Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-05-17
N MICHAEL TELLS
Of HIGHWAY BOARD
REFORM PROPOSALS

Asserting that it is not his desire
to abolish the state highway board.
E. H. McMichael, Marion county ieg
islator, outlined for Journal readers
Tuesday the proVisins of a bill he
VIII introduce in the legislature next
month, for certain reforms in the
highway system of Georgia He add,
ed that he would insist on a joint
legislative investigation of the OPP
erations of the department since its
organization, and expressed conf
dence that house and senate would
concur in ordering an inquiry.
Mr.. McMichael was indicted recent
ly in Bibb county for alleged crimi
nal libel for newspaper attacks he
has leveled at w. H. Grassland, fed.
eral highway engineer. He asserts
that this indictment was obtained
in hope of silencing his criticisms,
but declares it has only intensified
his determination to turn the spot
light on the department.
81 have no desire. to, bolish the
highway board" Mr.. McMichael re
peated, land am not concerned nor
disturbed about the Bibb county in.
dictment that has been returned
against me. l believe the highway
board can perform a good service
for the state of Georgia, and I have
prepared a bill, the passage of which
[ believe essentil if the bord is to
be saved from the wrath of the leg.
islature.
Provisions in Bill
my bill provides, briefly:
81. For the maintenance of the
state highway board, as now con.
stituted; that is to say, of. three
members.
%. For the setting aside of 10 per
cent of the state automobile tax for
the support and maintenance Of the
board.
Under the present law, the board
receives all of the taxes collected
from the sale of automobile license
tags. I am informed that the fund
this year will approximate $4,000 900
which means that, under my propo,
sal, the board will receive about
100000 for maintenance and sup
port.
SO. The ten per cent of the auto,
mobile tax set aside for the board
is to be placed in the state treasury
and paid out only on the warrants
of the governor, which are to be is
sued only upon itemized, detailed
expense accounts rendered monthly
by the board to the governor.
1.-THE bill contains a provision, also,
for an emergency fund to be placed
at the disposal of the highway board,
to meet unexpected emergencies that
may arise.
81. The remaining ninety per cent
of the automobile tax, or approx
mateiy $1,S00,0G0, is to be divided
among the counties on the basis of
state highway mileage.
Means $3.50 a Mile
II estimate roughly that this will
amount to about $3.50 per mile Of
road, or between $4,000 and $4,000
to the county. These funds appOr-
toned to the different counties will
be supplemented by the county road
tax, and with conVicts belonging TO
the counties the state highway syS-
tenn can and will be maintained by
the several counties, under the direc-
ton and supervision of the state
highway board, IN cOnfOrmance wit"
federal law. Such part of the funds
rrorated among the counties as is
not expended in maintaining the
state highway system can and viii
be used by the counties in the de-
velopment of local projects for the
relief of their residents whose homes
and farms are not situated on the
state highway system.
"Undel' this plan, il a county wants
a special project it will have the
riTht to cooperate with the state
highway board
There is a provision Ill TINS sec
ton that makes it mandatory upon
the counties to maiptain the state
highway system with funds received
from the auto tax. y county failing
to agree to this will be denied its
share Of the fund from the tax.
Gives Counties Voice
IS. A provision requiring the high
wav board to consult with and be
guided by, as nearly as possible, the
wishes of the counties i'll building adj
ditional highways in Georgia.
at is my belief that the future
of the highway board depends very
largely upon the passage of this
bill or a measure of the same sort
T am convinced from Investigations
that a reform of this kind in the
highway law will tend to restore
the confidence of the people in ru-
raj counties in the good roads move
ment. and thus contribute to an
eventual bond issue by the state for
highways. 1t is only on the basis
of a consideration similar to this
that you can ever hope to get bonds
in Georgia for highway purposes"