Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1921-02-01
ROAD MATTERS
Are DISCUSSED
SENATOR KING EXPLAINS RE-
PORTED DEFICIT OF Ss00.000 IN
STATE HIGHWAY FUND
OTHER LEGISLATION OF INTEREST
Many Bills introduced of Great I'M
p0rtance TO the State.

ueIS fSfTy heTd1u. 1nTOuSn the ell
forts of the various committees that
have been working conscientiously for
several weeks, many OF the problems
confronting the members of the six
teenth legislature are in a fair way
towards solution.
One matter that has caused con
siderable worriment is the good roads
program. When we first arrived in
Boise we were advised that there was
a large deficit in the state highway
department. The amount of this de-
ficit grew day by day, according to
reports. We were advised that vari-
GUS counties had advanced money to
the highway department for road work
in their counties TO the amount of over
$S0O,O00 This is true but l am ad-
vised by Governor Davis that the high
way department has monies due it
from other counties and from the
federal government more than suffic-
lent to offset any deficit
1t seems that in some % counties of
the state there was county money
available with which to proceed with
more road work than had been first
contemplated by the fifteenth legisla-
ture. The state did not have available
the money with which to meet federal
and county appropriations and so ar
rangements were made whereby the
county advanced to the state the
states proportion, upon the highway
departments assurance that this
money would be refunded the county
either out of the two mill levy collect
ible for the biennium of 1922 or
from funds payable the department
from counties overdrawn or from fed
eral road appropriations due.
Among most of the legislators the
impression was gained that these 2S
counties had taken advantage of the
other counties of the state and had
with the assistance of the state high
way department. mortgaged without
any authority. a great share of the
money which might be due the coming
biennium under the two mill road tax
1t was generally agreed and under
stood that this two mill road tax law
should be repealed this year inasmuch
as a two million dollar bond issue
was voted last election for good roads
But when it was attempted to arrive
at just proportionment of the money
available under the two million dollar
levy it was found that in some in
stances the state highway commission
owed some counties more than the
county would receive in its apportion-
ment. Under this understanding
many of the legislators wanted to con
ainue the two mill direct road tax
Such a program, however, is not fav-
ored by the administration, which is
desirous of keeping the entire state
levy for all purposes within the limit
of three and half mills.
II is hard to say just what sort o.
a program will be worked out by the
highways, roads and bridges commit
tee of the senate in regard to roac
approuriations for the coming twt
wears. The information given ou
from Governor Davis office last nigh
has changed the entire situation ant
IL is likely that about the same ap
pOrtionments made by the last legis
iature for each county will prevail 10
the coming piennium. The highways
roads and bridges committee or TN
senate is composed of thoroughly com
petent men who are fairminded ant
who desire to see to it that each coun
ty of the state gets fair treatment Il
the distribution of state aid.
The road construction program
the state for the next two years is Z
be the subject of separate caucuses Il
the house and senate and Joint eau
cus of the house and senate in tn
near future.
Many legislators favor a plan Q
giving the counties direct supervisio
of the expending of state money an
propose to enact legislation limitin
The mowers of the state highway com
mission. These legislators claim ths
the county commissioners have bee
taking all the blame in all matters {
state highway construction when, as
matter of fact. the commissioners d
not have anything to say about tn
routing of the state highway or il
construction.
find that a large majority OF IN
senators favor the levying of tw
cent tax on every gallon OF gasonn
sold in the state. the proceeds OF TN
levy to be used for road maintenanC
and construction. Advocates OF IN
measure claim that the tax is pal
only by those who derive the create
benefit from good roads. | am
formed that many western states ha'
similar laws or will enact such Law
this year.
The legislators of the northel
counties will all oppose house bill N
70, providing for direct tax OF tV
mills for school purposes, the mon'
derived to go into the general sta
school fund and TO be distributed
the manner provided for the distrib
tiOn of all general school monies. II
reason for opposing this measure
that all but one of the northern cou
ties Of the state win pay more into Z
fund than they will receive. In Z
instance OF Boundary county it wou
pay over $4,000 more into the fund thi
II wonld receive. Shosbone coun