The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1924-02-18
THE HIGHWAY AMENDMENT

THE HIGHWAY AMENDMENT
Minote N. Oak, Feb. Ia, 1924
Editor, The Tribune:
In the Grand Forks Herald Mail
, Bag on the editorial page under date
, of Feb. II, 1924 is a letter by Mr.. r.
| f. Matt of Orr, n. Oak. giving some
| very extravagant figures and ideas
| purporting to be true and accurate,
| as against the wisdom of initiating
| the measure for the creation of a
| Highway Commission different from
what we now have, and petitions for
which, he says, the state is being
flooded and take it from reading
his letter he is opposed to it to il
considerable extent and gives figures
to show that we would be compelled
to raise $3,0SO,0O0.0O. He sums it up
this way. By doubling the automo-
bile license fee, would give approx
mately $1,500,000.OO. He then claims
that the balance, or $3.50, 100000
would have to be raised by direct
taxation.
First, l will try to show that his
sum total of S3,080,000.00 is too high,
which he classifies as follows:
Amount required to meet
Federal Aid .........$1, 800. 100000
Amount required for
maintenance ....... 100000 90
Amount required for state
line bridges ....... 100000
Administration of Motor
We h ic lie Registration
and Highway Depart
ment .............. 100000. 90
Amount required to re-
fund the 1919 to the
counties advanced by
them to meet Federal
Aid to date .......... 650,00O.0O
Making a total as stat
ed above ......... $1,000 100000
l received the following figures
from one of the Federal Engineers
and two of the State Highway En-
gineers:
Our apportionment of
Federal Aid, 1924 80. ST. 300, OO0. 90
Maintenance 1923 (129,-
100000 1924 ......... 10000. 90
State line bridges ..... 10000. 90
Administration both de-
paftmentS ........... 10000. 90
1919 refund to counties. 100000. 90
Total ............ So, 180. GOO. 90
These figures indicate nearly mil
lion dollars less than Mr.. HATS. But
we will lay these differences aside
hn
tell US, where and when the Federal
Aid Act compels us to raise one
cent of tax.
l find in reading over the Act;
that it provides an superintendent to
each state for each year, and any
portion not used by such state, is
reapportioned to all the states on |
the same basis as is the prior appor-
tionment.
can find nothing in the Act, nor
in the Amendments that says state
must use all Of their apportionment,
but it does say that state that does
not use all of its apportionment, that !
they will lose what they do not use,
because it will be given to all the
states in reapportionment.
But | would like to have YOU d.
gest these statements of Mr.. HIATT.
His letter says that Grand Forks
pays about $50 of the taxes of the
state, which amounts to $75,OOOOO,
and his county has spent approx
mately $75,OO000 to meet I Federal
Aid, and the 1879 refund would give
his county $7,50O.OO per year for ten
years. He says Grand Forks county
at present pays $43,OOO.OO Auto Ii
'ense. and which would be doubled
4 the new law is enacted, making
poo,0OO.OO per year, or for period
Of ten years, would amount to $780,
10000. Now to this he adds the (his)
'equired tax levy of $75,OOO.OO per
year for ten years, totaling $780,
10000 in all making grand total
If $1,000, 100000 Then he adds, this
ooks like a long price to pay for
'ebatc of $75,0OO.OO.' Well, Mr..
HAITI, l agree with you, that it would
'e long price, and the highest quail
ty of poor business for your county
o pay $l,6OO,0OO.0O for $4,000. 90.
in the other hand / think folks
would call the present Highway
Commission pretty good financiers, t
f they could induce the counties to ]
rade $1,6OO,00O.O0 for paltry $751; ,
10000. Does not his figures and line
# argument sound RIDICULOUS and
To the casual reader !.
'ossibly they sound plausible, and
ossibly they are taken for granted
S correct by many. 1t is this fear
hat is prompting me to write this
etter.
Mr.. HIATT further states that they" !
ropose raising the gas tax one cent 7
er gallon, which amounts to about
$50 100000 and if this amount is "a
AIKEN from the general fund where t
!. now goes, this $350,000.O0 will a
ave to be made up by direct tax Il