Imperial Valley press., 1925-06-01
THE GAS BILL VETO

THE GAS BILL VETO
The veto by Governor Richardson of the bill pro-
vidng for increase in the gasoline tax terminates
the most strenuous campaign ever waged in this state
by any organization TO protect the interests not alone
OF Southern California pu1 the motorists of the
tire state, according to general comment
The Automobile Club of Southern California led
the fight against this unjust and nequitabe measure,
bu. chambers of and other civic bodies bus
mess mems associations labor organizations and vast
army of individuals rallied to the support of the huge
organization of motorists and turned the tide of what
seemed certain defeat during the session of the egis
lature to victory over political and log rolling meth
DDS which sought to control state highway policies.
The contention that this bill unconstitutional
we'll unjust in its provisions has been sustained
in every particular by the opinion of the attorney
era of the state and this according to Standish L.
Mitchell, secretary of the club IS source of much
satisfaction.
The fallacy and maliciousness of the argument
made by the proponents of the increased gas tax to
the effect that the defeat of this would
stopping highway development in California is shown
the facts become known.
Between S60,000,000 and S70000,0C0 is available
and can be expended for the betterment of district
1926 1t is now estimated The source of these funds
as follows:
Between eight and nine millions dollars on hand
are immediately available for state highway
struction; from ten to fifteen million in new highway
construction projected by road improvement districts
and counties of that state forest service road develop
ment to the of two million dollars and NATIONAL
park highway development to the amount of mil
lion dollars has been provided by the national gov
eminent. The total Tor new hfgWay construction,
therefore, will reach In of twenty million dol
lars, and additional funds from the surplus IN the
state treasury be used under laws passed at the
recent session of the legislature, if necessary
The present registration fees and gasoline tax will
provide an additional 100000 during this two year
period, half of which is available for the mainten
ance, reconstruction and widening of existing state
highways the other half going to the counties in pro-
portion to their automobile registration for the up
keep of county roads and under the law the counties
may and do considerable portion Of this fund for
highway construction. 1t will therefore, be
that highway construction and Development going
forward in the state of California at tremendous
despite the calamity howlers propaganda
Though the governors veto overrides the action
of the legislature, it is in fact following popular
tment the registered voters represented by the
ators favoring the bill numbered only 722209 while
the opposition senators represented constituency of
1,1G00,148 some 25 per cent more voters The diff
ference was marked in the assembly The
assembymen and senators from the south were prac-
teally sodly against the gas tax increase and it is
pected that they will welcome the opportunity to
aid in formulating new highway development pro-
gram for California that will be equitable in its bur-
dens fair in its benefits to all sections of the state
and which will protect the state highways against
political manipulation in the future