The Omaha morning bee., 1925-03-11
Representatives Defeat Cas
Tax Amendment Asking
$3.50 Split With
Counties.
No Politics in Debate
by =. {. POWELL.
taft Correspendent The Omaha Bee.

entire day spent in debate the Ne
braska house of representatives az 3
tonight voted. 80 TO a. in favor OF
using proceeds OF the proposed 2.cent
gasoline tax in meeting federal aid
on state highways. The vote was on
amendment presented BY Thomson
Of Hall. calling for a $3.50 split fe=
tween the state and counties IN spend.
ing the gas tax collections.
Democratic leaders who attempted
yesterday 10 crack the party whip
and force all members Of their party
10 vote for a $3.50 split were unsuc.
cessful. While a majority Of Votes
cast for the $500 split came frcn1
democratic members, there were a
number who refused party dictation
and voted for spending all the money
TO meet federal appropriations.
In fact, the vote did not Indicate
politics 10 any marked degree. Them
we're a number Of republicans VIM
opposed the no per cent state high
way plan. The political phase of the
situation was not discussed at any
tine during the debate.
Include Mail Carriers.
After the vote was taken on the
Thomssen amendment the house ad-
iourned without taking a final vote
on passage Of the bill Byrum Of
Franklin presented an amendment
which provides that II the gasoline
tax raises more money than Is needed
to meet Sebraska's federal aid spper-
tionment the extra cash shall be q p
portioned 10 the counties Vote On
the Byrum amendment and final a6-
vancement Of the bill to third reading
will b taken tomorrow.
In the morning there was spirited
debate on an amendment by schep.
man OF Teeamseh. TO remove the ex-
ernption FOR rural mail carriers pro.
yided In the bill The fact that rura.
carriers recently had been voted
1900 annual salary increase By cor
gress was cited 10 prove they could
afford to pay the gasoline tax an
the schepuan amendment vas ca
rfed by vote OF IS 70 50.
Mcclellan OF Grand Island presented
an amendment which would remove
al exemption clauses written in the
bill for users Of gasoline operating
cleaning establishments tractors, sss.
tionary engines. airpianes and motor
boats. Rodman OF Omaha fought The
amendment OF the ground that the
theory OF the gasoline tax was 10
make users of the roads pay fo-
them and remove property taxes fcr
road building. Mcclellan finally witA-
drew his amendment.
Aids 0uf-State Counties.
In the afternoon the fight nn ne
Thomssen amendment began. Tho<s
favoring $3.50 split pleaded fof
farm to market roads, rather fhan a
symVeirical system OF roads through.
out the state.
Leaders IN the fght tor using al
proceeds 10 meet federal aid pointed
70 the fact that outside of Douglas
and Lancaster counties there vas re-
q county in the state which Mould
not receive more money Tor is roads
than raised within the county bound
aries by the gasoline tax.
surely il Omaha snd Lincoln -
willing 10 spend hundreds O, thou.
sands annually On good roads cut.
side Of these counties taev should
have something fo say a. 70 how tre
money should be spent" Rodnasr q
Omaha said.
Yochlm Of otos. 8 democrat point
ed 10 the fact thar President Coolidge
vas against dollar matching n
roads. snd II was probable federal aiS
would be withdrawn In = few years
Must Have Coed Roads.
Il think IT hehoeves Us = do svers.
thing possible 10 get a. much nscrev
as possible, as long a. /. is Obtain.
able. Yochurn said.
Byrum Of Franklin described TIE
expense that would aecrue in main.
isining sravelsd county roads. which.
he asserted. would be built hapl,ssasx,
and according 10 local political dsess.
ton If The 500 proposition we're a.
oepied.
Other states are voting miliicns u
bonds for good raads,' Lee 81 Adams
said. 4 think it j. silly for us 10
ouieeie over voting a few millions
fer like enterprise Or i Nebraska
4 hack number among is s.stsI
stateST"
Following are those xotins n fasoe
of diNsr1ins all proceeds q he tax
10 meet federal aid highway sSSte14s