Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1923-09-28
ISSUED BY THE PAY-AS-YOU-GO
ROADS ASSOCIATION
Richmond Headquarters

Richmond, Va, Sept. 24-Since
Mr.. Coleman was relieved of the job
of building roads he has occupied his
time telling the people how they
ought to be built
1t is easier to talk than to do; and
in his new occupation Mr.. Coleman
has shown surprising versatility in
argument and fiexibility of opinion
which enables him instantaneously to
change his point of view to suit the
prosperity of his bond propaganda.
For instance, in public interview
in March 1922, he passionately re-
scented the diversion of any part of
the revenue from automobile taxes to
the feeder roads. On August II,
1928, he addressed a communication
to the Boards of Supervisors arguing
that the feeder roads would get more
money from the automobile license
tax under the bond plan than under
the pay-as-you go plan, and there
fore the bond plan should be adopted.
On another occasion he said there
were only $50 miles of road in Vir-
GINA which would stand traffic for
ten years. If this is the truth the fact
| is terrible indictment against him
self, because since 1918 he spent APP
proximately the sum of $22,000,000
on the State Highway System. When
a Roman General lost an army in
the forests of Germany Augustus
Caesar exclaimed in agony Of spirit
/ Varus! Varusl What hast thou done
with my legions? If what Coleman
says is true the people of Virginia
can well say: Coleman! Coleman
What roads have you built to show
for our millions?
At this rate 1000 miles of State
Highway would cost 5000, ZOO, 5000.
| Later on he issued a statement
that a bond issue would decrease
taxes. The intelligence of this state
Iment is a fair test of the value OF
lMr. Coleman's opinions as to how
Iroad building should be financed. 3
4 If the roads yet to be built cost s
certain amount, that amount must b.
paid entirely by taxes whether the
cost is paid out of current revenue
or by borrowed money, which mus
Ibe repaid, principal and interest. Un
der the bond issue the roads will COS
lmore because to the cost of the roat
built by bonds must be added the in
terest on the bonds.
In one of his numerous statement
lMr. Coleman said that under his plal
the interest on the bond issue woult
be s31,O00,000. There is no pro
vision in the referendum act as to tn
; date of the maturity of the bonds
but assuming that the periods o.
payment of the bonds would be ar
ranged in accordance with Mr.. Cole
mans plan, then there would be ap
proximately go per cent in interes
paid on every dollar borrowed. Il
Iother words, a highway system upol
(which $50,000,000 is actually spen
,lwculd cost the State eventually $81,
= 100000.
On March 8, 1922, Coleman
Violently opposed giving any part o
the automobile license tax to tn
feeder roads. In his speech befor
the bond issue rally in Richmond h
: advocated such diversion of the auto
!. mobile license tax. When he wa
State Highway Commissioner an
using all the power of his great offic
to pass the bond issue, he issued
statement in pamphlet form allowin
for diversion of one-third of tn
automobile license tax for construc
: ton, and after 1927 one-third plu
$4,000 of the automobile liens
tax. In fact, the law allocating one
IIthird Of the automobile license ia: