The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-03-05
LEGISLATORS SEE
SHELBY'S VIEWS
ASTO ROAD TAX
Then West Tennessee Ap.
proves Main Idea of $780,
100000 Bond Issue--0Id
Bristol Route Stands.

Representatives OF Memphis, Shelby
Fayette, Tipton and Haywood counties
by straw vote indorsed the genera
principles Of the senate bill providing
for a s50, goo bond issue for the con.
straction OF a statewide system Of per-
manent highways. The vote was taken
at the conclusion OF a hearing con-
Quoted by a joint legislative commit
tee OF ten, which Is touring the state
for the purpose of ascertaining the at
titude of the people toward the gigantic
road improvement measure.
shelby county and Memphis repre-
sentatives. while expressing their ap-
proval Of the larger purposes of the road
bill, and concealng that the creation of
network Of permanent highways In
the state would be profitable step, In
sisted that the tentative plans OF the
| trainers Of the measure should be so
altered as to make it more equitable for
Shelby county They did not object to
becoming the benefactor of the other
counties of the state to a reasonable
extent, but did not think It would be
fair to themselves to indorse In toto a
road construction plan which provided
for the construction Of 2,700 miles OF
roadways. only 50 OF which would be in
Shelby county, while Shelby county
would be called upon to pay one-fourth
Of the money raised to construct this
2,7Oo miles OF intercounty roads.
Cameron Heads Delegation.
The objection was received in the
kindliest spirit by the legislators, and
they readily agreed that the plan as
tentatively projected was not entirely
fair TO Shelby and should be altered to
make II so.
The following composed the joint
committee Of the general assembly:
Senators w. M Cameron, of Marion;
g. Long, Madison; G, c. Collins,
Garter, and n, u. Stockard, Benton;
representatives Glover Keaton, OF Glib
s. Tucker. unlooi ]. D. McMuiray.
Tronsdale, and w, X, Foster, Hardeman
county
The conference Tuesday night was
held In the Chamber Of Commerce, with
Thomas u King. chairman Of the high
y way commtstss ~ the Chamber q Come
The biif senS(fr Cameron said, pro !
posed to issue S5U.000,00O In. bonds as
the money is expended In road cofia
strucuon, probably about si0,000,000 an
nually. Twenty-seven hundred miles
Of permanent hard@surfaced roads are
proposed, Hiking every county seat and
important or principal cities and towns,
Graduated Auto Tax.
The Estimated cost Of each mile OF
roadway is $4,000. The bond issue will
be administered by salared highway
commission OF three men. at 5000 per
annum each, with the addition Of the
governor and state treasurer as ex-
mnnDAFg ui
be retired and interest," paid by taxation
derived from the one-mill road tax
and q tax on all automobiles Of the
state, the automobile tax being 81 per
unit OF horse power, and trucks the
same, plus 50 on each capacity ton
Ford, which is. now $3.50 year, would
be $2250. This method OF taxation is
expected to bring into the state treas
ury each year about $2,500,00 which
could be added TO the total OF the mill
road tax OF $4,000. After retirement
Of the bonds the state is expected to
have about $ll,OOO,OO0 as a maintenance
fund
Senator Cameron estimated that there
were $4,000 automobiles In the state
during the year 1918 and that about
$4,000 will have to be added as increase
for 1919, 1t is planned ultimately to
base the, tax on 10000 automobiles this
county, having one fourth of the auto
mobiles Uf the state, will pav one-fourth
OF this tax on automobiles. and willSbe
one OF the four benefactor counties In
the plan Two counties win break even
n benefts from the bo9i issue and all
Of money paid in.
Economy for Autoists.
Meeting the, objection that the tax
might be an injustice to the automo-
bile owners OF the state, Senator
Cameron said that the automobile own
ers would actufly profit pv the ex-
penditure, for the hard surfaced roads
would save them many times the sum
Of taxation every year on gasoline and
upkeep and prolonged life Of their ma
chimes
The state system of roadways he
said, will traverse the state three
times east and west and ten times
north and south.
Objection of Mr.. King and delegates
from along the Memphis to- Bristol
highway against the proposal OF the bill
to ignore this old established route and
come into Memphis by way of Coving-
ton. Milungton and Woodstock, rather
than direct from Brownsville by way
of Gallaway and Brunswick, was re-
ceived and accepted with favor, Sem
ator Cameron declared that the com
mittee would be glad to incorporate, the
Memphis to- Bristol highway, and II
necessary the division via Covingtop
would be abandoned
Former Senator Maxwell, OF stanton,
flied the objection Of the counties
abutting the old Memphis to Bristol
route.
Senator Long, one Of the trainers of
the bill, made a stirring plea for
broader vision Of road improvement
G. 7. J Mooney managing editor Of
tho o. COM M hrraI A Anneal nada a do
mand for fair play for Shelby county.
Representative Tucker declared that
the people throughout the territories
they had covered In their tour had In
dorsed the measure in virtual unan-
unity
e. w. Hale, OF the Shelby county
commission, added his voice to the pleas
for square deal for Shelby county.
am AMERICAN IEWc