East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1917-05-10
EXPLAINS HOW AUTO TAX
WILL MEET THE BONDS

In a very business-like and convinc-
Ing address Commissioner L. J. Ad-
ans. of the state highway board drove
home the arguments in favor of the
six million dollar bond issue TO be
voted on in June. Mr.. Adams follow
Senator Pierce and though the audi
ence had maintained syspathy with
the Union county men it was not long
un,n applause for MIR. Adams was
equally enthusiastic Senator Fred
.Steiwer served as chairman at the de-
bate
Ia his address Mir. Adams covered
his subject In fun, answering NAM
objections raised by senator Pierce
Among other things, ne gave data
showing that the auto licenses VIII bc
more than sufficient to meet all in
terest on the bonds and the retire
ment payments ON this subject he
said in part
The provision OF the law now IN
force doubling the motor vehicle IL
cense fees and putting the proceeds
in the state road fund. as IL does, Will
furnish from this one source alone
sufficient funds to pay all of the IL
terest and all Of the principal upon
the $4,000. 600 bonds. retiring TIA"
bonds as fast as the law viii permit
ndmely l-2O each year. commencing
with the sixth year. and accumulate
Il surplus OF about S9.0OO..O00 in addt-
tion thereto
The receipts from the motor We
hicles license fees alone will pay the
interest and principal of both issues
OF bonds or "A total OF S7.SOO.OOO, and
provide "A surplus of practically 81
u0O 600 In addition.
where Burdcn Is Placed.
Therefore. we are building the roads
thar the motor traffic demands, and
al the same time We are placing the
burden of this cost upon the shoulders
OF the owners Of the motor vehicles
OF the people that wear the roads
out
Basds for Estimates.
In estimating the receipts from mo-
tor vehicle license fees. / have tried
to do SO on a very conservative basis.
These license fees have increased each
year over the preceding year since
1871, SO I-3 per cent. and in January
and February of tins year there are
aa0ss licenses issued. as compared
Witn lSsV4h uhIAilE Nht oN 49,
months last year; in other words
these fees increased the first tW1
months of this year SO per cent over
the same two months OF last year, but
/ have not estimated the increase OF
80 uer cent or 80 Ia per cent as a
wears income. but 1 have estimated
on a basis of an increase Of 20 pes
cent each year for three years. and
following that an increase of 10 per
cent each year for three years. and
following that no increase at all IN
Stcead OF starting with S47S.,eOO net |
receipts available for the highway
fund as estimated by the secretary !
Of state. | have only used S329.00O a. I
the net receipts for 1915, or $15S.000 |
less than our secretary of state has |
estimated they viii he In 1918.
From this basis have estimated
the Increase as above stated. ! sub 1
init to you: Is 1t not an ultra-con-
seryative estimate?
Not voting I'm Increase.
The bill providing for the doubling
of the license fees. is now the Law
and will take effect August list. II is
in nowise attached to. or connected
with this bonding bill we are to vote
upon
We will take these fees from the
auto owners whether the bond bill
passes or not, but l submit to you Il
Is only fair that. as we take these
(Continued On Page a.