Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-02-15

TTNHE existing system of toll roads is tax
l. on transit which obstructs the freedom
of ntercommunication. The people of this
Commonwealth expressed their preference at
the recent election for man with decided
views on this question. Doctor Brumbaugh,
during his campaign, repeatedly declared that
every toll road in this Commonwealth should
be abolished"
Agitation against toll roads Is not of recent
manufacture nor has 1t been confined to this
country. A volume of Notes on Toll Re-
FORM" published in London in 1856, concludes
that this system Of taxation is the most per-
nicious, the most corrupt and the most un-
English of all forms; in fact, the only relic
of the detested Star Chamber yet remaining"
The present tendency of road legislation
throughout the United Gtates is toward CEN
tralizaton This tendency is illustrated in
the 1913 laws of Illinois and Iowa, as we'll as
in the New Mexico law of 1872 Centraliza-
ton is also provided for in the recent New
York State law. Provision was made in
Pennsylvania in the Sproul law, enacted
in May, 1911, for the purchase of the toll
roads by the State. 1t was provided, with
certain limitations that these roads should
be taken over at any time, when, in the judg-
ment of the State Highway Commissioner,
they tend to interfere with or inconvenience
travel"
From Arlington township comes the most
recent declaration of such inconvenience in
the form of a petition declaring that the Ger
mantown and Willow Grove toll road rs an
obstruction and hindrance to business and
the Improvement of that portion of Mont
gomery County, and that the collection of
tolls is onerous, vexatious and burdensome."
That the toll is ''vexatious," the necessity for
the petition proves. It may be equally con-
tended that the burden is generous" The
toll charge for the six miles from Philadel-
phla to Willow Grove is 10 cents, or "a cents
per mile. The charge for automobiles from
Paoli to City Line amounts to considerably
more than the railroad fare between the same
two points. The average toll charge through
out the State is a triie less than a cent per
mile
Should those who travel toll roads bear the
entire burden2 Any such theory can hardly
be applicable in a civilized community, where
each individual must be benefited by the ia
cility Of communication. My food traverses
roads never saw. Should the price of that
food be affected by the occasional intrusion
of the toll road?
Governor Flower, in his message to the
New York State Legislature in 1898, said, in
part; "rhe plank road has now become
practically obsolete. and It is hoped so has
the toll gate. With the expiration of the ex-
listing charters OF turnpike corporations In
time will so this monopoly OF our highways.
Whatever monopolies or trusts may be found
in the future, our public roads should be left
untouched by the all-desiring greed for gain,
unrestrainably free as the air we breathe
and the water we drink"
Pleasure and Business Mixed
Unquestionsbly the automobile has has
tened the abolition OF the toll road. The di-
rect tax is Objectionable to the horse-drawn
vehicle, but even more so to the motorcar.
1t would seem that the automobillst Is enti- |
tied TO serious consideration In road matters |
In this state when he points TO the fact that |
he directly supplied rs per cent Of the appro-
priation to the State Highway Department |
during the year 1914. Although the toll |
charges are an item for the pleasure car
even more to be considered are the vexation
and inealeulable cost OF changing gears
caused by the frequent stops
But roads are becoming. with the develop
ment OF the motor truck, an important factor
In commercial transportation. It is an appre-
eiable cost to truck owners to have their
whole equipment held up, not to count the
extra wear aud tear on the truck. These
commercial interests prefer to pay their
share OF the road upkeep from the once SO
As 20 have their trucks continually IN mo-
ton Often the holding up OF the investment
ana the time Of the men amounts 70 more
than the toll paid. such practices Is sconomi.
eally unsound.
The zoe sad miles o toll roads are being
held az q hish psiee - ihelF oanosz. net Be-
cause theg are g nEoatsble = oIesaIe. hul