Pocahontas star herald., 1927-01-20
MASS MEETING CALLED
TO DISCUSS ROAD BILL
CONTINUED from first page)

temnoraneous remarks to make aIter
the chancellor had left the room where
the meeting was held and showed no
hesitancy in making them. Inc
sneecbes denouncing the Martiueau
road program eliminated in the pre-
sentation and adoption Of the follow
ing resolution:
"Be it resolved, That the CouI-y
Judges of the State of Arkansas, IN
convention assembled, do hereby go
on record of being opposed to any
changes in the states highway laws
at this time which will prevent the dis
tribution Of fair and just proportion
of the gasoline and vehicle tax to the
counties for the use of county roads
or which will in any way materially
affect the present organized workable
plans, contracts, etc, which have been
adopted by the several counties in CO.
ordination with our present state high
way system, and be it further resolv-
ed, That a copy Of these resolutions
be spread upon the minutes of tHis
association and copy delivered to
each branch of the General Assembly,
which shall convene January TO- Res
pectfully submitted, John p. Kirkpat-
rick, j. w. Livingstone, c. f. Walt2rS,
Ben d. Ward"
Governor-elect Martineau opened his
talk with the statement that roads are
of the first Importance to every man,
woman and child in the state of Ar
kansas
at is my duty to present to the pro
pie who have elected me a solution ot
the road question in this state and
have n plan l will outline to you
and which will be presented to the
legislature early in its coming sessi m"
Mr.. Martineau said. "The road qufs-
tion has never had man big enough
to solve it, but believe l have plan
whereby everyone concerned will be
treated fair and square"
The governOr-elect said the old dis
trict plan Of higr way construction was
so bad there were needless cases of
confiscation of lands because of per-
sons not being able to pay the heavy
taxes imposed. He said that since the
Harrelson bill was passed much NOR"
has been learned about the road uIes-
tion than was known then. He said
he believes he has plan whereby re-
lief would be given to bonded areas
and build roads where there are none
now.
The governor-elect's plan is to place
the tax solely upon the users of the
roads and not upon the lands ada
cent to the roads. He said that the
construction of roads was a state prop
OsitiOn and certainly not a county
proposition. County lines must be ois-
regarded, and lands must come free
from this tax and it must be placed
on the users of the roads, he said.
The governOr-elect's plan provides
for relief of the bonded sections Of
the state by paying bonds as they
come due with accrued interest to the
amount yearly of $6,50O,OOO. At the
same time the plan provides for con-
struction of roads in those sections
not bonded, yearly to the amount OF
S13,O0O,0OO. The sections not bonded
amount to II counties. There are also
q other counties which have sections
not bonded. This plan covers a four
year period with the total amount OF
S52. 600 900 to be expended at that time.
Under the old district system there
we're $65,OOO,OO0 worth Of bonds issu-
ed of which $7OOO,O0O has been paid.
The balance not paid under the plan
at the end of four years would amount
to $6,0O0,0O0 which, 1t is hoped, would
be obtained by the taxation revenues
exceeding the estimates now complied.
Mr. Martineau said by giving to 40
counties the total of S32,OO0OOO and he
could build 80 miles of good concete
roads in each county. This plan also
provides ample means for maintenance
of these roads. 1t will take $780,
900 to maintain these roads over this
period.
Obtaining the money to execute this
plan it is proposed to take the tax
from gasoline and federal aid. To
write $13,O00,0OO Of State Highway
notes which will be secured by high
way taxes. This, it was said, would
be the only way to take care of every
thing and then at the maturing Of
these notes, which will come after the
Expenditure Of the $5SOOO,OOO (today's
obligation), we will have complete
system of good roads. This plan of
financing should not be carried over
IS years, it was said.
This plan does not provide for the
return to the counties taxes to the
amount Of S3OOO,OOO as has been done