The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-07-09

-. ~ 80.
~ hisAway comniusionsr. Az y ~ y -
Iminary w. the question " hle q
nnanisaticn, ana are Of. opinion t6a&si
ia. ORGANIZATION can be expanded ~
! IN accordance with this budget. 5S
I states Contributlon.
coming to the problem az nrovid 2.
the commemorative Contributions
70 the total cost Of this work: W.
nave examined the practice ana noli6a,
q otner states and md that ia M
past many OF them have dealt WITT
.ns road problem as Virginia has,
naney; they have applied to road
r...n Iuc1lon az distinguished from
maintenance such appropriations
rom revenue as could be made avail-
aois. out that many OF them are nov.
unoer the stimulus OF federal ai6
n,uopting the practice OF those sfafea.s
IKE MARYLAND and New York. whirh
nave done most In improving their
nIsnways. viz. OF providing capital n
.ne nrst instance by -state bond IN
ses. 20 De amortixed through reve-
s derived from taxation spread
over = period OF years Considerinr
me large amount OF capital 10 IS uro-
stoeo IN Virginia for highway con-
structlon on such a program =. "a.
peen outlined by the general ! s.em
oiy' our Judgment il that We sho,i.3
also adopt this later principle. In msL-
| ing TINS suggestion we. of course re.
slAe that under the constitution the
euin monwesith cannot issue bonds Al
.s .,ne, nut we are advised that 4.
constitutional amendment in nerdfr~
whicn, II adopted would make s,,rh
an arrangement possible. and va have
therefore. proceeded with our n1.n ~, Il
| tne further assumption. that Sucl ~
amendment will be adopted ana that
state bonds may hereafter be author-
Yea Tor road construction. We arc
ADVISED further. however, that evan
me constitutional amendment Il
sau'a, to the people after the next
regular session Of the general asse,,,
Ply. would not probably be posi-
oIe 70 create and sell state bonds nrior
'" july !. 1922. It will be necessary
,nen, Tor the commonwealth. ~ 4
IL TO adopt and set forward prom n4iv
ana vigorously upon such a prorra :,
| as has been outlined. to provide ths
capital which Is necessary for road
ttnons.lnction prior to July I, 1899.
For First Three Years
To that end we estimate ,h.t %A.
snou'n De so provided through reve-
| nues an average Of se.soo.ooo IL ssrh
OF .he three years ending yune a.
| is1. which revenues We estir,sta
eould probably be provided land n
"a" same time leave funds availabie
| .or maintenance) by adding 10 tf,e
na! appropriation for road pur-
puses tne proceeds OF new special
taxes, as has been proposed viz. An
| increase Of the 3-1o OF MN rnsr
.ax 70 - mills. and so per cent
| increase OF the automobile lfcense ~
| ms estimate OF the hmm edfnte -
ou'rement 10 based on the assumn%fnr
mat the federal government WIN dur-
ING such three years, match a least
ss.ooo; 900 ct the capital no made
| SsiNoie oy the commonwealth. al
nousn .hat assumption comprehends
an expansion OF the federal police <
far made effective.
| You will observe that fhs A.,,r.. =,
which we have proceeded contain ris -
provision OF revenue for road con-
| rruetion purposes OF at least $4,000.
oou for the fiscal year ending June "a.
| 1920 On the present state az the
| available appropriations that would
! not De possible without further leg1s-
iative action. We have analyxed the
report submitted to you by the audi
.or OF April ;, 1919. and without dis
| cussing the details in this report. ~
are unanimously OF opinion that ali
or the money therein estimated A
available during the year ending Feb
| rnary 20, 1920. cannot be used a q
| onset to federal funds now available
IN the construction OF the state high
way system, and that the eomuoa-
weaHh cannot carry forward its pres
emit program without delay under az
| listing appropriations
Extra Session.
/ We conclude then that f,frfher 49,.
mediate legislative action "a mecca
sary. even though that shall require
you TO call at once an extra session
OF the general assembly. ana we no
recommend In reaching this con-
clusion we have carefully wefrhsA
the serious objections to eonven,rr
the legislature at this time which
| you expressed to us. not the. Aeast OF
which was the estim ated cost If eef
| 900 Our Judgment is that such n fha
actual loss to the good peopIe az the
commonwealth in their daily use 81
the existing highways. that there ia
ample Justification as mere matter
! or business in the investment Of $780,
| ooo II thereby funds can he madA
available for prosecuting ytroronsIv
and continuously the road construc-
ton work now In hand In other
words, II seems clear that to noat-
pone the appropriations now nenAa.
Sars until the regular session Of the
general assembly in January next VIM
| postpone for at least year the reaii-
cation OF the plans for the state hirh-
way system outlined by the legislature
| OF 1918.
An OF which ia respectfully sub
! mitted:
The Governors Advisory Committee
| on Road Construction. I.
! tsigned) Fairfax Harrison.
| Fl. Frazier,
| II, L. Ferguson, Il
| j. e. west.
! G. L. Bentley,
| Wade n. Massie.
T. s. Winston.