Pocahontas star herald., 1923-05-25


tribution Of funds now derived from
automobile license and gasoline tax.
They insist that the property should
construct the highways and the au-
tomobile pay a sufficient tax to for
ever maintain them. In this manner,
they argue, that the automobile will
have a perpetual burden while the
land pays only the first cost and that
distributed over a period of ten, fif-
teen or twenty years. The automobile
owners are opposed to any arrange
ment which will require them to pay
80 per cent or any other per cent of the
construction of the highwty and main
tain il as well. The automobile own
ers insist that all license fees go into
state maintenance fund and If this
is done there will be sufficient
amount always on hand to maintain
the primary and secondary road sys-
TEN in perfect condition, This would
deprive the counties of the state of
about $1,250O0 annually, which most
county judges now admit is spent on
| the dirt roads of the county, and none
of which is put into lasting improve
ments. The automobile owners assert
that there should be sufficient funds
derived by the three mill tax TO keep
up the dirt roads Of the counties, leav-
ing the improved highway to the
State Highway Department with the
automobile paying for the improve
ments. If all automobile license fees
go into the state maintenance fund
and il is still insufficient TO keep the
primary and secondary road system in
condition, the automobile owners offer
to assist in securing the passage of a
legislative act increasing automobile
licenses to the extent necessary for
improved highway maintenance. Land
insiting on an increase in automobile
license sufficient to pay off at least
80 per cent of outstanding bonds in
road districts. The automobile own
ers in reply to this assert that every
automobile pays taxes in addition to a
license and that it being so easy to
obtain accurate valuation of an auto
mobile, the rate is usually higher than
is paid by the land. They also insist
that the land, in most instances, in
crease in value through the con
struction of highways. The automo-
bile pays a license for the privilege of
using these highways and at the last
session of the legislature the owners
themselves suggested an increased
gasoline tax which placed an increas-
ed taxation on the users of the high
ways. The discussion at the meeting
on June IL is sure to be spirited and
decidedly interesting with all intent
on paving the way for some construc-
tive legislation, the only ground for
argument being what is the proper
> method to use and wars have been
fought over less things.
; Spasmodic efforts have been made
by an outside organization TO arouse
some interest in proposed national
legislation which would permit the
manufacture and sale of light wines
and beer, but such deaf ear has been
turned to the agent who has visited
Arkansas, that il is doubtful effort
will ever be made. Although there
has been much Illicit liquor manufac-
tnred in Arkansas, and practice OF
manufacturing "hOme-brew" was for
time quite common over the state,
persons who profess to know are au-
thority for the statement that the fad
is wearing off and less wine will be
made each year until Arkansas will in
comparatively short period, become
a teetolaler state Such pressure has
been brought TO bear on the commit
tees where much liquor was manufac-
tured that 1t is getting TO be a scarce
uTllclt Ill un seClloIS' anu NV A"N'
that much less liquor is being drunk
than in the olden saloon days is re
flected i'm the few drunken persons
that are seen. This is considered re-
markable when it is claimed, even by
those who have no particular love for
prohibition, that there is more Kick in
! one drink of corn liquor than in ten
Of the mellow old bourbon or rye. Ap-
parently the courts are tiring of fire.
quency with which certain liquor yio-
lators have appeared before Them and
the stringency Of the sentence is max
ing il bad business to be in.
Aside from its self imposed task OF
maintaining ward for crippled chill
dren In the hospital to be erected by
the Arkansas Childrens' Home and
Hospital, the Arkansas Elks Associa-
ton has started movement by which
each Elk who is financially able is
for Hfn