The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1925-01-31

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$11.18 as compared with $14.96 which
was the average for the country as a
whole. 1t therefore appears to me
that in the past the State has net
been cxacting an cxorbitant amount
from motor vehicle owners and, If
these rates in this proposed bill arc
the same as charged in 1923, it would
appear that additional revenues
could be obtained from motor vehi-
Gle owners without doing them any
great injustice when compared with
the fees which are paid in other
states. In 1923 the average license
fee in South Dakota was $3.50 and
the average gasoline tax, $4.74. In
Minnesota the average license fec
was 1888, with no gasoline tax.
Considering the fact that the motor
vehicles in your States arc exempt
from the general property tax, the
fees which you have collected in the
past were among the lowest collected
in any State in the country.
The gas tax bill appears to me to
BE we'll drawn and follows substan-
TALLY the administrative procedure
which other States have adopted and
have been successful in administer
| ing. The provision regarding the
collection Of the gasoline tax at the
source is wise one inasmuch as the
! collection costs are very materially
reduced and the small dealer and
distributor is not bothered with the
collection and accounting Of monies
for a State department. Indiana, l
am informed, has somewhat SINH
lar provision in it's law and as a re-
suit of it's efforts to collect the tax
from the large dealers it is found
that the collection cost amounts to
only ~ percent of the gross amount
collected.
The gasoline tax measure which
you propose contains another provi-
sion which meets with my hearty
approval. 1t is only fair and reason
able that gasoline used in tractors,
stationary engines, motor boats, air
craft, ETC., be exempt from the tax.
A good many of the States follow
this principle but there are a num-
Der of States which do not provide
for any refund where gasoline is
used for industrial and commercial
purposes. In Indiana it was found
that only .l6 percent Of the total
revenue collected was refunded be-
cause of claims filed by those who
did not use the gasoline in motor
vehicles.
Your provision which turns over
all this gasoline tax money to the
State Highway Commission meets
with my approval. The motorist,
have found, does not seriously object
to the payment of a gasoline tax
when ire knows that all the money
collected in this manner is devoted
to highway use and that it's use in
this manner will result in more i'm
proved and better maintained roads
which in turn, will tend to reduce his
fuel and operating costs.
In the concurrent resolution for an
amendment to the constitution es-
tablishfng State Highway Commits
sion I note that you propose that
this commission consist of three
members appointed by the Governor,
with the advice and consent of the
Senate, and that these appointments
are for term of six years. The pro-
vision which you insert that the
Governor can appoint only one new
member every two years is, in my
opinion. we'll advised. This provides
a certain amount Of continuity in
this administrative organization
which is really one of the most i'm
portant administrative boards which
any State has. This provision pro-
tects members of such a commission
more or less from the political
whims of new elected Governor.
This resolution also provides for
State Highway System and in gen.
eral suggests that these highways
extend as nearly as may be practical
bic from county seat to county seat
and along recognized and registered
highways. The final determination
OF the location of such highways re-
mains, however. with the State High
way Commission which, think, is
fair and proper provision. A State
Highway Commission, assisted by it's
engineers and Investigators. is bet
ter fitted to plan in detail for q sys-
tenn of State highways than leg
islative committee. In determining
the location of highways certain
amount of flexibility must exist so
that local conditions can be proper
ly met and dispeSed of.
The bill which, provides for. the
establishment OF. the State Highway
Commission and prescribes it's pow
ers and duties is too long for me to
comment on every detail. note,
however, in Section 2 that the CON-
m!ssioners may not be removed from
office except for cause "except that
a commissioner may be removed
without cause by the Governor who
appointed him." 1t does not appear
to me that a Governor should have
this supreme power even over his
own appointees. If a Governor ap-
points man to his office and such
appointment is confirmed by the
Senate. it does not appear reason
able or fair to the appoihtee to have
the Governor GUST him without show
ing sufficient cause for such an act.
With reference to Section 8, the
plan that has worked best with COM
missions such as you propose is to
have the Chief Engineer act as the
executive officer. The actual oper-
atoms of the commission cannot be
divided into administrative and en-
cheering and the lines preserved.
The day-to-day duties partake Of
both, and where the plan has been
tried of having a secretary as adj