Smyrna times., 1917-02-28
MIRNA CITIZENS JOIN BIG
BOOST" FOR GOOD ROADS
auSDasDs GATHER AT LEeIsLA-
,n0e TO ADVOCATE ROAD BILL
A Hazel and Walter o. Hoffseksr
,dd Their Plea With Others Before
.loint Session at Dover. Friday

,Ioint Session at Dover. Friday
Smvrna contributed a goOdly dele
,.,ion to the Good Roads Boost
v,idsv before the joint session of the
nssware Legislature. Quite a num-
h, from her layed aside their busi-
,ocs cares to show their decided inter-
,,t in this long-needed and important
n,Oiect Aside from the number who
.ttepaed Benjamin A. HAZEL and
Walter 0. Hoffecker expressed them
,slve. in open session in behalf of
Smyrns, favoring the bill now before
the legislature. J. R. Clements, of
CLAYTON, also spoke briefly for per-
msnent roads. That Delaware's cit
neDs are in favor of good roads was
clearly manifested from the splendid
delegation of prominent citizens from
all over the state They mainly ad-
yOcated the bill creating a state high
way department and establishing and
maintaining a system of state high
vsy. All the members of the legis-
bture attended the meeting to become
familiar with the provisions of the
BILL Henry P. Scott, of Wilmington,
declared that it was the consensus of
opinion at the Wilmington meeting
that owing to the size of Delaware
better results could be accomplished
with one central and maintaining body
for the entire state than by separate
maintaining bodies for the three coun-
ties. He took up in detail just what
would enter into the construction of a
permanent road, how it could be main
ained, and told how the pending bill
before the legislature would protect it
by regulating the width of tires on
motor vehicles. The plan of the new
law would be automatic, the motor
fees paying the interest and creating
sinking fund on the money borrowed.
It was declared that within four or
FIVE years Delaware could have So, :
100000 worth of permanent roads.
Would Use Motor License Money
he further explained that the pro-
posed highway could be constructed
md maintained by the revenue derived
from motor vehicle licenses and that
the bill further provided that this
revenue be turned over to the State
highway department to be expended
Tor that purpose. He stated that in
case the bill becomes a law. the high
way department would employ a high
class engineer to study and make
charts Of the roads in the state anC
recommend just how the work shoulC
be done, and he added that nothing
would he done without due notice tt
NE public. Hon. Josiah Marvel, Of
wilmington, who spoke next, congra'
nlated the members of the Legislature
oecause Of the fact that such a splen
ld body nf public citizens had inter
s'et themselves in the movement ant
we're devoting their time and service
MUS behalf. He declared that tn
cooperation of such men was a grea
Oeneht to the state and a benefit tina
zane without charge.
inheritance Tax to Meet Deficiency
ID commenting upon the fact that t
u'eft the revenue derived from moto
'eaicle licenses from the state treasur
" The highway commission woul
'saVe considerable hole in the finan
''' Oi the state, he declared that it wa
4S personal opinion that this eff
"'ucy could best be made up by a
~uentance tax and income tax. Amal
= OlaAtOn, ,Jr., off Wilmington, EN-
ruaslzed the fact that the propose
''au Is to be state highway, and wi
:" benefit any one county more tina
.lO'aer. He urged the Legislators
"aslaer the bill as a state measur
'1iH but explained that the state higl
''y department would work in ha
-0uy with any proposed improvemeI
'uV county. Charles Warner, Wi
pus'on; William Peach, Mermaid
S'u!anin Eazel, Smyrna; former Col
s'''snan Walter o. Hoffecker, Smy
n iofmer State Senator James T
S'@ents, Clayton; Frank M. Sope
nsaolia; former Secretary of Sta
gorge e. Hall, Milford; DR.. Hira
\. burton, Lewis, and Samuel
,uOy' Of Woodside, each spoke
'u upon the proposed bill, and urge
ia members of the Legislature to CO..
~. ' II favorably in order that Il
way. ' p'O