Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-11-30
The Highway Committee

rho first meeting Of the committee Of thirty-one %
formulate a highway program for the state was heiu -
Austin Tuesday. The entire day was devoted 10 as
.,.,iors and addresses, and one fact was very evident
that the committee has many differences OF opi"'O"
70 compromise before there can pc an! "ekiN :"
unanimity on a highway plan
The committee members appear fairly unanimous y
admitting that a connected system OF highways Is =
ssrtial 20 the development Of state resources pu' '"ei0
:, M unsnimity on the procedure to finance suen &c"
rsctcd highways. The plan advanced by Ohairma"
e.arrirs 20 issue state bonds in the amount y Sow
ooo 600 70 finance the program vas discussed n N
80, raise thereto by members who asserted uha'
-. expenditure az such a sum for highways "ouiu ~
attended by much waste end corruption otnefS "S
ssy,ed the counties should have a voice m inc o''uO"
- the highways; that il i not Just % turn 'e ~,
hiyhwav system over 20 the state ana others pie'e"
49, plea that the distribution Of funds might ny =
~".,,ahI. and that some sections Of the state may ben
eft more than others.
From the records Of the first meeting oil Il '0"
-;.,.o :, Is very. evident that if any constructive ad-
-. Il Forthcoming at any time in the FUTURE y s."
.rIy no procured after the committee has devoted con-
siderable time to intensive study Of the highway prop.
,.m. ~ The state and has cleared up the clouds Of
doubt and Misunderstanding In fact unless there -
rs,.raI tendency indicated by committee members 20
compose their differences il is very probable that the
next session Of the Legislature may oe ooHpeieu NJ
work out its own highway program.
certain interests in The state, while they VIII not
orrose a gasoline tax, will seek to maintain tnat tSN at
=. low level. and are already vociferously demanding
that the burden Of highway improvement be carried oE
real estate; that a gasoline tax for highway Develop
r,ent would serve to increase transportation costs. Ia
onposition 70 the Sterling plan the argument Is az
vanced that IL would prove very difficult to hanaie
.ueh n road program. involving sS5oOooOoo. without
considerable graft and corruption. In that connection
there will probably be no more graft and corruption n
rroportion TO the mileage constructed than there IS
row. and il the voters Of Texas are not sufficiently
rouerful to prevent graft and corruption in connection
with state expenditures, they should frankly admit y
and turn the state funds over to the ~grafters. The
argument that there may be possible corruption is one
Of tbe most specious that could be advanced and Is 2
5;rect reflection upon the Texas electorate.
Those who are opposing the gasoline tax on inc
A,.,s that real estate should bear the main burden Of
highway construction are not arousing much enthus-
,..m. II is generally admitted that Texas real estate
.. hearing all the tax burden that should be placed
mon II for such purpose, and il appears to be the al
rao.t unanimous sentiment throughout the state that
.orpletion Of the state system should be financed sy
r,.cire the burden upon the motor vehicle owner who
viii pay in direct proportion to his use OF the highway.