Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-07-15
READERS VIEWPOINT
PAY AS YOU co
Why The Grange Opposes a Bond Issue for
Road Building

| To the Editor Of the Evening Public Ledger:
| Sir-My attention has been directed to
| your editorial of July on the proposed con-
| stitutional amendment authorizing the State
| to borrow $50, 600. 900 for highway construc-
| tion, and referring to the attitude Of the
| Pennsylvania State Grange toward this
project
| Your arguments in favor of good roads
are all sound and logical We are all in
| favor of good roads, but there is a difference
of opinion to the best course to be pur-
| sued in securing them.
| As your editorial sets forth the Grange
opposed the bond issue at the polls, Ave
years ago. and it will again do so this year.
| Our opposition was not based alone on the
| fact that distrused the Highway Depart
ment. as it was then constituted, but we were
against the proposal because we considered
| II poor business policy and entirely uncalled
| for.
We pointed out that under proper equaliza-
ton of taxation It would be entirely feasible
to build improved highways on the pay-as-
| you-go plan. and that there was. therefore.
no justification for punging the State in
| debt, with all its attendant evils and con-
| sequences
| One of our proud boasts has long been
| that as a State are free from debt. But
| it is needless to say that the only reason
| why have been able to make this boast
is that the trainers Of our present constitu-
ton, in 1873 Incorporated the provision that
the only excuse for going into debt should
be in case of military necessity, or to pay
any debt then existing. ~
That generation of Pennsylvanians had
learned from experience the truth of the
time honored adage that he who goes a.
borrowing goes a-sorrowing, and were
opposed to striking out the provision against
going into debt that they had placed in our
constitution
For years the average tax on real estate
in Pennsylvania has been more than twenty
mills, while corporate and personal property
has escaped with an average tax Of four
mills. That is why the Grange has con-
tended that anything even remotely ap-
preaching equalization of taxation would
easily give plenty of money with which
to build roads without going into debt.
If the proposal to bond the State for s5o,-
100000 was Objectionable in 1913, it Is in
fnitcly more Objectionable today.
The great in which we are engaged
makes it absolutely necessary for us to go
into debt as nation, and the force Of
circumstances compels us to pile up obllga-
tions that are mountain high for future
generations to pay.
1t is but stating the truth to say that it
would be unpatriotc for the State to attempt
to float loan of s50,00O000 when the
national Government finds it necessary TO
sell thrift stamps In order to help finance
the war. Further than that, IT is altogether
unlikely that the national Government would
approve such a course II we attempted 1t.
Counties and municipalities cannot now issue
bonds without the approval of the Govern
ment at Washington, and n is quite probable
that the State would meet the same difficulty.
on June 10 the national council of defense
transmitted TO all the State councils of de-
fense a letter directing that only those
roads which are of prime Importance for
economic and military purposes should be
built during the continuance of the war.
Besides. there is the unprecedented
scarcity and high cost of labor staring US in
the face. Granting for sake of argument
that il would be possible for us to enter into
any extended scheme of road construction
under conditions now obtaining, to make the
attempt would mean that we would be get
ting less for our money than at any other
time.
Even now, the Highway Department. while
unhindered by reason of lack of funds has
great difficulty In securing the necessary
labor and materials to keep the roads we
have in repair in addition to building such
as contribute directly TO the success of our
military efforts.
In some instances no bids at all can be
secured to do the work, while those that are
submitted are necessarily staggerngly high.
The last Legislature appropriated over S14,-
600 900 for highway construction. in ad-
ditiou to the general salary and travelling
expense fund of more than 100000 that
made available.
With the exercise of proper foresight, the
next Legislature afford to be equally
liberal with the Highway Department; and
the funds thus appropriated will serve to
keep the roads we now have In as good con-
dition as at present, which is about all that
we can reasonably expect until the return of
normal conditions
AS the Grange views it, there is every rea-
son why the proposed bond issue should
again be defeated. When peace comes
will find way of building improved high
ways and paying for them out Of the
rent revenues.
FRED BRENCkMAN
Member Legislative Committee
Pennsylvania State Grange
Inrr a IttIN