Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-04-09
Sentiment Strong
Continued from Page One)

the ways and bridges committee gave
100000 more for State roads than the
pay-as-you-go plan and 100000 more
for reconstruction, and gave fair
proportion for rural roads.
Both plans call for a s3.000.0 900 bond
issue for bridges, which Senator Smith
said was quite necessary in view of
the fact that 96 demands had been
filed with the highway department for
bridge construction amounting in the
aggregate to 100000.
THE three-cent gasoline tax is nee
essary," Senator Smith continued, "in
order to provide available highway
money this year, otherwise there can
be no construction or reconstruction
of State road this year." He also add
ed that 100000 of bonds could be reis-
sued this year OF those already paid
up, which could be matched with fed
eral aid.
Councillor Robert J. Peacock of Luz
bee said that he agreed with Senator
Smith as to the advisability of a &c.
100000 bond issue, 100000 for
bridges, and also that 1t was neces-
sary to have three-cent gasoline tax
Councillor Peacock thought it
would be a better plan to use / IL
cents of the tax for construction and
reconstruction of trunk lines, than
to separate this amount into one cent
for construction and one half cent
for reconstruction. I'VE may not
need $5OO,OOO every year for recon-
struction," he said.
Asked If he spoke for the council,
Mr.. Peacock said he was speaking
individually but that he had discuss
ed the program with the council and
a hs{f
were in full accord. Neither my
self nor the council wishes to inter-
fere with the Legislature reaching
its conclusions" he said.
Rep. Spears said that be had been
apprised of strong desire for q
two cent tax without exemptions. He
thought it possible that O referen-
DUN on the three cent tax might be
desirable. He asked whether a plan
for three cent tax this year and a
two cent tax with exemptions next
year would be acceptable to the
committee. Senator Smith said he
could not speak for the committee
but personally thought the recon-
struction should continue and he
could see no way to do this without
the extra cent.
Sen. Hinckley said he had found
a very strong desire for exemptions
from either the three or two cent
tax. especially among the fishermen
along the coast.
Sen. Smith stated that the money
for roads that was obtained under
the bond issue was to be distributed
equally and proportionately among
the different counties. Owing to the
fact that the Highway commission
| nriSInfilpn ia sing
the road bonds in the future. bond
money has not been spent proper
tionally in the past and for this rea-
son alone the Legislature is morally
bound to support the bond issue for
new roads for the reason that some
of the counties have received more
than their share of the road money
in the past To play fair we must
have the bond issue for road pro-
| CYAN.
Sen. Phillips of Hancock heartily
endorsed the Smith road and bond
program as laid down by Senator
Smith of Somerset.
Councillor Peacock insisted that
, there ought to be an emergency pro-
vision on the gasoline tax so that it
! could begin to be available in April
and May.
In response to inquiry by Council
Tor Peacock Frank A. Peabody or
Houlton. chairman Of the state high
way commission, said that in order
to go ahead at once with the high
way program it would be necessary
to reissue S342, 900 Of highway bonds
| which had been retired.
"If you PASS the three cent gaso-
line tax with an emergency clause
and reissue $4,000 Of bonds you
can do a reasonable amount of high
way work this year." said Chairman
Peabody.
He added that the highway COM
mission was fully in accord with the
program of the ways and bridges
committee and that it only required
as a supplement the bond reissue of
$342 900.
Representative Melcher Of Rum
ford asked how much the exemptions
. would be on a three-cent tax.
Senator Smith replied that Oregon
in collecting a gasoline tax of $3.50
600 found all exemptions and over
head amounted to but s10S,000.
In answer TO queries from Senator
! BuzZell of oxford and Councillor
Peacock. Chairman Peabody of the
highway commission said the Smith
road program was an excellent one
! for future road work but that an
emergency clause on three cent gas
tax and Reinsurance of bond issue
Of s342.500 would be necessary to
! raise immediate funds to match the
federal funds.
In response to question by Rep.
Greenleaf Of Auburn, Engineer Sar-
gent of the highway commission said
that at the present time some 40
states have gasoline taxes, and more
than half Of these three cent taxes.
Senator Speirs of Cumberland
pointed out that Maine does not
have so high a registration fee as
most states and Mr.. Sargent replied
that he could only say, without in
formation available, that Maine
stood 18th with the other states in
auto assessments of 1924.
Rep. Hamilton of Caribou moved
to take an informal vote of those
present to ascertain the standing of
the three cent tax. He was second
ed by Rep. Cummings of Portland
and after Chairman Hinckley ex-
plained TO the satisfaction Of aSena-
tor Carter of Lewiston that the vote
would be an informal expression of
opinion and in no way binding on
the members of the Legislature, the
vote was taken.
Il stood up for the three cent tax