Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1916-07-13
THAT TERRIBLE (?)
HIGHWAY COMMISSION.

OF some at our nnlitica! friends
about the enormous cnsl nl the
highway commission and why
this effort To preiuhice The farm
erS against The commission i'm the
hope nf having HE next ir2Sia-
lure repeal the highway commits
sion law?
The Creator Iowa association
has the most fricndlN feeling in
the world toward the Emitted Tan
payers league as they have been
organized in eight or ten 6f he
counties of Iowa. hui il does oh
.icct most >trenunuslN la the rep
Presentation that is being made to
the farmers hat the farmers are
paying an enormous amount of
money for this scientific and
technical help i'm bridge building
and road construction.
Lot MS take out pencil and
figure for moment he total cost
of the highway commission last
year. including all of the expert
engineers. clerical work. expenses
and everything else amounted TO
$50. 900.
Now. in the first place. This
$50. 900 does moi come Out of The
pockets of the taxpayers.
The automobile license money
is used for This purpose cycu-
sivcly. the legislature having pro-
Nided that } per cent Of The
moneys received from automobile
licenses should be used To defray
all of the expense OF he highway
commission. Therefore il is the
automobile owners who are pay
ing The expense of the highway
commission II is not costing
anyihin. at all tn the man who
does not own an automobile.
The farmer who does moi own
an automobile. hut who drives his
horses and pulls his wagons over
improved road surfaces. or over
concrete culVeriS or bridges. or
up "a gradual grade that has been
cut down. is enjoying all of The
benefits OF the engineering skill
OF experts of the highway COM
mission and is mol being asked la
contribute "A Penny tn IT,
Some may think then that thr
automobile owners are paving Il
com ihrrahle amount of money for
this highway commission. but ii
We take out our pencils again and
divide the total amount of au-
tnmnhileS i'm Iowa last year into
that $50. 900 we find thai il rnsi
each automobile owner the NOM
inal mount OF one penny week
ar about - cents for he wear
As the largest number of auto
mobiles are owned i'm cities ani
incorporated towns. of course. tli'
largest part of hat tax is paid by
lthe automobile owners who arc
not farmers.
4 number of inquiries have
been recently made 10y HE Greater
Iowa association from farmer;
Iwhu are automobile owners. ant
from farmers who are MOI auto
mobile owners. and not i'm sin.
ole stance has there been am
objection tn the cost of the high
way commission. when il has beer
+ explained tai these farmers TN
real value the commission liza
!, been and is tai the road and hrIuo
work i'm Iowa. II is rather diff
: cult tn ascertain definitely tn
real value OF the help nf the eN
pert engineers of thr hi9llwa
, commission. but if it saved 50
| 600 ON ONE bridge letting I'm Slou
county. and If il saved 81 900 II
= checking a bridge graft IN CHM
> tom county. and if il has save
Scott county more than $1,000
{ i'm one wear. il is rather safe 1
, assume that Tire actual value q
p he highway commission Ia tn
p ;rnplp OF iowa is pretty close I
. lem times its actual cost. or APP
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