New Britain herald., 1929-04-01
DOL BLING THE, GAS ltA AND "PAN As NDI GoN

DOUBLING THE GAS TAX;
 AND "PAH As Nou Go'
 Yocrerous proponents of the states 'pay-as-you-so' policy need not grow impatient nor wax wroth over the proposal made on Capitol Hul to doupIy the taN on gasoline ln order to oma1n sufficient money 10 improve highways, such a proposal vas inevitable. and We have no doubt that. f the desire 70 provide smooth higbaays everywhere con rnues to be evident, and tho pay-as- you-go system IS retained, some thing of the sort will e>entua'e.
 Fav-as-you-co IS political m ra- turs: r gives the sraod old party something to point 10 with pride when the time comes ro ' oc Two years ago. wnen some worthy sus- gested that the state get the good road business over with in hurry by issuing s10,0oo.0oo in bonds for the purpose. the moguts of political might. after due denberation or per haps none at all. announced undylns opposition to any such plan. Fore most among the opponents to the bond issue were J, Henry Rora- back and Governor TrumbulI. That was the last heard Of the bond issue, but not Of the road problems,
 The plan to abolish the motor vehicle property tax if the gasoline tax is doubled is merely a slight at tempt to make the medicine taste palatable to motorists. Doubtless inc wise men in Legislature have the thing well figured out; but they cannot figure out the effect upon the individual motorists This can be done by each one for himself in q very simple manner The motorists knows how much he pays for mo- tor vehicle property tax, and he can judge how many gallons of gaso- line he buys in year. Now let him multiply the number of gallons hy two, which will amount 10 the addi- tional gasoline tax he would have to pay. and see how that compares with his motor vehicle property tax. In most instances he would pay the state more than he does now, Of course: indeed, the state expects 10 squeeze s2,3O00O0 out Of the motor ists through the additional gasoline tax. The motor vehicle property tax hasn't exceeded half that sum. Tn round numbers. therefore. the state expects to learn" s1.o09.Ooo addi- lional through doubling the gas tax. It would be a practical definite contribution 10 the benefits of the pay-as-you-go policy as a political slogan.
 The towns which now enjoy an income from motor vehicle proper fly taxes would need 10 receive q share of the gasoline taxes. That is a detail that can be worked out on paper; but in practice some towns have plenty Of dirt roads and others scarcely any. Those minus dirt roads n all justice should receive their share all the same. the money to he expended as they desire. And while on this point, rider in the law to the effect that towns without dirt roads be compelled to spend the money on streets would be step forward, We make this suggestion regardless Of it's unpopularity at City Hall
 A scheme that VII succeed ln i'm proving the 10000 miles Of dirt roads in the state. if successful and satisfactory 10 all concerned, will be the acme Of statesmanship. Good citizens should not wish 10 throw sand in the machinery. Motorists dre interested in good roads. and not n political slogans. The state has iHhered with the road problem during several legislatures and had the slogan been abandoned four years ago the progress made would have been marked. and part Of the bonds retired by this time. Personal iy, not being numbered among the politicians nor among the well-wish- CTS of politicians, we do not care which system is adopted. If the state wants the good roads, there will either have to be a bond issue. or the roads left pretty much as they are. or the gasoline tax doubled. It is a case of paying ones money and taking ones choice.