The Republican journal., 1916-12-28
MAINE MOTORISTS CONTRIB
UTE OVER MILLION TO THE
HIGHWAYS OF STATE.
Only Cnes Being Taxed for Their
Support. Will Give Another
100000 in 1917.

"Of course the incoming Legisla-
ture will appropriate in some form
or other money to carry on the State
road work. Every one wants the
roads improved, and the universal
complaint is that they ar, not being
improved fast enough. What the peo-
pie desire the Legislature usually
grants. Maine cannot afford to take
backward" step now The state is
just beginning to overcome some of
the odium cast upon it by the former
conditions of it's roads The automo-
bilists are doing their part, and doing
1t nobly. In four years they have
contributed nearly a million dollars
and next year they will furnish more
than 100000, while all other users of
the roads are not being taxed
penny.
"The Legislature must raise at
least 100000 annually and it ought
to be more The best way to raise
it is by mill tax of one mill on a
dollar of the states valuation The
school money is raised in this man
ner. If money is raised, as far as the
states finances are concerned, it
matters not whether it is raised by
direct appropriation of mill tax. A
direct appropriation of half a million
would be equivalent to one mill on
the dollar
Under our constitution a direct
appropriation for Dads would not be
a practicable working proposition.
The Legislature usually adtourns
the last of March or the first of
April, and in accordance with the
referendum, the acts of the Legisla
ture do not become operative until
80 days thereafter or about the first
of July. No act, unless passed with
the emergency clause is legal, or ap-
preparation available until that time
Therefore, those entrusted with state
road construction could do nothing
until after July first in such years as
i the Legislature convenes. If surveys
are to be made, plans drawn, bids ad-
! the first of July it woulc certainly be
early Fall before ;.ctual construction
could be commenced Since each Leg.
islature appropriates for two years
only, it is evident that in one year
out of every two hardly any road
work could be done.
ITO obtain the best results, owing
to the shortness of our seasons, state
road work ought to be begun in May.
Under the mill tax the disadvantage
above referred to would be obvi-
ated because of the fact that the
100000 would be raised automatical-
ly each year until such time as some
Legislature saw fit to repeal it. The
State Highway Department would
know exactly how much 1t could
spend each year, and such money
would be available to be spent most
. advantageously therefore, the depart
ment could make its plans according
ly and the work would go on more
economically and Systematically. In
the course of few years hundreds
of thousands of dollars would be
saved.
"In raising a half million dollars
annually for roads, the present state
tax need not be increased. The state
is in the best financial condition that
it has been for years. The last Leg
islature was very liberal in the mat
ter of new buildings for state insti-
buttons. It would seem that very little
If any new construction for state in
situations were necessary for a few
wears ct least"