The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1928-10-26
HELENA, MONTANA
October 16, 1928

OcIopei ~ 1870
In reply to your recent inquiry relative to the persons who were
interested in the passage of Initiative Measure 81 Good Roads 10
This Measure was prepared and turned over to the Montana Au-
tomobne Association, to present to the people of the State and upon
being urged by the directors of that Association to accept the presi-
dency, I was somewhat hestant for there was certain language in the
bill which I thought ambiguous and to clarity the situation in my own
mind wrote to Messrs Warden, Good and Mulvaney and asked them
that in the event l took this job N n Measure was uccess.u
would the remote and sparcely settled sections of the state receive
the same consideration in construction work that the more central
and densely settled sections would receive. l o wnIch Each oe y,
them replied and assured me that they would not only carry ut the
sidering it myself through conference with Mr.. Holmes who was the
Highway Engineer who had outlined a plan of districting SO as to
make certain that each section would get it's share of the construc-
ton, I accepted the position al president and went to work
In the organization there were many conflicting elements; some
taking this view and some another and I recall very distinctly that
John Schnitzler of Roosevelt County gave of his time and energy
generously in the passage of this Measure After the Measure was
passed, Mr.. schnitzler supported me throughout-not alone in the
districtmg $ o that each part of the State would its full share of the
road building at least under the law, but the question arose as to
what would be done in relation to making a refund where the gaso-
line used was not o n the public highway and Mr. Schntzler "a the
one outstanding supporter on the proposition of making a refund for
tractors and machines used in developing the agricultural resources
Mr. scbnitzIer st hat time was . member If the SENATE. IS I recall
it, from Roosevelt County. The n pronounced champion that we
had in the Automobile Association and in the legislature for the e
fund of this gasoline tax where used for agriculture purposes, was
John schnitder, and want to say to you in all candor I know of no
man in the tsate who gave us more practical and business1ke help
and advice, not alone in the passage of this Initiative Measure but.
in putting the promises we made the people into concrete form
through the enactment of these bills, one for districhng and the other
for a refund. We might as well say right o al at any otne I'M
that we had a great deal of opposition in u organization and from
organization, opposing the bill for a refund to farmers and other ag-
ricultural interests of the three cent tax.
On making inquiry of the State Board of Equalization as to what
the refund amounted to for the past twelve months, they very kindly
gave me the approximate figures (f course up to date they advised
the refund amounted to S279351O0 for the past twelve months, which
means a great deal to the agricultural interests of this state and in
your county, the county of Roosevelt, where it is claimed there are
more tractors than in any other county in the state, John Schnitzer
was largely instrumental in making not alone a saving for the farm
es of the state, but a saving of a very considerable amount to the
farmers of Roosevelt County.
We have merely tried to suggest the facts as they are and If
there are any further details that you would desire, we should be
very glad to furnish them.
Most cordially yours,
SAM L. GOA,
President of Montana Automobile Assn,
During campaign for Initiative Measure No. 81.