Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1921-05-10
ARKANSAS TOTTERiNG.
People Groaning Under Burden of Road
Taxation.

Thousands of Arkansas land owners
are facing financial ruin as result OF
the enactment of series of, so-cailed
good roads laws, according to Governor
Thomas c.. NIcRae, the new governor
of the state who in conversation with
the New York Times's; correspondent
at Little Rock, Arkansas, recently
denounced them as the most vicious
system of special taxation ever enacted
in any state in the union.
Under these laws, which in Arkan-
sas are known as "road Improvement
district laws, road commissioners nave
been vested with practically czar-iike
authority, he said, and have been able
to bond districts in all parts OF the
state TO the point of financial disaster.
land owners in numerous instances be-
ing taxed amounts that equal or even
exceed the total gross incomes of their
property, while millions Of dollars have
been expended on roads that IN the
opinion of Associate Justice Hart OF
the state supreme court begin no.
where and end nowhere" The finan-'
cial burden placed on scores OF commu-
mites is so tremendous, in the opinion
of Governor McRea, that it is doubtful
if many of these commu' tiles will ever
again be free Of debt.
THE New York Times" said Gov
ernor McRae, "wil! render not only
myself as governor and all the people
of Arkansas, but the people OF the
country generally, a great service IL
il shows up this road proposition IN
Arkansas in it's true colors Person
ally I will say that this road ousl-
ness has turned out to be the greatest
disaster that has ever befallen the
neorle of Arkansas The whole thing
is a scandal and a shame and the odor
of it reaches to heaven.
Efforts For Repeal Blocked.
The governor declared that he had
been elected governor on a platform
which pledged n reform OF the foau
laws, but added that 10 date ms ell
forts to force remedial Legislation had
been frustrated as the result OF the
opposition of a hostile State SENATE
the membership Of which incluues
many senator's who are hold-oVers
from the senate that passed the spec
ial road district laws. The road pro-
gram, he said, called for an eXpenoi-
turc Of s140. 900, which with per
cent twenty-year bonds would mean
total debt of approximately $780,
600 900. Through failure of many
road districts to find market lot
their bonds and through legislation
forced through the last legislature
and by the action OF taxpayers III
some of the districts. it is now hopeu'
he asserted, that the original imam
cial program can be cut in hall.
In one district. he declared the
angry taxpayers marched into court
room while the court was in session
and forced the road commissioners
10 resign at the point Of guns.
The Times correspondent "'' ~
to Arkansas to look into the road
situation as the result OF reports
reaching Washington to the effect
that land owners in Arkansas-only
the owners of land arc taxed unoer
the road laws-were in the name or
good roads being taxed to the point
where the leries amounted to contls-
cation of the properties and that
great sums Of money were being
/ wasted on road construction. as, Tor
| instance, on the Arkansas s-Missourl
highway project where Little Rock
grand jury charged. a few weeks ago
! that no less than S1,000,o00 had been
s,luandercd.