The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-01-29

bHiAa III i6h NoS AhifAVfShiShb ooSONAi all persons who want good roads.
 President Cramton pointed out the benefits to be derived from the rati- fieation Of the amendment. declared that motor vehicle licenses will pay interest, create a sinking fund for the retirement of the bonds and pay the cost of maintaining the roads. He also declared that 1t Is the only hope of the small counties which are not financially able to construct their own roads.
 Mir. Cramton also urged friends of good roads to vote at the same time for the ratification of the amendme nt which proposes temporary exemp- tion of soldiers. sailors and marines from the payment of poll taxes.
 No Organized Opposition
 Reports from various sections of the state indicate that the amend ment will be ratified. No organized opposition has been shown. A few persons scattered throughout the state have opposed ratification, but have not attempted to combine in q fight against 1t.
 This amendment was proposed by ihe legislature in October to take the place of the one ratified by d majority Of eight to. one February 16, 1920, and which was held to be in- valid by the supreme court because the legislature permitted the gov ernor to fix the date of the election.
 If the amendment is ratified the highway bond commission. composed of the governor, attorney general and chairman of the highway com mission, will offer for sale at once sufficient bonds to match tho funds new held in Washington. When the bonds have been sold construction work win be started throughout the state.
 The Final Appeal
 The final appeal of the Alabama Highway Improvement association for the ratification of the highway bond amendment follows:
 The highway bond amendment is now with the voters. On Monday the men and women of Alabama must say whether or not they are willing to accept a gift of s1,50o.o0O or more each year from the federal govern ment. They must also say whether or not they are willing to use the motor vehicle taxes in constructing a system of permanent roads from which every subdivision of the state will benefit.
 "A vote in favor of the ratification Of the highway bond amendment Monday will mean that the state fla vors the construction of a. system of permanent roads, favors the employ ment of men, animals and machines which have been idle since the season of depression began and favors the fnFmaff ffon 0f n no s.-4f 4t, federal government in work which will help every citizen of the state.
 "A vote against the ratification of the amendment will mean that the state is willing to continue the old slip-shod method of building roads with county money and without thought of the future when the win try rains will beat holes into the roads with the effective aid of the road vehicles. A vote against ratifi- cation will mean that the state is will ling to do nothing to relieve the fi- nancial depression which has kept many men out of employment for many months. A vote against ratifi- cation will mean that the state does not want the annual appropriations s which the federal government has of- fered as gratuity to those states which will show enough interest in road building to match the appropria- tion.
 When one understands the pro- posal which must be accepted or re- jected by the voters Monday he can not vote against it. The Alabama Highway association has made an honest effort to 'acquaint all the peo- pie with the full facts. It has not at tempted to conceal anything. It has urged every person 10 ask any ques- tions he may care to ask. We believe a-grest majority of the people do un- derstand the question.
 For the information of those who desire further facts at the eleventh hour. l would call attention, briefly. to the folowing:
 What Ratification Means
 -'1. Ratification of the amendment will mean the matching of about ss5Qo.0oo In federal funds now ac- tually set apart for Alabama at Washington, great majority of which will be lost 70 Alabama and apportioned to other states If the bond issue Is not ratified.
 70. Ratification will mean that road con struction work can be started on a large scale as soon as the first issue of bonds is sold. Preliminary plans have been drawn and approved by the federal government. The mo- ment we arc able to match the fed- efal appropriations the contracts for the construction work can be made. This construction work will mean fi- nancial benefit to every county, be- cause the contracts will be scattered throughout the state.
 "3. Ratification of the amendment will not mean one penny increase in anybody's taxes. The motor vehicle licenses will pay the interest on the bonds, create a sinking fund for the retirement of the bonds at maturity and furnish an amount sufficient for the maintenance of the roads. This fact has been proved by the states actual experience with the motor ve- hicIe fund"
 4. Ratification will not mean the sale of the whole amount of bonds at once. It is not the intention of the state to sell mere bonds n any one way than Is necessary to obtain the federal appropriation. No specific