Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-12-19
HELPING TO MAKE CLEAR

ope of tho spcakers at the High
way Conference here yesterday eN-
dressed the opinion that the pu"ic
does not understand the highway
situation clearly; that II 1t d'a
would not be alarmed by the taxa
ton feature: that very little Of the
money for highways is being raised
by taxation; that out OF the mill tax
$4,000 already goes to the third
class roads.
Another speaker expressed the
opinion that the construction Of the
Highways should be paid for from
taxation; that under the present
ARRANGEMENT a millionaire with one
car might contribute but SIS to
highway contribution through his
registration fee whereas the owner
OF a little car would be paying sl1.
The millionaire's property would be
enhanced In value and should pay in
proportion to value received. =
Another replied to this and n was
evident had the support OF the
meeting. that he thought the present
Arrangement fair: that the users OF
tho highways should pay for them:
that the miliionaire's property would
not be increased Ivy highway deve-
lopment In proportion to what he
would pay under direct tax. but
that any Increase in values under
existing conditions Is not overlooked
by the tax assessor; that there are
classes Of property deriving but little
advantage from highway expendi-
lures. The people who wear out the
roads should pay for that privilege,
pay even more than they now do.
He know of no more equitable
method for doing this than by means
of the gas tax. lie would like to see
II fixed at four cents. notwithstand-
ing that would amount to n con-
siderable bill for the business with
which he was connected.
There was unanimity in favor of
the gas tax. OF the 36 states making
use OF this system none have
abandoned 1t and some of the 10
other states are contemplating its
adoption. A statement from ex-
perience In North Carolina showed
that as the roads had been improved
there the average consumption of
fuel had been lessened very ma.
terially. All the data brought out at
the meeting supported the view that
the gas tax Is the most equitable.
the most easily and cheaply col
lected of any possible method for in
creasing revenue.
An opinion which met with no ex-
pressed opposition was that II Maine
imposes Scent gas tax the State
should permit out-of- state cars to
como hero without registration. not
only for 30 days. as now. but for as
long as they might wish to remain.
Welcome to Maine" would please
the foreign tourist all the way from
Maine to California. not SO much
because OF the money involved but
because Of the annoyance new
caused. to say nothing Of the ex-
pense involved in the enforcement
Of the present law. One speaker
said 1t would be the best and
cheapest kind OF advertising Of the
state. for the amount involved.i.
Was he not rightT i
And there was discussion Of state
cid roads. of the interest shown by.I
the towns that In their town meet
ings vote money and during the past
few years have been disappointed
because the State has not kept Its
promise. not having funds available.
We venture to predict that II the
voters might have heard the discus
sion Of this subject they would insist
on the Legislature providing more
money for State aid roads.
We wish the public might have
heard the entire discussion. 1t
would have cleared up some OF the
misapprehensions evidently alto
gether too general, The highway
situation is not easily understood
without some study and explana-
tion.. That was apparent from
some Of the questions asked BY men
supposed to know considerable about
It: yet when these questions were
answered. what had looked like, al