The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-04-25
Executive Committee Of
Va. Good Roads Asso-
citation Demands Action
TIME TO GET BUSY.
Executive is Reminded
That He Has Ignored
Former Suggestions in
Important Proposition.

Governor Davis is Respectfully. but
earnestly" requested to make known
his position in the matter of calling
an extra session of the general as
sembly 10 devise WAYS and means for
meeting federal good roads appropria-
! tons, in a lengthy resolution passed
yesterday afternoon by the executive
committee of the Virginia Good Roads
association. which met in Murphy's
hotel.
Attention OF the executive is called
to the fact that he as yet. has not acted
in response 10 a previous request OF
the committee, made on March Ii.
last and requests is made a prompt
decision ON this important and vital
question
The resolution was delivered to the
office Of the governor yesterday after
moor by 5. L. Lupton, chairman of the
committee and president of the asso-
citation; w. c. Saunders and George
+. Harrison.
Governor Davis did not attend The
meeting of the good roads co~fnItee
on account of reported -indIsposition
The meeting was addressed by Presi-
dent Lupton. who read a list OF
figures from the Office of State Auditor
G. Lee Moore, which, he stated. while
accurate in themselves. tended 20 con-
fuse and mislead. as, he said, they are
FAR from complete.
These figures. according to Mr..
Lupton. make II appear that the state
of Virginia has to it's credit 1900, 900
or $500, 300 in excess OF Its real funds.
Mr.. I4upton expressed the opinion that
the governor possibly has been mssled
by the figures. X Is not improbable,
II was learned, that a committee Of
the association will be appointed TO
wait upon the executive and discuss
the matter with him. A seeon com =
mittee. it is heliesxd. may wait upon
the state auditor TO ascertain the ex-
tent OF actual funds. now at the dis
rsosai of the state for OF building
and maintenance
State Senator c. O'Conner CooIrick.
OF Fredericksburg. who attended the
meeting. declared thai he did not
know of II single Instance in which a
member of the association had
changed his opinion that a special
session OF the general. assembly
should be called, He did o believe,
though, that the lawmakers would
assemble themselves.
DRAFT OF RESOLUTION
Whereas, the act governing the dis
trihution of the federal aid road
~ kSlIAdtS bftA at SuJaI dffIoGl4l
OF none shall be provided by the
state within the fiscal year next sue
ceedinG the year for which the
federal money Is appropriated. and,
Whereas. under this provision the
following amounts of Federal money
for road construction must be met 10y
Virginia for roa construction before
the dates indicated or he lost to the
state. viz, s~1.5S9.354.nn before July
I roam 80 ECA nhn IA r1gSssryn1 ~
fore July /, 1921. and St,9s4.1oa.a0
additional before July /. 1929. maxi
ing a total of s5~.45S.259.0o, and.
Whereas, the amount of states
funds now available to meet these sew
eral sums OF Federal aid is only about
$500 GOO. 90 with an estimated addi-
tional sum OF approximately 1915
100.o0 from the direct tax to be coll
lected next fall. and OF which amoun
the States Highway Department las
already executed agreements with the
Federal government for the expendi-
ture of s~S5o.oo0.ao, leaving only
sl2S. 600. 90 with which to meet the
residue OF the Federal appropriation,
and.
the present general assembly is called
for the purpose of providing a part Of
this large sum IT. will be practically
impossible for the next legislature to
assume the burden of providing
funds to meet the Federal aid road
money together with the necessary
increase In appropriations for pubic
schools and other state institutions;
and.
Whereas. every dollar of state funds
expended for road construction for
the next three or four years will
secure another dollar from the Fed-
eral government. and,
Whereas, by reason of the fact that
the automobile tax is due and pay
able during January of each yea
with a penalty for non-payment. il
will be impossible for the next regu-
lar session OF the legislature. which
meets in January 1920. to increase the
automobile tax so per cent as recon-
mended by Governor Davis and make
the increase effective before January,
1921; and.
REASON FOR ACTION.
Whereas, this fact alone shout be
considered a good and sufficient rea-
son for calling an extra session. the
cost OF which is estimated to be APP
proNimately from $50. 10000 to see,-
600. 90, while the estimated increase
i'm auto tax will be approximately
s425 100000. which can only be
(Ccntinued on Page Two.)