Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1920-01-23
az by combination of all these methods /


new Governor is that the preparation Of
the budget, the appointment Of officials
and the consideration Of legislation all
come together at the very beginning Of his
term. so that during the session Of his
first Legislature he has little or no time to
make that intimate study of the work
of the State departments which might
disclose means for increased economy and
efficiency. which, without such study, might
not be apparent.
But we must do the best we can, for the
people Of this State are already highly taxed
by the State, as well as locally and by the
nation, and am determined that no addi-
tional burden Of this kind shall be placed
upon the people unless it be actually un-
avoidable
With respect to roads. 1t may, think.
from estimates have. be fairly assumed
that the motor vehicle fees will be nearly
sufficient to care for the maintenance of
State roads during the next two years, so
that the problem will be mainly one Of the
construction Of State and lateral roads.
This problem involves a great many Diff
ficulties, and think that no plan should
be finally decided upon until after full dis
cussion and exchange Of views among the
Legislature, the Executive. local authori-
ties and associations and others interested.
The suggestions am about to make are,
therefore, intended merely as basis for
discussion.
Federal aid this year will amount to
about $S50.000, and there seems every
reason to believe that the same amount,
at least. will be continued by the Federal
Government. II the State matches this
sum there will then be $l,700,000 each
year for the construction of State roads,
as to which no part Of the cost would be
placed upon the counties. as distinguished
from lateral roads. as to which the coun-
ties should, think, bear part of the cost.
With respect to the lateral roads, | have
found more or less prevailing belief in
the counties that an equal division of the
cost between the State and the counties
would be fair. On this basis my tentative
suggestion would be that the State appro-
pirate $750,000 annually for lateral roads
and that the counties contribute a like
amount. This would provide $l,500,0OO
each year for lateral roads.
II these tentative suggestions were adopt
ed. then the total amounts available for
road building each year would be:
state 100000
Federal vernment............... $4,000
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 100000
Total..."."................ $4,000
This, at $4,000 per mile, would build
100 miles Of roads each year, and. of
course, this mileage would be increased in
proportion to any decrease in cost.
This would also mean that on the aver
age each county would bear less than one
fourth Of the cost of its roads. but this
is subject, however. to whatever adjust
ment with Baltimore city may be fair. for
the reasons hereafter explained.
AS further basis Of discussion, | would
suggest that of the States annual contri-
button of $l,600.OOO, 100000 be directly
appropriated and that the remainder be
raised by a $l5.000.0O0 bond issue, of
which $1.500,000 would be issued every
year for 10 years.
Under the serial plan an annual bond
issue of $l,500.000 would involve roughly
only cent on the tax rate, with very
slight increase over this in subsequent
years.
This would, Of course, mean that at the
end of 10 years the State would have
issued bonds to the amount of $l5,000,-
600, but on the other hand bonds now
outstanding will mature during the same
! period to the amount of nearly $23,0OO,-
000
few other considerations should be
borne in mind
|. 1t should, believe, be made manda-
tory upon the counties to raise each year
whatever may be finally decided to be
their share Of the cost of the lateral roads
The method of raising this money should
however, be left to the counties, so that
the counties will be free to decide fol
themselves whether to raise their quota by
direct taxes, local assessments, special dis.
trict assessments. county bond issues or in
any other way.
z. Before lateral roads are built, the
approval of the State Roads Commission
should be required, so that their construc-
tion may proceed upon q systematic and
properly planned basis.
8. 1t has always been customary to make
an allowance to Baltimore city Casually &c
per cent? out of State road bond issues
because the interest and sinking fund are
provided for by the State taxes. and Balti.
more city pays large proportion OF these
Under the plan have suggested, probably
no such allowance could be made out Of
the $S50,000 contributed by the State to
match Federal aid, because the Federal
Government requires the whole of this to
be spent on rural post roads. which
would not include city streets. except, pos
sibly in the Annex.
The interest Of Baltimore city in the lat
eTal roads is. moreover, not as direct as in
main State highways, which have been
the subject OF previous road bond issues.
so that the customary 20 per cent. allow
ance may not be fair in this case. The
proper adjustment with Baltimore city, as
well as the basis Of distributing the State s
contribution for lateral roads among the
counties, are important details which will
require discussion and study"
.HrT advertisements
| --~->~~-~--~s>-----~4~-~--~~
E>OR SALE.