The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1919-03-02
SENATOR THOMAS PUTS
UPFIGHT AGAINST THE
BIG ROAD MEASURE

ton, more rigid enforcement aid
collection of the gross production
tax, the limit levy and the income
tax, together with unexpended fed.
eral and state aid balances with the
states share of the S200,000.-
goo congressional appropriation for
federal good roads aid, the senator
estimated, would furnish more than
Sl7 100000 ior highway improve
ment long before that amount could
possibly be judiciousIy expended.
Quotes Road Laws.
He outlined the state and county
cooperative plans of other states
and said that his bill proposes q one
third division, equally, between the
federal, state and county govern
ments OF the highway improvement
cost Attention was called TO the
manner in which other states hav,
inaugurated their good roads pro-
grams, ranging from the $4,000 ap-
preparation in 1915 in Ohio to the
S5,lIl265 state aid appropriation by
New York during the years 1890
to 1904. 1t was shown that Cali
iornia in 1910 voted bonds TO the
amount OF $lS,000000 and issued
$2,OO0,000 in 1912, $53o0,0OO in 1913
and $l,395,000 in 1914. The bond
issues OF Connecticut, MaSsachu-
settS, Maryland and New York were
set out and the average amount Of
bonds issued from year to year in
each state was shown. Under the
New York program, although the
issue was twice as large as the pro-
posed Oklahoma issue, the average
amount of bonds issued annually was
S6,667 ,0OJ. Senator Thomas said
that he set out these figures to show
that it has been the experience Of
other states that the preliminary
work under such a large program is
so great that the amounts proposed
to be issued from year to year can
not be carried out. NO one ever
drowned in shallow water he said.
The statistics were offered in sup
port of his claim that sufficient
funds will be available from direct
taxation and that there is no oc-
casion for the bond issue. He also
referred to the cost of holding
special election under the terms of
the resolution, his estimate, admit
ted to be only guess, running as
high as half a million dollars.
Attacks Resolution.
Senator Thomas attacked the va
lidity of the resolution and set out
the legal phases that are likely to
arise. He showed that the consti-
tuition provides that a bond issue
must be submitted in the form OF a
bill and that the amendment to the
constitution must be voted upon at
general and not at a special cleo
ton. The citation OF the legal pha-
ses OF the question covered four
pages OF printed pamphlet and in
cluded quotations from legal au-
thorities and supreme court decis-
ions to sustain his position.
Senator Thomas made an excel
lent impression in his argument for
the minority report and in spite OF
illness the last day or two was in
excellent voice and the argument
was presented in concise and logi-
cal form. AT only one point in his
speech was he interrupted, when
Senator Davidson questioned
statement that the resolution does
not provide that the bonds shall
be sold except for cash. The Co.
manche county senator admitted
that he might be in error, but an
examination OF the resolution ap-
pears to bear out his statement. II
this be true an amendment to cure