The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-08-01
SENATE 0N RECORD AS FAVOR|NG THE
 $25,000,OO0 ROAD
 BOND ISSUE BILL
Measure Provides That Gov ernor Shall Call Election Within 90 Days After Final Adjournment
 of Legislature
By WILLIAM l.. GoRmLEY

Montgomery, July 31.-- (Spe-
 cial. .)-After the senate had voted favorably on one amend
 ment and against another one
 offered by Senator Prestwood
 of Covington county, it went on record, with but one dissenting vote. as favoring the suhmis7 sion of the $25,000,000 oond
 issue to the voters of Alabama ! for the purpose of deciding whether or not that sum will
 be spent in providing "365- day roads" over the state.
 The bill provides that the governor call an election within ninety days after the final adjournment of the legislature. The question to be decided at the polls i is whether or not the state constitution shall be changed so as to permit the
 bond issue, the principal and interest being paid out of the fund coming from the automobile and vehicle tax. Senator Prestwoods amendment, which requires the highway department to con struct at least thirty miles of road Tn each county with the funds to be derived from the sale of the bonds, went through with no opposition. However, he struck a snag with his amendment which pro- vided that tax of two mills should be levied to pay the bonds in case the auto tax does not take care of them. The amendment was tabled by vote or
 23 to 1. MT Prestwood being the only one to vote for it.
 PRESTWOOD LONE OPPONENT
 Senator Prestwood contended that the state was not sure that the automobile tax would pay off the indebtedness. It was merely matter of calculation, and the calculation might fall short of It's mark he thought. He desired to warn
 the people that two mills would be as- sessed to pay the obligation at the end
 of forty years if the auto and vehicle tax did not take care of it. He also lost on his amendment to provide for the talk ing of the vote at the next regular elec- ton. He introduced this, he said, so that the money of holding a special elec-
 ton would be be saved.
 Senator Rogers, of Sumter county, strong advocate of good roads, explain
 ed that he did not think it best to asso-
 
 He said that the good roads advocates intended to place the issue squarely be- fore the people and that politics should not be part of the fight.
 On the final passage of the bill Mir. Prestwood voted against it.
 The senate agreed to an amendment by Senator Rogers, of Sumter, which will place stronger safeguards around the money to be raised from the sale of the bonds. Under his amendment, the spend-
 ing of the money n' = be approved by the governor, in addition to the State highway department. The governor will
 approve all bills that are paid from the
 fund.
 Stating that the bill was among the
 most constructive legislation to come be-
 fore the present legislature. Senator Craft, of Mobile county, asked the sem ate to support it, and let the people know that efforts were being made and would continue to be made, to get them out of the mud. He said the business of the state cannot be properly / tram sacted because of the roads; that rail- roads are not equipped to handle the steadily increasing business. He said the 50, 900 automobile and motorcycle owners are camoring to pay the cost of con structing and maintaining perfect sys- tenn of state highways. because each auto owner would save $50 annually from his bill for repairs each year.
 HEAVY MUD TAX
 He recalled that other bonds issues had been poorly managed. that no arrange ments to take care of the principal had been made He believed the sinking fund to be raised from taxing of automobiles. etc, would soon more than pay the prin- cipal of the $250o0.oo0 bond issue. at the end of forty years. That BPS 00.000 all ready has been lost in Alabama because of bad reads. was the statement of the
 Mobile senator. This he called a heavy mud tax He hoped that the question would be placed properly before the people.
 | Speaking against the amendment of Senator Prestwood which would provide 1 for the two mill tax in case the auto mobile fund does not pay off the debt. Senator Briscoe said there was no doubt