Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-07-11
COMMITTEE PLANS
/ INCREASE OF AUTO
AND PROPERTY TAX.
Legislative Body of Good
Roads Association Dis
cusses Proposed Bill.
NAME GOOLRICK TO DRAFT
MEASURE FOR LEGISLATURE
May Jump General Levy From
Three to Fifteen Cents to
Meet Federal Aid.
MAY RE-CREATE COMMISSION
Agree Upon Board of From Three to
Five to Aid George p.
Coleman.
MAY RE-cREATE COMMISSION
Agree Upon Board of From Three to
Five to Aid George p.
Coleman.

Increase OF the general property tax
for highways from 3 to at least Is
cents. on the valuation of 800,
effective for the year 1919, and
the raising of the automobile
license tax SO per cent. to become
statute law In January 1920, were
agreed upon yesterday at conference
OF the legislative committee of the
Virginia Good Roads Association as
the most acceptable means for meeting
the Federal aid for State highways
during the period to July /, 1929
State Senator c. O'conor Goolrick,
OF fredericksburg. chairman of the
committee. Will draft the bill and,
later. will call the body together for
its approval of the measure before
presenting 1t to the special session of
the Legislature which will assemble
In Richmond on August l3 for tho ex-
press purpose OF passing the necessary
road tax legislation.
To Re-Crente Commission.
1t was agreed also that Senator
Goolrick should prepare a bill designed
to re-create the State Highway Com
mission. giving to that body from three
10 nye members. some of whom shall
be business men instead OF engineers
who shall share with Commissioner
8George p. Coleman the responsibility
or apportioning funds for State high
ways and or selecting routes between
points named in the accepted system.
This plan has the entire approval
of Mr. Coleman. who feels that the
burden placed upon him by the present
statute should be divided AS the law
now stands. IT is the duty OF the com
missioner not only 10 say upon what
amount funds should be spent, but to
RSeiect the exact route over which roads
3shail be built between points named
by The statute In the State scheme of
sides Mr. Colepan. has as members
engineers from the University OF vir-
iute and the Virginia Military Insti-
authority.
May Increase Salaries.
II was agreed unanimously also that
stands upon the threshold of un-
paralleled activity In the construction
70. r soads Tor better organized. better
Way e IN emSers i@l the Of hFh the
committee feel that. without such pro-
vision. the State Will be seriously han
dicapped a; the very outset. They be
lierc that these men are now drawing
ridicuiously small salaries. and that
this matter should be taken up at the
earliest opportunity.
Senator Goolrick said that IL should
be borne In mind that the program OF
the virginia Good Roads Association.
as outlined yesterday. does not in
any way interfere with or minimize the
plans or recommendations submitted
by the Governors advisory board on
roads. but are designed only to meet
the approximate sum OF s5,o0o,oo0 ap-
propriated by the Federal government
up TO July |. 1922. upon condition the
Estate put up an equal amount.
VIII Not Alter Policy.
He pointed out particularly also that
- 10
program to change the policy OF the
state In using the automobile license
tax. at the existing rate; for, main
Increase alone shall be used in meeting
the Federal appropriations. :,
The comm,ttee discussed al length
tax. that is levy on vehicles besides
automobiles, but no agreement was
reached on this subject, 1t went into
tion OF traffic over the roads to be
constructed under the State Highway
Department. This question was like
wise left for further consideration.
1t was the sense OF the meeting
that the next regular session of the
Increase the amount now appropriatea
class B. State aid to these hisSwaSs hGsSs Ss
ho sesldee eun,s membess 2 ssoo9oo 90 be year
committee. about fifteen members of
}LeelSIHtuEe, VINO nave SHOWN peCu-
Slliar interest In the matter Of roads
Legislation, We're present at the meet
ing.
Would Con6nc Activities.
IT was the consensus of opinion
both among members OF the commit
tee and among the Legislators, that the
special session should confne itself
strictly to consideration Of the roads
problem and that the session should
not last longer than week or ten
days.
The committee is composed of state
sSenator c. UConor Goolrick. Fred
ericksburg. chairman: S. L. Lupton.
Winchester; O. l.. McGraw, Lynch
burg; w. C. Saunders. Henrico; and
state Highway Commissioner George
P. Coleman.
Among the legislators at the con-
ference were: Senator's Saxon Holt.
G. Walter Manp. Julien Gum. James
Cannon, A.. Willis Robertson. j. e.
West. Charles U. >Gravatt. and Dele
gates r. L. Brewer Holman willis.
Sinclair Brown, v. r. shackeiford..
Eorvel L.. Henley, R. w Caring ton,
farke P. Deans. William A. Anderson.
'B Conway, Robert o. Norris.