White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1925-11-27

Its road building in half by the sim
pie expedient of fixing flat fee of
50 for motor license plates, seems to
have little support in the legislature.
Some of the governors warmest
friends can not go along with him
when he talks of reducing expendi-
lures for highways.
The state will receive $14,000,O0O
from its license fees and gasoline tax
during 1926 and 1926.
In his message the governor de
livered a bitter trade against good
roads.
zone reason why the people have
not arisen in protest and called for
curtailment, and I am of the opinion
that it is one of the chief reasons,
is because they have not known, or
realized the enormous sums we are
spending" he says.
He pointed out that the state would
have 0,32O,393 available for the
highway program during the current
biennium if advantage is taken of
federal aid for roads.
The house and senate appears
to favor spending money for
roads. Leaders in both branches
can see no reason for trimming
or for eurtailing the highway pro-
gram, as the governor wishes.
Some even wonder what led him
to offer such suggestion. A few
believe it was Unreasonable"
utterance.
An automobile code was introduced
at the regular session last winter. 1t
deals with revenues and the road
program. - - ---
A clause in the bill fixes the license
fee at So.
That bill is before the road COM
mittee in the House. 1t is working
on the several sections. When the
committee has digested the bill 1t
will lay the measure before the House
with such suggestions as it may de-
sire to offer.
When the bill comes up on the floor
the legislature can determine whether
it wants flat license fee Of 3d. a
flat fee of So, or desires to retain the
present fees. It will be surprising ii
the majority of the members in either
house desires to reduce the fees. Nor
is it probable that anyone will want
to increase the fees. No widespread
dissatisfaction obtains, and the gov
ernor has not advanced any reason
for change, except that (by infer
ence) he thinks it may save some
large corporations several thousand
dollars annually in taxes.
The east side of the state Is
particularly interested in large
road appropriations. The people
east Of the Cascades do not have
many paved roads. They want
paving and are willing to pay
for 1t. The same is quite largely
true on the west side.
Oregon has built paved roads north
and south, east and west, across the
state. Washington has not. The Pa
cific Highway has been completed
but the road across the mountains is
not paved and motorists want a hard
surfaced highway which will connect
the east and the west.
"a BILLS IN ONE DAY
Marriage laws, prevention of cruel
ty to animals, moving bodies in GENE
teries, taxes creation Of a state auto.
mobile code, teaching Of the Bible in
school, establishment Of highways,
are few Of the varied topics COW
cred in the "a bills introduced in the
legislature in one day by members
of the House.
This is the largest number of pro-
posed measures that has dropped into
the legislative hopper at any one
time.
FOR STATE INSURANCE
Rep. Morton, Of Spokane, proposes
in measure which creates a state
automobile board, to pay an indemnity
to any person injured in an automo-
bile accident in the state of Wash
ington. Eight dollars per week shall
be the minimum award and $4,000 III
a lump sum shall be the maximum
pension paid. The bill proposes to
raise the indemnity fund through fur
Their taxation of automobiles, this ex-
ira tax to be paid into the state treas
ury. 1t would place an extra tax Of
$500 on motorcycles, SIS on trailers
and trucks and $25 on automobile
buses. This is in addition to the
regular annual license fee now paid
by motor vehicle owners.
Morten's bill names the director
of public works, the director of H.
censes, and one member appointed by
the governor, as members of the auto
mobile board. No witnesses or proof
Of the accident is needed to secure
the state award and it does not mat.
ter whether driver is injured through
his own negligence or not