The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1916-01-28
FOR UNIFORMITY
IN ROAD BUILDING

The advisability of creating a State
highway commission with a license
on automobiles for its maintenance
wss both championed and disapproved
on the floor of the house last night
in a debate which on motion was ad-
journed until this morning at II
o'clock. The principal object of such
commission, as outlined in the bill
proposed by the house committee on
roads, bridges and ferries, is to CO.
operate with the road authorities of
various counties and to study the
system of public highways and road
construction.
mission that there should be one body
1t was urged in behalf of COM
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.
100000.
Mr.. Belser took up the committee
substitute which provides for 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
eve 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 81 100000. He
! maintained that this large expense
should be carefully supervised by one
| man or body fo men. He said that
South Carolina is one of five States
He estimated that the automobile
not. having a State highway board.
He estimated that the automobile
fees would aggregate about $4,000
and that the individual fee would
not seriously increase the expense of
operating car.
Mr.. Belser said that indications
point to national aid on highway cop-
se IN poAeiohdh oAHio hdhat THE Stafi should
eral aid. He said that supervisors
usally go to little care and no ex-
pense in getting expert engineering
advice cid that as a result much
| wo,', is done uselessly and without
~ ultimate end in view. He pointed
cut 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
60 days and to the owners of new
cars for 10 days to secure the license.
Mr. Carter argued in behalf of the
tax on automobiles for the mainte-
nance of roads, saying that automo-
biles 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 mum.
Der or salaries of assistant engineers
or the travelling expenses. He main.
tanned that the counties could get
more real benefit out of the funds
Iildl OuI VI Ihe CoHiIhiSoioH. WI Val
ter has a bill providing for a tax or
automobiles.
, Mr.. Graydon objected on the grouno
of additional taxation on certain in
dividuals, claiming that such steI
is unconstitutional. He said tha
, taxes for roads should be placed OF
landholders for they are the one:
|. who gain most by good roads. II,
objected to the bill also on accoun
: of creating new offices.
( At $40 O'Clock debate was ad
4 journed until II o'clock this morning