Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-08-13
ROBERTS WOULD DOUBLE
AUTOMOBILE LICENSE TAX
Bristol Highway Advocate Would
Thus Avoid Deficit in Road
Fund.
SAYS CAR OWNERS WILLING
r ad Chairman, Of Boundary Line
City's Chamber Of Commerce,
Gives Figures to Show How Delay
May Be Prevented.
SAYS CAR OWNERS WILLING

Henry Roberts, highway chairman OF
former president of the Southern APP
pala Good Roads Association. who
arrived in Richmond las; night BY, au-
booster run" which was planned by
The Times Dispatch. said:
The Firginians who made the
booster run and who will participate
in the good, roads parade in Richmond
are inspired with the motive and i'm.
Virginia out Of the mud and Kill the
mud tax which has burdened the peo-
pie of the State for moer than a hun
dred years.
Must Build Good Roads.
These good roads boosters know
that the only way to accomplish this
purpose is to build good roads, and
they know that money, and lots of
and character Of roads which the situa-
ton demands. The question they want
answered is how much money is re-
ton, and. SO far as they are concerned,
they are ready and willing 20 pay the
bill in taxes and save three times as
much as they thus pay on tires and
repairs.
Commissioner Coleman stated that
u Inc toIai mount OF Federal money in
year beginning July /. 1920. is s5'l
$4,000. against which the State has
s685.000 available. leaving a net sum
required to meet the, Federal money
S4773,00O.
In addition to this. Commissioner
Coleman. has stated that s750.00O should
be provided with which to resurface
and reconstruct old roads which NAV
be saved to the State without expend.
ing the large sums required to build
same according to the specifications
Of the Fedora! government The total
for two years, TO meet the Federal aid
and do this resurfacing and recon-
Struction work Is $3.50, 900, or s2,761,-
500 per year.
Method for Raising Money,
In order 10 raise this sum OF money
II mas been suggested that the 3-cent
tax for roads be increased to I5 cents
which will produce about s1.s75. 900 per
license tax from 10 cents per horse
power to 60 cents. which increase
would produce about $4,000 per year.
or total fund of $4,000. 900 per year.
leaving deficit of s46l,5OO per wear
and | acquiesced in this SUGGESTION
until the Booster Run and the contact
further than this. eo
Would Double Car Tux.
now believe that the automobile
TAX Ia % should be increased from 10 cents
morse power. and the additional &c
cents will! with the increased mum
per o or cars, meet this deficit of s461.-
DUe;top per year; ! have discussed the
owners and every one OF them has
been willing. and some even saw 10
make 1t 81 per horse power. IL neces-
Sary.
Some try to explain away this de-
felt Of S461 900 per year by saying that
the taxes for 1921 will take care of in
hut II we assume that the Federal aid
appropriations are to be continued
where would the State get the money
to meet the appropriation for the fiscal
year beg ginning July l, 1921, IL the State
meet the deficit carried over from 19l9
and 1920?
Federal Funds Now Ready.
eft must be understood thai more
than half OF the Federal money which
Tho Legislature has conveney to meet
Is now availab bile. and tho balance will
be available July 1, 1920. So that a
program which attempts to meet tn,