Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-02-23
MEMBER THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Friday. February %, 1923.
A TIMELY EFFORT


of our highways, is timely effort to
have clarity in place of confusion
many times COMPOUNDED. In his in
augural address he called attention
to. the complications in the present
highway program and the need of
slmpiication. To date no attempt to
simplify has made Roadway while
the attempts to complicatc have not
been lacking.
We hope every reader of the Jour
hal will carefully read the Cover
nor's saSe-printed in the steno-
graphic report Of the House pro-
Observation-Disclosures the tables sub
mitted Herewith. About this as a
nucleus at least some coherent and
creditable legislation ought to be
had.
Those who have had occasion to
seek information respecting the
sources of highway funds and the
kinds of work among which these
funds are distributed will appreciate
this effort of the Governor to make
plain the facts, to present them in
comprehensive form. 1t ought to be
possible for the average citizen to
comprehend the situation. lie ought
not to be made addle -pated looking
five different ways to watch what be-
comes Of the mill tax, for instance,
Already the number of plans for split
ting up the gas tax, which hasn't
eten passed to the first reading, are
fast multiplying. The number of
Oliver Twists with outstretched
bowls for any possible highway por-
ridge is appalling.
The Governor has attempted, in
the tables, which he has submitted
to give Il comprehensive statement of
the situation, OF the money available
for road purposes, how it is spent
and a plan for calendar year 1928"
Here we find the amount of bond
money available for first class roads
and the estimate of Federal aid, the
amounts already provided for to go
to second class roads, third class
roads, legislative roads and bridges
how much will be available for main
tenance and for overhead EXPENSES,
Included in the latter are amounts
required for paying maturing bonds
and interest, which may be confusing
to some on account of being charged
f,,I = h1
administration charges are: State
Highway Commission, sGSSl3o3
Secretary of State, SS12S7.45; motor
vehicle department Ss0,s13.o3.
His plan for this calendar year
would provide, aside from the first
class roads and bridges, straight APP
preparations of half a million for
second class roads, $4,000 for
tax goes through-and a hundred
thousand for special resolves to be
passed by the Legislature. He
would have a million and fifty thou
timatcd) devoted to maintenance, a
feature in this road development
which it would be suicidal to over
look, but which has been found eX-
tremely difficult to obtain. An idea
seems to have got abroad that if the
state Will provide a gravel road
Providence will maintain it and all
that the rest of us vii have to do is
,,;. H..
Moreover evidence isn't lacking that
there are quite a few bitten with the
idea Of issuing long-tcrm bonds to buy
what one may happen to want now
such as roads which will wear out in
six to eight years.
Not all possessed of such ideas are
likely to be satisfied with the Gov
crnor's attitude respecting bonds. In
the main we think he is right, though
perhaps issuing bonds only to match
Federal aid and permitting no use
of the money for other purposes in
event of Federal aid being discon-
tinued would be unwise. But he. is
cverlastingly right in his cviden,
purpose to restrict the use of bond
money to legitimate purposes. and
surely building temporary highways
for which the next generation, after
the roads are worn out, must pay is
Eeither in accord with good business
or fair dealing.
1t is possible, too, that the Cover
nor would put somewhat less money
into roads than would 4 majority OF
the people. 1t is within their right t
do so if they are willing to pay as
they so, willing to pay taxes enough
to supply the funds. 1t is not right
for them to attempt to get it b!
devious methods and avoid the OBJ
legation and it would, of course. bt
unwise to overburden themselve:
with taxes. Undoubtedly there i:
some force in the argument that the
value of adjacent property would in
crease with the highway betterments
and this fact makes it all the more
obligatory on the property owner:
benefited to pay the costs Of sucl
tettermcnt.
New Yorll's insane hospitals ar