Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-10-26
ORDER GOOD ROADS
ON ELECTION DAY
AUTOMOBILE LICENSE FEES Pill.
ING UP IN TREASURY READY
TO SPENDING ADDITIONAL
COST TO TAX PAYER.

Sixty million dollars worth OF hard
roads, 4,400 miles without penny's
worth OF taxation-this is what is pro
posed under the provisions of the
State Bond Issue law, which Cover
nor Lowden fostered in the beginning,
and which he signed June %, after
the General Assembly had made OF 1t
measure which he regarded as wise
and equitable.
That is to say:
The people of Illinois, in November,
1918, will be privileged to vote on the
proposition of issuing $6000000O in
State bonds, said bonds to pay 3k
per cent to buyers, the total bill OF
interest and pricipal to be footed by
men and women in Illinois who own
automobiles.
Not one cent in taxes is contem.
plated. Land will not be molested.
Automobile license fees, however, will
be doubled--but the item scarcely will
be noticed by the individual.
Adoption Of the State rlan will not
interfere with county work In the
first place, granted the plan is voted
on affirmatively by the people on No
yember 5th, it will be 1920 before
contracts can be let and actual work
commenced. The job Is stupendOus
one Meanwhile, State aid will be in
operation, and the counties will be
availing themselves Of the chance to
continue building, the same as in the
past.
Nor will township work be stopped.
These smaller units in the counties
may proceed to raise funds, according
as they are able, for their own short
stretches of road 1t is mutually re.
ciprocal, yet "dove-tailing" process
which will be in operation from the
United States government on down
the line. The Federal aid will be ex-
pended by the states, with Federal
approvalapproval, for roads that make
for national benefits; the state, by
means of its bond issue, will be able
to build roads which will constitute
wonderful chain for the good of the
state as state; counties, through
| state aid, and their own endeavors,
| will be expected to continue to build
| highways-to connect with the county
| systems
The scheme isn't chain of 102
| county systems; it's one state system.
The counties are not going to pay the
| bill
No property owner, no man in the
| state, unless he owns an automobile,
will pay a cent Of tax for these roads
no matter how rich or poor he is.
The man who owns an automobile
won't pay any tax either-but his
yearly automobile license fee pays
for it all and leaves sixty-five mil.
lions to spare in 20 years
This is chance for five million
people in the state to get these roads
free.
The plan constitutes a wonderful
opportunity for the people of Illinois
at the expense Of a single class, tC
build a system of modern roads which
will bring money benefits to every
class, and which will advance Hi
nois to a position of internationa
prominence.
Every county will get. with one OF
two exceptions, from 25 to 100 miles
Of this great system.
New Motor Law Signed.
The motor law provides for the fol
lowing rates to take effect Jan. /
1920:
10 hp. and less IS 800 5 45O 5 60
25 hp. and more
than 10 ....,... 400 600 so
IS hp. and more
than .25 ..... 500 800 1910
so hp. and more
than 30 ........ 500 1900 200
: More than 80 hp. 1000 1000 $50
Motor bicycles -. 200 800 40
Electric vehicles to
4 to and including
}. 2 tons ......... 500 1000 1870
4 Electric vehicles
a over 2 tons 80. 1000 1000 25 %