Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-08-13
PROGRAM PROVIDES
ROAD COMMISSION
OF FIVE MEMBERS
Measures Ready for Legis-
lative Hopper at Noon
Today. &
ADDITIONAL 12-CENT LEVY
FOR HIGHWAYS PROPOSED
Third Suggestion Is so Per Cent
Increase of Automobile
License Tax. i
MANY LEGISLATORS ARRIVE
Stage Is Set for Extraordinary Ses-
sion of General Assembly Of
Virginia.
MANY LEGISLATORS ARRIVE
Stage Is Set for Extraordinary Ses.
sion of General Assembly Of
Virginia.

Called by its members for the specific
purpose of setting State machinery in
motion for better highways through
out the Commonwealth, the General
Assembly of Virginia will convene in
extraordinary session promptly at noon
today. s
Creation OF a highway commission
OF five members, in addition to the
commissioner and the Governor, who /
shall decide upon routes between the 4
designated points in the State road
system: an additional levy OF 12 cents
on the 500 WORT of general property
and anr r9ad an nufpeses etfectye at once
January. l. 1920. ~are high lights in
three bills which will be introduced
of the General Assent bly,.
Embody Associations Program.
These measures embody the plans OF
the Virginia Good Roads Association
final Endorsement of that bodys execu-
tive and legislative committees. in ses-
sion at Murphy's Hotel. They were
drattsd by state nat Senator c. 0conor
become their principal patron in the
upper house of the Legislature.
salient points in the bill to reorestes
The appointment of the State High
way Commissioner still will rest with
the Governor. by and with the advice
stead of the General Assembly, S the
present law provides. This official
must he n citizen OF the State. civile
engineer and a person well versed in@
road building. 80
Assembly to Name Commission.
The Ave members of the commission
are to be elected by the General As-%
senhly. The first election of the com IS
- h u l. al q
the bill becomes law. lt'is an emerg-@
ency measure and will be effective
upon passage. The members must, as
i've geographical subdivisions of theA
State. The terms of the five members
will commence on November /, 1919.
February 1922. the General Assembly
Will elect again. this time naming two
for term of two years. two for a..
OF six years. Thereafter each mems
ber will be elected for a term of six
years.
missioners should be be named. the
of the association adopted the General
out OF membership Of tiiteen, senator
Goolrick and Highway Commissioner
Coleman not voting upon the question:
Governor Member Ex-Omcio.
The Governor is made ex.officio
member of the commission and will
have equal voice with the other mem
bers: Regular quarterly meetings are
in addition as either the chairman or
the Highway Commissioner may deem
necessary TO the good OF the work In
hand.
For the salary OF the Highway Com
missioner the bill! provides minimum
$4,000, His. assistant will receive not
less than $4,000 nor more than s4,5Oo. 4
Salaries in both these cases will be-
m c. = hns
i've members OF the commission araf8
10 receive sio per diem and their actual
Of the commission, to be paid from
the highway contingent fund g
=, The measure also empowers the State
Highway Commissioned to call in con-&
s9itaton AT any time any one or two@
of the professors Of civil engineerlngS
sinia Mtitarv 81 mirsania The the Viz
Einia Agricultural! and Mechanicals
College. these oiticials TO receive theis
work. -
submit Reports to Governor.
The commission is required to sub
mt TO the Governor n writing its
state highway system at least ten daysl
lure in 1920 and t6irty ,he days hisls,a betols
recon mendatons viii be submitted as
soon as possible by the Governor 10
the General Assembly.
The commission is empowered undAr8l
the Dill to make such regulations assi
~ may deem necessary for traffic overs
me State highway system. these reEu-8I
lations TO be posted on the front door
OK each courthouse in the State and
20 nave the erect Of law, sixty daysaI
after their adoption by the commissions.
Every employee of the Highway De-,
paTtment may he made a special police,
man, with the authority Of a sheriff, to- Il
enforce these rules. sl
VIII Not Change Existing LAW.
ha
Roads Association relative TO leaving
the appointment of the State Highs%S
way commissioner in the hands of tho
Governor seems TO dissirate anyaI
thought that the Legislature will y
change the existing law in this re-.
spect. II also makes practically cer4
tain that Mr.. Coleman. the present9I
commissioner, will be retained in that
office to carry forward the stupendous a
program outlined. for highway con.
struction ir Virginia. the Governor !
having announced he viii reappotnEA
The additional levy OF i2 centsF
ON the 500 OF general property andfs
the Increased automobile license tax
are thought by tho association to ta
sufficient to produce tho revenue needed !
to meet the Federal appropriations
'f about 35.ooo.ooo for highway coHss