The Coconino sun., 1927-04-08
Synopsis Proposed
Highway Measure
That Started War

That our readers may know just
what caused the war between the gov
ernor and the legislature, we are pub
| fishing the following brief synopsis of
the state highway bill which was
passed by the legislature and vetoed
by the governor. A strenuous effort
will be made at the adjourned ses-
sion, April 18, to pass the bill over the
governors veto.
House bill 127, known as the high
way reorganization and finance bill,
provides, first of all for a governing
board of the highway department to
consist of five members of highway
commission to be appointed by the
governor, with the advice and consent
of the senate.
The commission is a continuing
board, two members being selected
| for two years, two for four years and
two for six years. The governor may
remove any member for cause, in
which event the vacancy is filled by
vote of the remainder of the COM
mission until the next session of the
| legislature, when the vacancy must be
permanently filled by appointment in
the usual manner.
No two commissioners shall be resi-
dents of the same county.
They are prohibited from being in
terested in any highway contract.
The commissioners shall receive SIS
La day for each days service, total not
to exceed 100 days.
Four members of the commission
constitute quorum, but approval of
four members is required to effect any
official action.
The commission selects the state
engineer, who under the general sup
ervision of the commission has full
and complete charge of the highway
department.
The commission has full power and
authority to lay out and establish
complete system of state highways
and to provide for the construction
and maintenance of same.
The commission is authorized to en-
ter into agreements with the federal
government. boards of supervisors and
town councils for the furtherances of
highway programs.
Commissioners are required to exc
cute bond in the sum of $4,000 each,
upon appointment, and bonds of ST.
| 500 each are required from the state
The state engineer is required to
call for competitive bids on all items
of construction and reconstruction,
| approved by the commission, involv-
| ing an expenditure of $4,000 or more
!, and on all purchases of supplies IN
volving an expenditure of $1,000 or
more. Such bids shall be advertised.
But in the event that the bids are
unsatisfactory, a second call for bids
must be issued and advertised, and if
these bids are again rejected by the
commission, the commission may au-
thorize the state engineer to proceed
tin the manner the commission may
deem most advantageous" Should a
bid satisfactory to the commission be
received it shall authorize the state
engineer to let a contract to the slow
est responsible bidder"
The bill creates a division of motor
vehicles as a section Of the highway
department, taking over the duties
now performed by the secretary of
state in collection of auto license and
registration fees and in collection of
/ the gasoline tax from the gasoline dis
tributors: also the work of the COR
poration commission in collecting the
special taxes against motor stage and
/ freight lines.
The work of the motor vehicle di.
vision is handled by vehicle super
intendent to be appointed by the state
engineer and whose salary is fixed by
the commission.
All moneys from all sources go in
to one fund designated the state high
way fund, held in custody by the state
treasurer and subject to disbursement
| by the commission.
The bill creates a special appropri-
alton of S625, 900 for the purpose of
paying the outstanding indebtedness
of the highway department. This is
equivalent to tax levy OF one mill
on each dollar of assessed valuation.
In addition a tax levy of one mill
/ is authorized for the first year and
an additional tax of one-half mill for
the year following.
The gasoline tax is increased from
three cents to four cents on each gal
lion. Three-eighths Of the tax, or one
and a half cents, is returned tc the
county in which collected, the remain
i ing five-eighths, or two and half
cents. being placed at the disposal of
/ the highway department. The. amount
returned to the counties is the same
as under the present law, though the
proportion received by the state is
higher.
The motor vehicle registration fee
lis reduced from $5 to $3.50, with a
provision allowing the county asses
sor so cents of the fee to cover ex-
penses incident to collection.
In lieu Of the present tax on stage
and freight lines computed on q pas
senger capacity and ton capacity mile
basis, the tax on common carriers is
two per cent of the gross receipts for
passenger carriers and two and half
per cent Of the gross for freight haul
ers.
/ Provision is made for the budget
| ing Of all expenditures Of the depart
lment and penalties prescribed for vio-
lating the penalties.
/ The impressed fund Of the depart
ment is reduced from $4,000 to $l0,-
900.
The bill is estimated to yield $4,-
scr. 800 for the use of the state high
way department during the first year
Of operation, $4.737,1 100 during the
second year, in addition to the $685.
l000 set aside for the payment of high