The copper era and Morenci leader., 1921-03-04
TUCSON [. IF C. |0N RECORD AGAINST OMNIBUS ROAD BILL

commerce unanimously went on re- cord at luncheon at the Santa Rita here as opposed to the proposed om- nibus bill, and the secretary of the organization was instructed to notify Pima county senators and represen- tatives at once of the chambers ac- !ion.
 It was pointed out by Andy Martin, who has made a thorough investiga- tion of the proposed omnibus bill, that if the bill becomes a law it will start '-pork-barreI' legislation, some thing that this state has never had to deal with in the past
 NIT. Martin also pointed out that the bill, as drafted, provides for the practical completion of road across the central portion of the state, and he asked why the taxpayers of other sections of the state should be asked to pay for this road. He also said that the bill provided for funds to be spent upon recognized highways, and according to MT. Martin, there are only two recognized transcontinent- al highways in the state. and the ap- propriations as set forth in the bill provides very little for work on such roads.
 The omnibus bill was originally drafted to appropriate $s75,000 for road construction; later it has been amended so that the total amount asked for is $1,025, 900. Of this amount only $75.000 will be spent upon the Borderland route, a recognized high way.
 Add 12 Gents to Tax
 lG~ axks sed it will add tax of 12 cents per hundred dollars to the present tax of 10 cents for road work, making total Of 22 cents for road construc- tion.
 If tte hill passed the following is the way the money will be spent: Central sectidnb ..$ s25,000 Northern seci&ons .... 300,O0o North-south construc ..... 125,000 Bcrderland highway ..... 75,O0O
 Fota1 .$1 ,025, ,000
 MT. Martin also said that the om- nibus bill contained several riders, among which is one that provides funds that can be switched from one section of the state to another. He further said that if the bill is killed in the legislature it will mean that it will be two years before it can he acted upon. and the result would be that as soon as the bill is killed the legislators who proposed the bill will get together and frame legisla- tion that is fair to all sections of the state
 A short time ago a petition was cir- culated and signed by a large number of Tucsonians in regard to the omni- bus bill. It was thought at the time that unless money was appropriated the state would lose federal aid upon a number projects. The petition ask ed that the legislature make some sort of legislation to help on roads already constructed, and those under construction, but did not ask for the passage of the omnibus bill. It has since been found out that the state will receive federal aid whether funds are provided by the state or not.
 Opponents in Control
 The opponents to the omnibus road bill had made a clean sweep of the field before the members of the cham Der of commerce met at the lunche- on. The directors of the chamber met Thursday afternoon at the chamber oI COHm0rco ana dICor Q1ScuSSlng the bill in all it's angles and close ly reading it, decided they would op- pose it's passage with all of their in- fuence brought to bear
 The committee of twenty of the Young Mems Business club met and were also unanimous in opposing the measure. The entire membership of the committee was not present but it was announced that, after the mat ter was discussed. it was decided to oppose the measure. Kirk T. Moore was asked to get in communication with Senators Hedrick and Goodell and ask them to come to Tucson not later than Sunday to explain the bill. MT. Moore said this morning that he had been trying to get in communica- tion with the senators by telephone, but had not succeeded
 It was also said at the chamber of commerce that members of the Tucson Auto Trades. association. who had been :n favor of the bill a few days ago, after going over the matter, had changed front and were opposed to if.