The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1915-07-17

| There is a scheme on foot in the
city of New Orleans, concocted by GER
tain interests, to put through at the
coming constitutional convention a
proposition whereby the city of New
| Orleans will get back it's one-quarter
mill State tax paid into the State High.
way Fund. The one-quarter mill State
tax paid into this fund by the city of
New Orleans amounts to about $4,000
to $4,000 annually. To take this
amount from the present small high
way fund, which amounts to something
like $4,000 annually, would seriously
handicap the highway department,
making it almost useless to try to
operate on the remaining fund The
good roads work we are now accom-
plishing throughout the State and the
good roads sentiment being created
thereby would receive most serious
setback which by all means should be
averted, if possible.
1t is true that New Orleans does not
participate in the division or apportion-
ment of the highway fund, neither do
other towns and cities of the State, yet
paying their quota of the highway
fund.- but considering the development
of the State together with the increase
in agricultural products and the bring
Ing in of immigrants, due to the con.
struction Of good roads, all of which
are absolutely necessary for the sup
port and making of towns and cities,
| do not think that New Orleans or any
other city or town of the State should
be permitted to retain. as proposed,
any of this highway fund, for the fund
as now handled under the highway de-
partment is advantageously and judi
ciously expended and the city of New
Orleans reaps it's portion of the ben
efits derived under the present plan.
This department is bending its en-
ergies and resources towards the de-
velopment and construction of COM
prehensive system of good roads for
the entire State, viewing and treating
the State as unit, and, if unmolested
and let alone in our undertaking, will
in comparatively short time accom-
plish the object sought, viz. the build
ing of system of good roads for the
whole State. But, to permit New Or
leans to retain its one-quarter mill
State road tax will give other towns
and parishes cause to ask for like con-
cessions, and if granted, the result
would be, with few exceptions, that
this fund would be sQuandered, and
expended in haphazard way and
nothing left to show for the money
thus expended 1t is obvious, it would
be stepping back into the same old rut
where we have been for the past forty
years, and Louisiana would be without
a complete system of highways for
another forty years or more.
1t may be asserted by few that
some parishes pay into the highway
fund much larger amount than some
other parish or parishes that are re
ceiving State aid far in excess oil
amounts paid by them, and possibly
further alleging that they are not II
favor of State aid for the reason thai
they are able to build and pay for Their
own roads and should not have to con
tribute to the building of roads IL
other parishes. 1t is very true thai
oftentimes some Of the poorer parishes
road districts, and wards, receive State
aid that exceeds many times thu
amount of the good roads taxes pait
by them in the highway fund annually
But, right here these conditions ant
dlOuCJ ploFS
ly the importance and advantage of ;
State Highway Fund and a State High
way Department. We're it not for tn,
State Highway Fund, some of thes'
parishes, road districts and wards
would not be in position to build b.
themselves without the aid of the high
way department and the State High
way Fund, and it could not be hopet
to ever have a completed system o
roads extending from and to all part
of the State. Again, every parish
ward or road district is given and ha
the same chance to participate in tn
construction Of roads under the Stat
aid plan and supervision. Appreciat
ing the advantages and benefits to b
derived from constructing roads unde
this plan, there have been since tn
formal organization Of the Highwa
Department on February !, 1911, twe1
ty-one parishes that have receive
State aid on road construction, en-
bracing, constructed and under COZ
struction, COS miles which form a pal