Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-11-10

system in many places is far behind
traffic requirements. Many of the
early roads built with gravel sur
face and with much less foundation
than Is provided for highways now
being constructed. have pretty nearly
entirely failed during the last three
springs. Wherever failure has oc-
cured the Commission has endeavor-
ed before the end of the same season
to strengthen these weak places by
building n suitable foundation and
laying a new surface thereon. All
of this work has been charged to
maintenance and more would have
been done had funds been available.
ut Is probably within the truth to
state that there is at least 400 miles
Of the constructed system which
properly should be reconstructed
within the next six or eight years,
In order to save the investment
which the State now has in these
roads. On account Of increased
weight and volume of traffic this re-
construction work must be much
more thorough than was the original
construction. If the State is to meet
this problem as it shoAld be met and
preserve these roads from utter ruin
this reconstruction program must be
begun Immediately and funds must
be provided to meet these costs.
ut Is pretty we'll accepted and
established principle in many of the
states which have had n reconstruc-
ton program in progress for several
years that these costs shall be borne
by the traffic using the highways and
reconstruction funds are secured
from motor vehicle registration fees
or from a gasoline tax, or from both.
In some of the states where recon-
structiOn funds are secured from mo-
tor vehicle registration fees. bonds
for State highway construction are
carried by a general taxation instead
of being a charge against motor We
hicle fees, as is the case in this State.
If the State of Maine were following
this principle there would have been
available from automobile fees for
maintenance and reconstruction
work the following amounts, which
were used for interest On, and retire.
ment of highway bonds:
I'm 1928 $459,07o 90
In 1924 517,S1OOO
In 1925 this amount will be L52, $50. 90
In 1926 54729O 90
Inc 1aSoline Tax
1T does not appear to be reason
able to expect any increase in the
registration fee for automobiles. The
only other means Of obtaining reve-
nue. from highway traffic Is through
the gasoline tax. At the present
time 90 states are collecting revenues
for highway purposes from a gaso.
line tax and practically all of the
otner states are considering the
enactment OF similar tax at the
next session of their legislature.
"A study of the gasoline tax laws
disclosed the fact that nineteen
states had gasoline tax prior to
January. 1928. The legislature which
met In 1893 increased the amount of
this tax in ten of these nineteen
states and the legislature of n other
states laid tax on gasoline for the
first time in 1923.
OF tha states which had n raso-
line tax prior TO 1923, in five states
the tax was increased during that
year from one cent to two cents. in
tnree states from one to three cents.
ana In two states from two to three
cents. VI the states passing a gaso-
iihe tax IN 1898, five provided for n
tax OK one cent (Maine was one of
these states), two provided a tax of
one cent in 1923 and two cents in
aga, eight started with a tax of two
cents, one state laid a tax of two and
one half cents. and one state laid a
tax of three cents.
Inc above statement should he
surficlent to indicate the trend of
thought among the legislators of 3e
states with respect to finding addi-
uonal highway revenues.
Increasing The Gas Tax
1T Is the belief OF the Commission
tnat an increase in the gasoline tax
10 the amout of three cents Der raj
Ion. with the provision that the new
revenue 1.-TWO cents Der xallonl
should be available for highway com
s,ruction, maintenance or recon-
s.ructon. as the Judgment Of the
state Highway Commission should
olctate, would not be unreasonable.
NO objection has been heard tn fhe
tax which has been collected since
July ., 1923. ard apparently n has
not affected the price Of gasoline ia
the consumer. In one neishho~;nr
state at least during the summer Of
1874 with a gasoline tax Of two cents
the retail price Of gasoline has been
the same az it has been In Maine. In
another neighboring state having no
sasoiine tax. the retail price of-ras-
oline has been higher than il has
been In Maine.
The revenue provided by an add.
ticnai taS OF two cents rer gallon
would amount 10 approximately ST.