The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1920-11-26
BIG BOND ISSUE
FOR KENTUCKY
ROADS FAVORED
Movement for Extra Session
Of Legislature Being
Pushed by Various
Interests. 3

The Courier Journal Of Tuesday
says:
While coal operators yesterday were
complaining of the proposed 1e<cent
tonnage tax on coal for the benefit of
Kentucky roads. directors Of the Louis-s
Vile Automobile Club petitioned Gov.
Edwin p. Morrow for a special session
OF the Legislature to authorize a bond !.
issue Of at least $5O,0O0.O0o to build
roads.
The operators breathed a sigh OF
relief for the officials of the automo
bile club proposed to launch a vigor-2
Gus campaign not only to convince the
Governor Of the necessity of a special
session for the benefit of the bonds,
but also to form a Statewide organi-
zatioh to insure their success.
Joseph F. Bosworth, Middlesboro,
Speaker OF the lower house and coal
operator, voiced objection last night to-
'penalizing" the coal operators by such
tax as Lieut.. Gov. S. Thruston BAL
lard recently suggested. Mr.. Bosworth
predicted that there would be no ex-
ira session of the Legislature this year
in behalf Of good roads. He spent last
night here on his way to French Lick.
Il own two mines" Mr.. Boswortha
said Zone is In Kentucky and the
other in Tennessee. just across the
line. Were the Legislature to vote a.
tonnage tax on coal, would be OBJ
liged to shut down my Kentucky mine.
Not that / want to do it. understand,
but If / were to continue to operate
my Kentucky mine at those conditions
1t would be at monetary loss"
The Louisville Automobile Club has
| 3, 900 members, scattered rs far East
as Ashland and as far West as Padu-
cab. This Organization is to be aug
mented by the formation of bodies i'm
all parts of the State to push the
bond issue plan.
Indications of sentiment among tax
payers in Kentucky counties seem to
assure the success of the proposal, ac-
cording to Eugene Stuart. secretary
of the auto club.
Tentative plans propose the issuance
of O,0OO,000 worth Of road bonds.
They would be issued at the rate OF
| $I0. .000, 900 a year for a period OF hve
years and are expected to cover partly
| the expense of building the 1900 miles
of road proposed by the recent Legis-
lature This programme of the Legis-
| lature was not carried out because one
of the principal revenues for its sup
port the whisky tax, was declared un-
constitutional. 3
The $4,000, 900. Mr.. Stuart explain
| ed, would not oover the cost Of build
| ing the roads at the present prices.
But, he said, IL the bond issue is voted
on at the 1921 election, work could not
| Ao.~f,,. ,,,.t;l tl,x. .,t,tf,,er NJ 1000
i BY that time costs of labor and ma
1 terial will have decreased considerably,
| he expects. Then certain amount OF
Federal aid might, be counted on. The
revenues from the gasoline tax and the
automobile license fees would be used
mostly for maintenance.
I'm sure that Mr.. Morrow will call
| this special session, if he's convincea
that it will be a successful ISSUE Mr..
Stuart said. This is movement to
decrease taxes in Kentucky The ag-
! grogate increase in taxable values re-
sulting from good roads construction
will yield more than sufficient revenues
to Offset the cost of construction"
AS an example of good roads senti-
ment in Kentucky, the fact was cited
that farmers living along the road be-
tween Mount Sterling and the Menifee
county line have volunteered to sub
scribe $1,000 each for the building Of q
Iusuable stretch Of highway there.
In other places, campaigns for road
| funds and increased assessments for
county roads have been greeted with
enthusiasm by men who pax q large
share Of the taxes, according to Mr..
Stuart.