Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-01-30
SEEKS TO DIVIDE AUTO TAX
WITH States COUNTIES
Delegate Richards Bill Gre
atcs Much Interest in Good
Roads Circles.
ruEIIC HEARING is REQUESTED


Much intcrcs, is being manifested
In good roads circles over a House
bin Introduced by Delegate Boyd
Richards, OF Winch,sscr which
would Distribute 5o per cent OF the
automobile license fees among the
counties 10 M expended under the
sole supervision OF the local road au-
thorities in such way as they may
see lit The remaining ~ Pcr cent
would be lott on the, State highway
fund. The bill was referred to the
Committee on Roads.
While the measure has tho names
of over thirty members OF the House
as patrons good roads advocates be-
!icNe that some signed the bill with
out approaching fully it's purport.
Interest ia the measure is said to
he $" great that organizations rep
resentinr automobile owners have
requested public hearing When
this is given representatives, OF tho
Virginia 'Au'omOtivc Dealers Asso-
citation. Tidcwatcr Autumobn. Asso-
citation Of Norfolk. Lynchburg Auto
mobile Club. Ricnmond AutoGobiic
Club. Roanoke Automobile Club.
Richmond Automotivc Dealers As
ISOLATION, Virginia Good Roads As
ISOLATION, and the State Highway Do
par,ment Will be on hand /, * said
10 protest against tho provision OF
the bill taking away over $1,000. 600
OF State road funds and distributing
THIS money among the counties.
Used In state Highways.
Under The present law. passed I'm
1919. onc-third of the automobile Ii
censc fees is set aside for the con-
struction OF State highways, and
% E..
fccs Tor maintenance Of state high
ways. This provides approximately
100000 for the state highway CON
struction fund and sl,iOo,O00 for
state highway maintenance. Tin.
state Highway Commission in It's re-
port advocated the taking over by
the State Of the entire mileage OF
1850 miles of the State system FOR
maintenance.
Two-thirds OF the automobile IL
lain the 1850 mSes Of mishwar NOV now
under maintenance and. II the re-
commentator OF the Stat. Highway
Commission is adopted. II Will re-
Guirc. IL 10 argued, at least the
balance az the automobile license
fees for this purpose.
Use OF the entire receipts from au-
tomohiic license fees for maintenance
OF the state highway system is said
TO he the procedure followed by most
Of the progressive road states II
also is said L. have the Endorsement
OF the American Automobile Asso-
citation.
Despite tho fact that the majority
of automobile owners rcsid. in the
cities, none OF the fees can he cx-
pended in the cities. but must be
used in the construction or main
tenancc OF highways in the country.
II is pointed out. Automobile own
ers are said 10 he not OF ed 10
this as long III. funds are cN-
pended on the state highway system
OF connected roads starting some
where and ending somewhere" They
are reported as being opposed To
distribution OF the fees which they
pay into the state Tor the privilege
Of operating their cars, among the
counties to be-. in urn, distributed
among tn" road districts of the
county 10 huild on maintain roads ui
a purely local character
Increase Is Recommended.
The state Highway Commission
has recommended that the present
appropriation OF S7oQcoo armlally
for state aid To the counties be in
creased To $i,00p,000, and this re-
com m"ndaiion has been indor>ed by
the Virginia Good Roads Associa-
tion. Under tho present plan. this
Iund is a!"cat"d according to road
mileage. population and assessed
valuation and the co.hn,ics. match the
ALLEGATION with a ';ikd amount,
The local road authorities desig-
nat" the roads on which the money
is expended, but tn" project plans
aud specifications must be approved
by the state Highway Department.
Through The cooperation of the
state ana counties. county highways
arc built win a view of connec,!na.
up these local roads with tn. state
system.
The amending clause OF the bill.
introduced hy Delegate Richards
seeking TO distribute onc-halc Of tho
automohiie license fees. Is as fol-
lows:
The remaining % per ccn,u,n o.:
TINS fund, except "a ~ Otherwise pro-
Nided IN tnis act shall each year be
appo!t!onad and paid To- all the cUun
ticS %; tn" stat" according TO IN,
fespcctiv" total amounts q: St,,.
taAes paid into the treasury from surh
counties on real estate personal
property. Income and capitatior tax
the next prcv"diHu fiscal year INC
said appn't!onmeu, 10 u" cyp.ndeo
in the counties Of the state for IN.
construction AND maintenance OF
public roads uilG bridges in e,Ic
counties under H.. sol. sIperyistou
OF the local road authorities thereof
uhiess jh.y Hesir. IN" assistance %
the Highway De1artm..t."