Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1922-01-24
BOND ISSUE FOR ROADS

Richmond, Jan. 24.-Members of
the House of Delegates who voted
for the resolution on the second day
of the session aimed at bond issue
for roads are explaining their vote
on the resolution as worded, that
they were expressing to the people
back home that they would not vote
for a measure which meant increase
in taxation. They assert that they
would not be opposed to small bond
issue to supplement other road funds
if it could be shown that such bond
issue could be made without any in
crease in the tax rate of the State,
Parliamentarians of the House and
Senate who have carefully studied
the resolution and the procedure
incident to the passing of the resolu.
ton regard it as nothing more than
an expression of opinion against in.
crease in taxation at this time They
rule that it could not operate against
the constitutional right of any mem
Der to introduce Bill calling for a
bond issue and have it treated with
the usual procedure Of reference to
the proper committee. They do not
believe that members voting for the
resolution are morally bound to vote
against bond issue if they are con-
WINGED in their own minds that such
an action does not mean an increase
in the tax rate of the State.
The Virginia Good Roads Associa-
ton has advocated the issuance of
approximately S1Z,000,000 in State
highway bonds by the present Leg
islature to supplement other
revenues for 1922 and 1923 in order
that Virginia can go ahead with the
construction of State highways COM
mensurate with the pressing need OF
the State for roads and to permit the
State to take advantage of the favor.
able conditions for road construction,
just as Maryland, West Virginia and
North Carolina are now doing. Not
withstanding statements made by op,
.p2nents to the bond issues that there
are <treplendous sums now available
for State highway construction ia
1922, the State of Virginia will have
less than s4,S00,OO0 available for new.
construction of the State highways in
1922 The law is very plain in set
ting aside one third of the auto tax,
the mill tax, the value of convict la
Dor, in addition to any direct appro-
priation and the Federal Aid. AS.
suming the same appropriation would
be made, the total of all these sources
will not exceed the amount stated.
Any balances of either State or Fed
eral funds in the treasury from 1921
will be more than taken up by con-
tracts actually let and under way.
The first money available for new
contracts in 1922 will come from the
automobile license collections and the
appropriation. whatever it may be
made by the General Assembly.
These funds will not be available
until March or later. Matching new
Federal Aid will have to wait until
the taxes are collected and the APP
preparation made. 1t remains for the
General Assembly to decide whether
Virginia shall spend less money for
State highway construction in 1922
when prices are lower and labor
needs employment than in 1921.
The action of the House of Dele
gates has materially increased the
Of the good roads advocates
of the State in the annual conven,
ton of the Virginia Good Roads As
ISOLATION which was held in Rich
mond, January Is, 10 and 20. They
came to Richmond from all
over the State to show by their pres
ence to their representatives that the
people are behind them in providing
ample funds for the speedy construc.
ton of a State highway system.
Speakers of National and State wide
were on the program.