Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1920-01-30
Road Building Considered In The
Legislature.

Governor Ritchies conference on We'd
nesday afternoon of last week with the
Finance and Ways and Means committees
of the Senate and the House, and others
interested over the State roads program
was the practical unanimity with which
his proposal was agreed to by the large
crowd which attended.
There were differences as to details, but
on the main features OF the Governors
plan there were few dissenting voices.
A vote was taken on whether the pro-
position for each county to contribute an
amount equal to that given by the State
for lateral roads should be mandatory or
discretionary on the part of the counties
The vote on this was about equally d.
vided.
As has been previously stated, the pro-
gram is in effect as follows: That the State
should match the Federal appropriation OF
S85, 900, making a $l.700.000 year for
10 years, for building trunk lines and post
roads, and should further provide fund
Of $750,000 year. with which lateral
roads would be built. provided the coun-
ties should match this SUN fifty-fifty. The
State would provide the money by bond
issue Of $l,5O0,000 year for 10 years,
furnishing the extra 100000 necessary
to make up the $l,600,000 from the gen.
eral taxation fund.
Mr.. Gambrill's chief objection was the
proposal that Howard county should be
called upon to furnish half the money for
building lateral roads. He declared that
il would make the tax rate Of Howard
county exorbitant he urged that before
any such action be taken referendum OF
the people OF the county should be held.
Senator Mish declared that while he
approved the general plan. he sympathiZed
with Delegate Cambria. He also said that
Washington county had number OF coal
roads, radiatine from Hagerstown, which
answered all purposes, and that he was
opposed to spending $4,000 mile for
adequate roads which might be built for
much less money.
Senator Panan also opposed the build
ing Of roads at $4,000 mile. He said
that while many in his county were stuck
in the mud and wanted'to get out, they
were Of the opinion that roads costing
much less money would be sufficient for
their needs.
The Governor said that the sum OF $780,
900 was merely suggested and that the
cost OF the roads in the counties would be
decided by the county commissioners and
the State Roads Commission.
Speaker Tydings and Senators Speicher'
Disharon, Metzerot and others took the
ground that only the best roads should be
built; that cheap roads we're poor economy.
Senator Bartlett, Of Talbot county. has
introduced bill to abandon the office OF
Commissioner OF Motor Vehicles and place
the duties in other hands for performance.
That the work of the Motor Vehicle Com
missioner should be taken over by and
combined with that Of the State Roads
Commission has been advocated by many,
and such proposal was seriously consider
ed as one Of the planks Of the Democratic
platform in the fall. But Senator Bartlett's
bill goes much further than that. Under its
provisions the Roads Commission would
take over the administrative features OF
the Commissioner Of Motor Vehicles, but
the collection Of the fees would be made
by the clerks of the courts in the counties
and by the Clerk Of the Court Of Common
Pleas in Baltimore city. After the clerks
take out their fees for the collection, one
third OF the remainder is to be paid to the
respective Boards Of County Commissioners
and the City Comptroller. the remaining
two-thirds to be paid into the State treas
ury for the work Of the Roads Commission.
Each county and the city is to have an
examiner for licenses.
But with the city and the counties get
ting increased revenue, the needs OF the
State roads are being lost sight OF, II was
pointed out. II these roads are to be
northumberland the State maintains not
only the State roads but the State-aided
roads as well--not to mention further road
building, it must find the money or let the
roads 90 to pot. The State has not enough
money as 1t is for this purpose, say the
good roads advocates, and II the revenue
is cut one-third there must be increased
taxation in some other direction or thu
roads will suffer. They contend that thu
Bartlett bill is pennywise, pound foolish
for the counties especially, and say tina
much money would be inefficiently ex