Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-02-11
AUTOMOBILE TAX
GOES TO COUNTIES
House Adopts Resolution Giving
Supervisors Precedence Over
Highway Commissioner.
SECRETIVE POLICY CRITICIZED
Senate Calls for Secret Communi-
cations From Tax Board to
Finance Committee.
SECRETlVE POLICY CRITICIZED

Delegates from rural and urban Viz
nial drama OF rivalry between these
two factions. in the form of pro-
lonSed debate. yesterday on House bin
No. l2l, which proposes 20 apply TO
road maintenance the revenue from the
automobile tax applied under tho pros
cnt law 10 the construction Of new
roads and bridges.
After voting down every amendment
offered bv the representatives OF Nor
folk and other cities looking to a dis
iribution OF the automobile tax that
would Insure TO the cities some degree
or benefit from this revenue. the House,
shortly before adjournment. attach ID
an amendment to the bill which provides
that whenever the State Highway COM
missioner and the local Board OF Su-
pcrvlsors disagree as 10 the manner
OF applying the fund locally. the opin-
ion OF the supervisors shall prevail.
The amendment was introduced by
Delegate Gordon. or Iou'sa. and
. adopted by vote Of Sc TO 30
WILL NULLIfY MOST
CONSTRUCTIvE ROAD LEGISLATION
Friends OF the bin declared openly
that n this amendment is permitted
10 remain, II will nuilify tho most con
structivc piece Of road Legislation that
has been Introduced in the General As
sembly In years II virtually takes out
OF the hands of III. State Highway
Commissions every vcstigc of au-
thortty over the expenditure OF the
revenue from the automobila tax and
transfers II TO the local authorities.
Delegate Norris. OF Lancaster. speak
vote by which the anne mendrcnt WAS
adopted, pointed out the danger that
the change portends.
This amendment means that the
state Highway Commissioner will be
deprived OF any control over the cx-
F., pcnditurc of 4 fund which his dcpar.
mont has used TO construct highways in
every section OF the State. While
have heard tho criticism that the State
Highway Commissioner enjoys powers
tina arc too great. and am not under
taking now 10 discuss this phase OF
the question. DO know that in the
sections OF the State with which I am
familiar tho work don" under the di-
rcction OF this department is better
than could have been expected If IT,
had been left TO the local authorities
TAKES FROM COMMISSIONER
EVERY VEsTIGE or AUTHORITY
Now you propose hy this amendment
20 take from the Highway Commits
sioner every vcstiCe of authority in di-
rectirS the expenditure OF the auto
mobile tax for the upkcep Of the roads
that nave been built from taxes de-
rived from the state at large and under
his direction. II is natural TO assume
that no should know better what is
30 -,
tercnt kinds Of roads than tho mem
bcrs OF lay board unfamiliar with
this work. If each county Is 10 be
given the authority TO decide upon this
important question for itself. and that
Is virtually what the amendment pro-
.vides, Wa may as we'll do away with
this bill altogether"
Delegate Bcrklcy d. Adams one of
the patrons OF the bill. reminded the
members that the revenue from the
automobile tax is now expended under
the exclusive direction Of the State
Highway Commission as part OF the
money aid" fund, and that the local
authorities have no control. The bill
provides that hereafter the Highway
Commission and the local authorities
shall Jointly agree on the manner OF
It's expenditure TO take also this de-
gree Of control away from the COM
missioner. he said. would practically
nullify the good effects OF the bill.
CARS USE COUNTRY ROADS,
WHICH HAVE THEIR TAX
Delegates Mee,zc and Gordon de-
tended the amendment. holding that.
even though the automobile tax is de-
rived in largest part from urban auto
: mobile owners, the machines make cX-
tensive use of country roads, and that
for this reason tho income from this
source should be expended on the main
tenance OF these roads under tho dlrec-
ton Of the local authorities, whenever
these and the Highway Commissioner
fail to agree.
Delegate Moss. OF Lynchburg
thought that the amendment was sub
versivo of the plain purpose of the
bill, and that the House should discuss
! the amendment fully before voting
finally on the motion to reconsider the
vote by which 1t was adopted. Dele
gate Lcedy rose to add his voice
against the amendment, but deferred
his speech until to-day in favor Of 4
motion to adjourn because Of the. late
ness OF tho hour. The bill is on the
calendar on it's second reading.
CRITICISMS or SECRErIVE
POLICY OF FINANCE COMMITTEE
Sharp criticism Of tho Senate Finance
Committee In surrounding communica-
lions from tho State Advisory Board on
Taxation and other state officials on
matters relating 10 estimated revenue
deficiencies with veil of secrecy was
voiced In the Senate yesterday in
discussion of q resolution introduced
by Senator WendenburG, requiring the
Continued on Tenth Page.)