The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1920-02-09
TWO MILLS
. TO BUILD HIGHWAYS
Each County Would Spend Within
Own Borders Funds Thus Raised.
Graduated Scale of License
Fees.

Legislative committee of the house
and the senate for the preparation
of improved highway legislation has
completed it's work and it's bill is
now being typed by the engfossing
department and will be introduced
into the general assembly when it
,convencs next week. ..
! The length of the bill has prevert-
), ed the engrossing department from
completing more than half OF it when
it finished it's work yesterday, and it
hardly will be completed in time to
be given its first reading next Mon
day night when the legislature recon-
'venes, but more than likely it will he
introduced Tuesday.
i The bill provides for dual system
, of state and county highways, but is
silent as to the materials which shall
constitute the roads. It provides that
the state highway department shall
construct system of state highways
linking up the county seats of the
state, covering such main arteries Of +
;, travel as. the commission deems ad-j
visable. With the assent of the coun-
ty authorities it will have the right
;, to lay out county funds, the counties
to retain the title to the roads and
bridges. .
;, Licenses Come Higher.
+ The bill provides that, beginning
with next year, all automobiles
weighing 1000 pounds or under shall
pay an annual license of Sc and an
additional 500 pounds licaDtw-pubsp
additional license of 81 for every ad-
provides license fee of $40 a year
for one ton trucks $40 for two ton
trucks, $50 for three ton trucks,
500 for four ton trucks, $500 for
five ton trucks, $500 for six ton
trucks, and $1,000 for trucks. of
seven tons, and over. Each motor
cycle must pay an annual tax of $6.
Dealers license are S25 yearly for
the first make of motor driven We
hicle sold and SIS for each addi-
tional make. Of the amount accruing
from the license tax, 80 per cent is
to be spent in the counties from
which originating for the mainte-
nance of the state system in those
counties. Any surplus can be used in
the county for roads and bridges in
isuch manner as decided upon by the
highway department. The remaining
20 per cent will 60 for expenses of
the department and for aid to the
counties in the construction of roads
and bridges.
The bill likewise provides AN an
nual levy of two mills on all taxable
property of the state. The section
providing this levy reads:
Two Mill Property Tax
"There shall be annually levied up
on all the taxable property of the
state a tax of two mills which shall
be retained by the counties and used
for the construction of highways and
bridges under the state system in the
respective counties under the general
supervision of the highway depart
ment, as provided in this act. In the
event any county or township has is
sued bonds for the construction of
highways, or shall issue bonds for
such purposes, which shall be adopt
ed into the state system, the said
levy shall be annually retained by
the counties or townships from
which said tax is levied and may be
used as sinking fund or for the
purpose of retiring said bonds at
the maturities of same, or applied to
the payment of interest on said
such bonds"
The personnel of the commission
remains unchanged. The bill pro-
vldes for five members the deans of
the engineering departments of the
University of South Carolina, Glenn
son college and the Citadel and two
members to be appointed by the gov
ernor for period of two years each.