Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-01-12
The Governor For HIGHWAYS

Governor Moody III his message 10 the legislature
declared his opposition 70 the present system Or plac-
inc the burden OF highway financing upon real estate.
lie asserted that Highway construction cannot continue
with the ssme degree Of progress . the past two year.
undsr the current revenues Or the department and sx-
pressed the visw that the people Or Texas are IN fav,r
Of continuing the program until a connected system
OF highways Is attained.
The governor refused 10 commit himself with r.
spect to the opposing plans for financing the state
systcm- he 4aid you may take the psy-Es-you-So pIa Y.
which will make the present cost very high. Or you
may take the plan or deferring the payments BY the
issuing Of bonds-sni ] am ready to support either that
the legislature may determine 10 be the proper police
for this state
Relative 10 the present system az financing road
construction tho governor stated that It places d large
burden upon real estatc-upon the farms and ranches
and homes or tho country. lie said that the theory that
benefited property should pay TIRE cost or ecnstruc-
ticn ~ responsible for this condition. and that prop
erty owners many miles from psted highways ate called
upon TO bear q sharc Ct q burden from which they re-
ctive little benefit.
"All figures available are 10 the effect that the az
riculturaI lands are bearing > larger ~ptoPotion Of tsxts
than the returns Justify when measured ID the returns
received from other inyertmcnts." the governor said.
1--WE know that home ownership Is Nest valuable -
our society. and that the high taxes imposed upon
home ownership make il difficult for men X
1N@ H
tidcring this matter cf financing highway
construction ! believe the legislature should have II
mind the idea OF adjusting this inequality in cur taxing
system and relieve, 10 FAR - possible. lands ard other
properties from this form or taxation ~ more justly
dividing the cost or road construction between the
traffic which the read serves and the property whCh
the 70 sdbenclits. The cost u the more important
highway should be nft by the traffic.
Governor Moodys statements III this connection viii
meet the approval or the great majority " Texans wh)
eside In countiss IN which paving programs have been
launched. While the average taxpayer IN not object
ins to paying taxes 70 secure paved highways, Ne feels
he Is carrying an unjust burden, = burden that should
he distributed moro e~quitably between real estate and
traffic. With a gasoline tax, which will place the buzz
den Of the stste highway system upon traffic. the tax
payer will have no objection 70 = moderate tax nsces-
tsry 10 meet the cost or feeder read construction. sn-
the feeder roads are - essential as the trunk lines.
But the present system Of placing the entire burden on
real estate is IL distinctly unfair. and the legislature can
perform no greater service for Texas taxpayers or in
suguraie . move q greater Importance in connection
with state Development than to impose a gasoline tax
sufficient to carry such state bond issue As will be
necessary TO assure . connected system OF state high
ways.