The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1922-05-30
YEOMANS DISCUSSES $75,OOOOOO ROAD BOND ISSUE

to old fashioned honesty and strict
economy in the administration OF the
public affairs.
So much for 'the methods. | give
them for what they are worth in the
eyes of the tax paying public.
Let's See Some of the Facts.
Mr.. Farmer complains, because tax,
ing his figures as correct | suggested
that it was costing over $7O0.OO per
mile for maintenance of the state sys-
TEN of roads per year. In his original
article he said:
1.-THE state highway department sue
ceeded in building approximately
1,400 miles of roadway" and also he
said Maintaining the state system OF
roads necessitates the expendi-
ture Of approximately $1,00O,000 of the
present automobile license fees, which
in 1921 amounted to $1703, ol3.42 in
maintenance 1t will readily be seen
that only $703,9l3.42 will be left out
of this fund for construction"
If they used $1,000,000 out OF the
license fees in 1921 for maintenance
of 1,400 miles this is over $4,000 per
mile. If they did not use it for main
tenance, for what was it used? | vent
ure the assertion that not a dollar was
spent in maintenance of the 4,lO0
miles of unconstruced roads, and not
much on the 400 miles. They have
been too busy buying rock piles at
100000 per pile and making speeches
for bonds.
Mr.. Farmer also said: 1T is assum-
ed that the income from the automo
bile tag tax in 1923 is to be $2,50O,0OO.
This is increased at the rate of 10 per
cent per annum. In 1925 Sl,000,O00 is
added, being the revenue from the gas
oline tax. This together with the tag
tax is increased 10 per cent until the
wear 1929, after which it remains the
same" viz: $5,893,00200, and then he
criticizes me because | questioned his
assumption
Bonds are not sold on assumptions,
nor paid on the assumptions that the
number of automobiles will increase
70 per cent in seven years. 1t takes
more than assumptions to pay bonds.
1t takes the guarantee that the hard,
cold cash will be paid by the taxpayers
to sell bonds, after which the taXpay-
ers will have to pay the hard cold
cash. Don't forget that.
But is there any merit in Mr.. Farm |
ers assumptions? According to his
own figures the tag tax in 1920 was
$1.851, 54083, and in 1921 it was ST.
703,913.42. In 1922, owing to stringent |
laws passed by the last legislature, it !
may reach $1,800000. | am advised |
that there is in the United States one
automobile to about every eleven peo-
pie. The number OF automobiles own
ed by negroes in Georgia is unknown, |
but | doubt if it exceeds 5000. If this |
be true, and if Mr. Farmers figures
are correct, there is now one automo-
bile to every fifteen white people.
If you will only look around the
fact will be plain that every family
now able to own an automobile has
one, and many who are not, and if
the price of gas continues to go up
the use of automobiles will be pro-
hibitive.
Will the Present Tag Tax Authorize
A Bond Issue?
Mr.. Farmer advises that it takes
ST 100000 a year to maintain the pres
ent system of roads. The highway de-
partment in its report places he cost
of office expenses, travelling expenses,
salaries, surveys, plans computations,
estimates etc, at $574 1858 If these
figures be correct just little over
100000 will be left from the tag tax
They propose to issue $l0000,000 in
bonds the first year The interest will
be $450,000, the sinking fund $685. |
1888, a total of $7S3,333.33, How will
this amount be raised? Will Mr. Far
mer use the bond money to pay the
interest and sinking fund, and thus eat
up the capital, or will he levy a prop
erty tax? He may take any horn
of the dilema he chooses. But these
bond advocates are wise, and have
made ample provision for this emer-
gency, though they have not yet con-
fded their plans to the taxpayers.
For years the only safeguard the
people have had is the FIVE MILL
LIMIT, and in my former article
stated the bond advocates would re-
peal this if they could
Now here is their plan, and | quote
from their proposed constitutional
amendment:
The general assembly shall have
the power to provide for the levy of
an annual state tax on property sufh
cient to pay the interest on such debt
(road bonds) and to provide an ade-
quate sinking fund for the payment of
the principal, when it becomes due,
anything in the constitution to the
contrary Notwithstanding.
But their propaganda says: mo
TAX ON PROPERTY"