Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-09-02

ernOr and COuncll pelHS given Ho us
erection in the matter. The Constitu-
ton provides this money must be
divided equitably among the several
counties.
Third That if the constitutional
amendment is adopted the law ap-
propriating 100000 for State-aid
roads is repealed as is also the law
appropriating 100000 annually for
bridges.
Fourth: If the constitutional
amendment is adopted the so-called
mill tax law whereby one mill on the
dollar of the States valuation is as
sessed for roads will be repealed.
This law produced approximately
s6S1 900 last year. 100000 of which
went to State aid roads, s106,00e for
special resolves of the Legislature,
s212, 900 for third class roads, and the
balance about $4,000 for main
tenance. A new mill tax law will
become operative whereby mill and
half will be assessed on the valua
ton of the State to be used for the
following purposes:
10 (not exceedingly to be expended
in the form of special resolves by the
Legislature.
% (not exceedingly for third class
roads. The towns receiving this
State money do not have to make any
special appropriation.
60 the remainder) to be used for
the maintenance of State and State
aid roads and bridges. This mill and
half will produce about s950,000.
Fifth: That the federal appropria
ton whereby the National Govern
! ment has borne one half the cost of
trunk line work expires this year:
but there is a bill in Congress which
has been reported favorably by the
committee and which will undoubt-
eddy pass that will give the State
bout $750,000 for the year 1922, pro-
vided the State is able to match it for
system of interstate roads and it
is doubtful if much of this money
/ could be used on our State aid roads
Sixth: 1t has been the practice Of
the Federal Government to notify the
highway department several months
in advance of the time a Federal Aid
| apportionment was available. For
| example, the highway department
J would be notified in January of the
| apportionment which would become
available the following July, so that
| the department would make plans to
| present to the Federal Government
| for Its approval. Previously, if a
l state did not meet the requirements
| of the Federal Government in regard
| to location of road. kind of construc-
| ton. or providing the required funds.
within twentyfour months from the
time of allotment, the amount was re-
allotted to other states.
Seventh: From the best informa-
ton obtainable there will be left
after last years highway road work
is completed and the 81 miles au-
thOriZed this year by the Governor
and Council are completed and paid
for. about 1920 900 of the $4,000, 600
bonds authorized, provided the con-
stjtutonal amendment is adopted.
This could be used for next years
contracts.
Eighth If the constitutional
amendment should fail Of adoption
there would be about s3.7500O0 of the
$10,000,0O0 bonds left for State high
way road work and the State, State
aid. and mill tax laws would remain
as at present
Ninth: With approximately only
81, 100000 left from the total author
lied bond issue of s10,000000 State
road bonds. as would be the case if
the constitutional amendment were
adopted. the trunk lines between
Portland and Lewiston as also the
: State roads between Portland and
, Fryeburg, Poland and Gilead Lewis
ton and Rumford Bangor and Dover
Lewiston and Brunswick. Bethel and
Enrol, Auburn and Rangeley. Augusta
and Waterville via Belgrade. New
port and Greenville. Ellsworth and
Calais, Bangor and Aroostook county.
as all other State roads would be left
uncompleted which certainly would
be calamity.
! Tenth: That in three years, if the
; proposed constitutional amendment is
E adopted, there will be no money
available even for State aid roads,
and consequently their construction
, will stop unless there is a direct ap-
: preparation by the next Legislature
or some other means for money pro-
vided. The call for State-aid roads
by the towns this year was nearly
100000 so it is a mathematical GER
tainty that the 81 500 zoos would be
exhausted in three years.
Eleventh: If the construction not
only of State but Statc-aid roads is
| to continue and this constitutional
| amendment is adopted, the next
Legislature will be obliged to enact a
complete new financial method of
raising money either by direct taxa
, ton or new bond issue after further
, constitutional amendment If the
, bond issue method is adopted. the
, Legislature of 1928 would be obliged
) to adopt a resolve and this resolve
could not be submitted to the people
until the fall of that year and the
, Legislature of 1925 would authorize
the issuance of the bonds, so that the
proceeds of the bond issue would not
be available until the summer of
1925 unless a special session of the
Legislature were convened between
the adoption of the amendment and
the regular session of the Legislature
in 1925. Consequently, there might
he possibility of losing some of the
Federal Aid if Congress should make
appropriate for years subsequent
to 1921.
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