Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1919-04-13
HOW PROPOSED
HIGHWAY LAW
WILLHlT AUTOS

discussed at the good roads conven-
ton at Macon Thursday were drafted
by the special committee appointed by
Governor Dorsey some months ago
and which have held number of con-
ferences on the subject. The COM
mittee is composed of Representative
S. M. Turner, Chairman; c.. R. Arnold
and Julian NJ. Smith. The committee
had the benefit of expert advice from
Prof. c. M. Strahan, of the UNIVERSE
ty of Georgia, and w. r. Neel, state
highway engineer.
One bill provides for amending the
state automobile tax law by increas-
ing the license tax on passenger cars
and trucks, all of the receipts to be
applied to the state highways. Under
the present system, by the apportion-
ment to counties, it is held, the small
sums received by each county are
spent each summer and washed away
each winter, without net result.
If this bill becomes law at this ses-
sion, auto owners who have paid their
license fee for 1919 shall pay the in
creased fee for the remainder of the
fiscal year, but shall be credited with
half the fee money already paid. This
is designed to bring the increased Ii
'cense tax money into the treasury in
time for use this year.
A second bill provides for amend
ing the act of 1918 creating the State
Highway Commission. This proposes
an organizations of State Highway
Board, composed of three members
geographically selected and appointed
by the Governor, a state highway en-
gineer appointed by this board, an
engineering and office staff determin-
ed by the board but employed and dis
charged by the state highway engineer
The board members are to serve six
years, and be paid $1,000 day for
attendance, besides expenses. The
engineer is to be the active executive
head. The funds are to be annually
allotted to the twelve congressional
districts, and the slection of roads
shall be made by the board through
its engineers. At least 70 per cent
of the funds must be expended for
durable paving, and the remaining 80
per cent. may be used for grading
and preparing roads for pavement By
this, it is intended to spend the state
funds principally on those main high
ways already laid out and in use.
1t is proposed to submit to the peo-
pie for ratification an amendment to
the State Constitution which will per-
nit the issuance of bonds in such
amount as may be deemed necessary
to construct the system of roads. 1t
is also proposed to submit an amend
ment to the constitution which will
permit special tax levy, not to exceed
two mills, which shall be permitted
to pay interest on highway bonds. But
it will be especially provided that this
levy shall be only for the difference,
if any, between the receipts from the
automobile taxes and the enterest on
the bonds. In fact, it is estimated
that the license fee will more than
pay such interest and retire the bonds
through a sinking fund.
The objects at which the committee
has aimed are the following:
A real system of state roads, of paw
ing equal to brick or concrete, to total
about 1890 miles. Every road is to
run from county seat to county seat.
Each county is to have two roads for
each representative in the legislature,
except the three-vote counties, which
are given only four roads. Counties
may receive such additional roads as
their needs demand under a discre-
tionary clause.
1t is contemplated that these roads
will cost about $4,000 to $4,000 a
mile, the lower figure in case prices
return to a pre-war basis.
Something like $S0,OO0,0O0 expendi-
ture is ultimately involved, and it is
expected the federal government will
pay half of this.
1t is expected that 100 miles a year
will be built at the start and that this
will increase ito 300 miles year. 1t
is expected to complete the whole
system in 20 to Is years.
There is now in Washington about
$8,000,000 of federal funds allotted to
Georgia and awaiting equal funds
from counties or the state.
1t is expected, after the amend
ments are passed, to issue bonds and
pay for them through automobile tax
es. 1t is pointed out that the saving
of one tire year for passenger
car will more than pay the cost OF
the increased fee, and that commercial
trucks will profit enormously by the
permanent roads. No opposition is
expected from owners of cars OF
trucks.
When this work begins, the state
will take over all care of the main
highways in every county. This will,
leave the county commissioners free
to spend all the road tax money al
homo for building feeder roads