The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-03-11
STATE HIGHWAY
MEASURE PASSES
IA RHIaaTAAlRRg
IN MISSISSIPPI
Bill Is Finally Adopted by the
House After Having Passed
Senate-CarrieS No Pro-
visions for Bond Issue.

JACKSON, Miss, March II. tspl -
AFTER several weeks of fruitless effort
the lower house Of the legislature has
lnally passed a. state highway bill, al
though the amendments adopted will
make 1t necessary to send the measure
TO Joint conference committee
The measure finally accepted by the
house 10 the McCalum bill. passed by
the senate several days ago, and re-
vlsed by the house con@nittee on roads.
ferries and bridges in many important
respects. It carries no provisions for
2 oond issue for highway purposes, the
champions of good roads being now
thoroughly convinced that it is useless
to attempt to float q bond issue at
this time, owing to the difficulty in
awarding road contracts, scarcity of
labor, and high cost Of building ma
ter1als. The various counties now have
in the treasures funds derived from
the sale of road improvement bonds
totaling S1S,725, 900. which, in IA ma
1ority OF the counties. can not be ex-
pended because Of existing conditions
above named
The important amendments to the
McCallum bill were framed by Messrs.
stone, OF Washington, and Bledsoe, OF
Leflore, the most notable being sub
stitute for section II. which preseribes
the apportionment of the motor vehicle
tax in the counties 1t is estimated
that the revenues to be raised from
this source will amount to about $1,250,-
600 annually, and Of the original APP
portionnent of federal funds to Mis-
100000 has been paid on highway
projects, leaving S4,542 900 available for
Failure road projects to be expended
on whatever basis may be adopted by
the highway y Commission.
Extends Commission S Term.
The bill provides for the extension
of the terms Of the. three present mem
bers OF the Mississippi Highway COM
mission, J M. McEeath, Of Meridian
d. W. Robins, OF Tupelo, and w. T,
Dennar of NIcConb, until Jan. / OF
next year, and the appointment Of five
other members by the governor one
from each congressional district, who
shall serve for the same period. The
three present members happen to Be
from different districts. In the mean
time a new highway commission, one
member from each congressional DIS
trict, is to be chosen, the members
being nominated in the August prl'
mares, and elected in November
The highway commission is enpow'
the position now held by Xavier A
Kramer, and to the surprise of the gooo
roads champions, the house inserted
an amendment otferedt by Mr.. Stoekett
of Wilkinson, which, in the opinion O
some members, practically legislate:
Mr.. Kramer out Of office. or renders
him ineligible as a candidate for th'
place when the new commission is ere
atea. The stoekett amendment, which
received more than 10 votes, prescribe:
the qualifications for the highway en-
gineer and requires him to 1--we IN JACK
son permanently,
The champions Of better highways
feel that within the next two years, !
construction conditions and bulldint
materials crow better, the state high
way commission will then be in shape
to intelligently proceed with the ex.
penditure Of large bond issue for tht
trunk highways. that in the intervenin
period the counties can complete ,theli
expenditures, and adequate hishws!
surveys can be made that will MAKE
II possible to adopt the road mileag'
Of each county as the proper basis o
expenditure for a state fund.