Norwich bulletin., 1922-01-27
MOTOR VEHICLE FEES WILL
PROVIDE MONEY FOR ROADS

nv "oADo
Automobile registration fees are OF
considerable import TO almost every
eastern state today and Connecticut is
no exception The automobile has be-
come OF SUCH proportion that consider
able study Is being made OF its problems
insofar as trafrlc' and regulation Is con-
cernd'
Inc fundamentals Oh une automoolle and
the highway Is contained in this state
ment; The automobile which today
uses tne hlghways should pay the cost
Oh the highways II the automobile rider
cares little or nothing about the condi-
ton OF the roads, very well. II he would
nave good roads he must pay for them.
Inc people as whlle, VINO DO not par
uclpate should not be expected to pay.
Ihere are some VINO oe1eve the highway
proposition should be taken care OF en-
tlrely by direct taxation. II this is the
| case, where will this tax be placed? 1t,
Is a pertinent question.
In Connecticut, there are 1900 miles
OF trunk line highways. out OF THIS
800 miles are roads built from time to
time during the last 10 years and out
OF the 500 miles, 800 miles are in need
OF lnamdiate reconstruction. 1t is fact,
tnat roads built as long ago as some por-
tons Of the $50 miles. referred to are
| absolutely unsuitable both IN foundation
and surfacing as permanent highways
for the carrying of modern traffic. The
modern use OF these roads in volume,
! weight and speed of traffic is far In ex-
cess of anything for which they were
ever intended. Conditions have chang
| ed so rapidly and traffic has increased
| by such leaps and bounds that they
are no longer adequate. The nature
| road building policy OF the state must
| therefore be predicated upon modern re-
auirements Of tremendous traffic. This
means that many miles of roads which
| are in immediate need of rebuilding must
| be built shortly or else there must be
waste Of the states money in replacing
extraordinary wear and tear instead of
! expenditure on permarey.
The fees from the registration of mo-
| tor vehicles from the licensing of opera
tors and from all the activities connect
ed with the motor vehicle department
| of the state are devoted entirely to the
use Of the highway department. The
process Of collecting takes those fees
| through the motor vehicle department
to the trea surer's office and from the
| treasIrer's office the total collection is
credited for use on the state highways.
The reports of the highway conlmis-
soner show that in former years the
amounts collected and credited have been
barely enough to take I'd the wear and
| tear of the corresponding year. The re-
suit has been the expenditure of money
received through motor vehicle fees act
ually took care Of the maintenance OF
! present highways
The legislature of 1921 had before II
three taxing measures based upon mo-
tor vehicles One had to do with the
raising of motor vehicle fees, another
with a fax on fuels. and the third. which
did not become a law, with the personal
tax on motor vehicles The first two
measures were presented to the legisla
! tura with the fulI nroblens in view and
If Was Thought that a raise Of fees suf.
Accent TO maintain the roads as form
! erly nlus fueI tax would nrovidf
a etate oolic,, which would ,,errnanent
l. 49, o.ro of ho+h noirtenanco o,f
a., a,sior, 7,ba 1eofslatTra howaver b1
,+s ao+io, dotornoipad n +al[a OH ~ +bt
,,,or,o,. ,ooessor1I "a, roodz o,,t ~ ~,
80 .,,1ao+o5 .i,ro,,-b tbe r.otor ,,e1,i
de denartrnant and IN devote the mon
~. ooi1aota5 froro +bo fre1 tox 70 M,
,o,,t f,,nds ~ +ba stato CONSEQUENT
l.. ,,otor ,,ebic1e fees were 10 rgalY In
.-
- .,o-o1 -.,-. 4ho o-atrar ,le,
IN d sene'aI wy snr - 81 u..ia. pc
~, ,,,,o.o, ~ go. ',o,,io,a 1nn na
oert The n,otor 1 Yeh;n1e dena rtment viii vi
.1,aosas Il. ntloo.tor ;e az -
eo,.a,1. ..atoa ha1d yood ooI,a,t =
s ~ % IN oon -. t,,1r,o 49, 80 =
~ s..oY: ~ IN ,srt,,.o
t'le ni-lt" 70. ~. a. "a q
p e.'Il'illSsloner uoes no NV a. .ne y
! slnnihs VI tn7 year loW nlu ,I niones W, =
10 nave S.Iu ,ns poi. =,
T. WIZ oe g. W
r 1911 uui lils ."e - - ~ e