The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-01-15
ASK MORE MONEY ASKS $12 LICENSE
Educational To Governor Aliens Road Fund
Consider Higher Salaries. Amounts to $3,000,000.
Interesting Program Arranged Auto Tax In Kansas Used In
by Committee. Road Building.
MEET HERE JANUARY 22-23 NO STATE ROAD BONDS
To Keep School Positions Out Most Counties Do Spend
Politics. All of Motor Fund.-
Increase in For State Plan Is To Hard
Superintendent. County Roads.
Aliens Road Fund
Amounts to $3,000,000.
Auto Tax in Kansas Used in
Road Building.
STATE ROAD BONDS
Most Counties Do Not Spend
All of Motor Fund.
Plan Is To Hard Surface
County Roads.

Automobile licenses would average
little less than s12 each in case the
legislature, in enacting good roads
laws at the current session, adopts
Governor Aliens recommendation
that a license fund of about $4,000, 900
be raised.
Under the plan outlined by Gov
ernor Allen in mis- message to the
legislature, the various counties
would not be denied such funds as
would be necessary to properly drag
and repair highways He estimates
that this would be adequately met
by return to the county of 1915 for
each motor y vehicle within such
county. This, it was estimated, would
result in approximately 100000
being utilized by the counties direct
while the balance of $2,000,000 would
be distributed among the various
counties under the new enactment
tribute financial aid to highway con-
struction in the various counties,
Under this plan, the governor pointed
out, 1t would not be necessary for the
state to vote road bonds
To Hard Surface Roads.
The basis used by the governor was
a report from many counties showing
that the great majority are not able
TO spend any where near the amount
now obtained from motor car licenses.
to defray the expense of road drag
ging. Last year all counties reportinr.
showed they had expended nearly half
the amount. The governors plan is
| to furnish the counties with as much
as they utilized under the old law,
but to make it possible for the coun-
ties to use the fund for repair, in
| hard surface highways, cutting weeds.
| keeping up drain bitches, etc., rather
| than merely for road dragging to
which 1t was restricted under the old
| law.
| The basis of distribution of the state
| aid road fund of 100000 annually
would take into consideration five
things, crediting 20 per cent for each
as follows: number of vehicles
| licensed in the county; population;
road and bridge fund raised by the
| county. In support of his scheme.
| the governor says:
Help Those Who Help Themselves.
| The method. considering the
amount of money that is levied each
year In the county for road and bridge
/ purposes, carries out the principle OF
| helping those who help themselves
| and will encourage counties to take
more care of their general road work
IN order to obtain a larger portion of
the state-aid funds. State-aid money
| should be given to the counties only
for work completed, applying the same
| principle as is used in paying out fed
| eral-aid funds. If the money is turned
directly back to the county as is the
| case with our present auto-license fee
| we will undoubtedly encounter the
same difficulty that is now complained
| OF by the motor car owners in some
! counties, that is, that the funds are
not being expended for the purpose
for which they were intended
Our present fees are supposed to
| be used in the dra gging of earth roads,
/ but the reports of the counties show
| that they are not utilizing the funds
! for this purpose, and in some instances
we belive they are emitting it purposely
| in order to enhance their general road
! fund at the end of the year. thus avoid
| ing the necessity of levying a larger
| road fund. This fund. coming from a
| special class of property, should not be
made to defray general expenses that
| should be borne by a general taxa
ton"