constituted the Chief
work of the house of representatives
Thursday. o..
Sixteen of the forty-fve pages of the
good roads bills had been considered
and passed when adjournment was
taken Thursday evening, and consider
alton will be resumed Friday. Several
amendments were made but most of
them were immaterial 1t is believed
the bill will become law in practical
ly the same shape as reported out by
the committee on highways, inasmuch
as practically all of the differences
of opinion regarding road legislation
were threshed out in committee.
The bill proposes abolition of the
state highway department, as now
constituted, and transfer of all of its
powers and duties to the state board
of public affairs, as specifically recon-
mended by Governor r. L. Williams.
The board of affairs is given authori-
ty to name an engineer at salary
of $2,5O0 per year, the salary now paid
to the state highway commissioner
The civil engineers of the state uni
versity and A. & M. college at Still
water and the head of the state geo.
logical survey would constitute an ad-
visory board to serve without COM
pensation.
Division of public roads into three
classes, county, state and township, is
proposed in the bill. Any highway
>within the state would be subject to
designation as a state road, If the
state should so desire. 1t is made
mandatory for the commissioners of
each county to designate not less than
10 per cent or more than 25 per cent
of the roads in their counties as state
roads. Convicts would be employed
on all state roads, and on any county
or township road provided requests
do IN ~ rrpuiln1 for
in the bill.
AS a means of raising revenue for
road and bridge purposes tax by the
state of so cents per horsepower would
be collected on all automobiles, motor
cycles and traction engines. This tax
would be in lieu of the license fee of
81 now charged on automobiles, and
when paid would exempt motorcycles,
automobiles and traction engines from
all other taxes on an ad valorem ba-
sis. It is further provided that ev-
cry county must levy a tax not ex-
ceeding 10 mills for the creation of a
road and bridge fund, and where town
ship government has not been abolish.
ed under the provisions of a bill passed
by the legislature two years ago, a
levy of mills shall be levied in town.
ships. The bill also provides that
county commissioners must make a
levy of not less than two-fifths of a
mill for a special drag fund to be used
in defraying the expenses of dragging
public roads.
Another feature of the bill provides
for state levy of one-fourth of mill
on all taxable property within the
state for road purposes. The money
will be collected the same as other
| taxes, paid into the treasury and held
there to the credit of the county in
| which it is collected.
The only amendment offered to the
bill that occasioned any great amount
of discussion Thursday was one pro
posing to strike out that portion which
gives the board of affairs authority tC
appoint an engineer. The amendment
vas voted down by big majority.
The house killed the administration
bill proposing amendments to the Law
regulating the duties of the office o
tile state fire marshal. 1t was con
tended that if the bill became a law
it might have the effect of deprivini
cities and towns of the right of provid
ing their own regulations for fire pre-
vention.
. Among the bills passed by the hous
! in committee of the whole were thos
making appropriations for support @
the various district agriculture
schools for the next two fiscal years.