The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1916-01-29
UNIFORMITY IN ROAD BUILDING
BILL WOULD CREATE STATE
HIGHWAY COMMISSION.
Measure Providing for License Tax ON
Automobiles Will be Further Dis
cuSScd.

columbia, Jan. 2S.-The advisa bill
lty Of creating State highway COM
mission with license on automo-
oiles for its maintenance was both
championed and disapproved on the
moor of the house last night in a de-
pate which on motion was adjourned
untll this morning at II o'clock. The
principal object of such a commission,
as outlined in the bill proposed by the
mouse committee on roads, bridges
and ferries, is to cooperate with the
road authorities of various counties
and to study the system of public
highways and road construction.
1t was urged in behalf Of COM
mission that there should be one body
with supervisory and advisory powers
over the large amount of money ex-
pended by the counties of the State
during the course of a year in road
work, the aggregate being about ST.
5OO,OOO
| Mrs Belser took up the committee
substitute which provides for a State
highway commission to consist of five
members. The expenses of the COM
mission and State highway engineer
are to come out of a special license
fec on automobiles, according to
their horsepower rating.
I'VE want to put expert engineering
advice before all supervisors" said
Mr. Belser, who pointed out that for
road purposes the counties annually
spend an aggregate of $780, 900. He
maintained that this large expense
should be carefully supervised by one
man or body of men. He said that
South Carolina is one Of five States
rot having a State highway board.
lie estimated that the automobile
fees would aggregate about $4,000
and that the individual fee would
not seriously increase the expense of
operating n car.
Mr.. Belser said that indications
point to national aid on highway con-
structiOn and that this State should
be in position to welcome this fed
eral aid. He said that supervisors
usually go to little care and no ex-
pense in getting expert engineering
rod ho
work is done uselessly and without
any ultimate end in view. He pointed
out that the highway commission
would ultimately have a continuous
system Of highways throughout the
State. Committee amendments were
proposed looking to the exemption
of out-of-State cars for a period OF
GO days and to the owners of new
cars for ten days to secure the Ii
cense.
Mr.. Carter argued in behalf of the
tax on automobiles for the MAIN
tenance of roads, saying that automo-
bi!es enjoy special privileges on ac-
count Of their speed over other road
travel. He said, too, that all auto
mobile owners he had seen did not
object to the fee.
Mr.. Carter, however, was opposed
to the creation of a State highway
commission, claiming that it was a
needless expense and wasteful dis
posal of the fees realized from the
special taxes. He pointed out that
no limitations are placed on the num-
Der of salaries Of assistant engineers
or the travelling expenses. He main
tanned that the counties could get
more real beenfit out of the funds
than out of the commission. Mr.. Car
ter has bill providing for tax on
automobiles.
Mr.. Graydon objected on the ground
of additional taxation on certain in
dividuals, claiming that such step
| is unconstitutional. He said that
taxes for roads should be placed on
llandholders for they are the ones
who gain most by good roads He
objected to the bill also on account
Of creating new Offices.
At $40 o'clock debate was ad-
journed until II o'clock this morn
ing.