Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-07-18
How the Grange Wants Roads to Be Built

How the Grange Wants Roads to Be Built
TO the Editor Of the Even,ng Public Ledger
Sir-In your issue Of July you published
an editorial on the subject Of bonds for roads
in which you credit the State Grange with
defeating the amendment to the State Consti-
tuition five years ago, when the s6o,ooo,ooo
bond issue was submitted to the vote of the
people. 1t is true that the grange was one
of the organizations in the State that fought
that issue as hard as possible, but the reason
that you give for the fight against bonds In
this State was not the reason why the grange
fought that issue of bonds and is not the
reason that we will do our utmost to defeat
the amendment at the coming election
1t is true that a central department can
not build roads economically. even II hon.
estly administered. The Highway Depart
ment should be reorganized into an advisory
department, the same our State Depart
ment of Education is. The thing that will
use the money for roads economically is to
lay down specifications for roads Of different
kinds and then let the appropriation be
graduated and paid only II the road comes
up to that specification The townships are
striving for good high schools because they
know that IL they do not run the school up
to the standard set by the State they will
get the appropriation only In proportion to
the grade they attain. 1t should be of no
interest to the State by what method or by
what people the road is built 50 long as 1t
comes up to the standard that is established
as desirable.
The great and abiding reason for the oppo-
siton that was developed five years ago. and
which Is as potent today as then, Is that
there are billions Of dollars worth Of valuable
property In Pennsylvania that is not paying
its share of taxes, and it is that class of
property that will be relieved alf the more
If bonds are used to pay for public improve
ments. Years ago we exempted manufactur-
ing from taxation on their capital stock and
have thus shifted taxes that should have been
paid by such organizations as the Standard
Oil. Steel companies. power companies ex-
press companies and even laundries got under
the manufacturing exemption. Newspapers
claimed exemption on their presses, though
they would no doubt deny the charge that
their news was manufactured. This exemp-
ton has grown to be terrible and mex
cusable abuse, and if that exemption were
done away with and moderate tax laid
upon tnOSe Glasses OF propeTty tndt are Hot
paying their share there would be ample
money to pay for all the public improvements
that We need in this generation without
adopting the cowardly expedient of laying
debts on unborn children
You evidently do not understand our tax
system when you talk of real estate paying
these bonds. The State does not get its
money from the taxing Of real estate. but
from personal and corporate property In the
main. and the way We who have our money
In our homes are directly interested In the
subject is that we have found that when the
taxes laid on personal and corporate prop
erty do not furnish enough money to meet
the need Of the State the Legislatures.
| instead Of levying more tax on these classes
of property that pay the State taxes.
shift things that were formerly paid for out
of State funds on the counties and local
people and thus make them pay q part Of
the State tax. The homes Of Psnnsyivania
are paying on an average nearly eighteen
mills on the dollar In taxes and psrsoAaI ara
| corporAts pyaparty y paxlnG = ii11lo N1ooo
6a.An 6liot. 49,