Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1931-04-09

lost to the State.
Referendum Measure No. 80 vii
make it possible for the state of Mon
tana 10 issue warrants not exceeding
81 100000 in each of the four year.
starting with 1881, for a total of no
exceeding $4,000, 900. These warrants
will be issued serially to mature il
the years 1884 TO 1910 inclusive, a.
the rate of SS5S,000 per year, except
in 1910 when the balance due will bt
SS52,0OO.OO.
The warrants will be paid from the
revenues of the States five-cent gas
cline tax. Montana's gasoline tax was
enacted by vote of the people in 1926
with the rate of taxation set at three
cents per gallon. In 1929, the Legis-
lature increased the tax to five cents
per gallon and provided for the con-
tinuance of this five cent tax until
1884 when it was to be reduced to
three cents. The twenty Second Leg
stature Assembly last winter, in lib
No. 80, extended the time of the OPP
GRAFTON of the five cent tax to 1941.
Funds for the payment of warrants
to be issued under Referendum No.
S5 will come from the five cent gas
oline tax after refunds for agricul-
tural and industrial purposes, as pre-
scribed by law, have been made.
Referendum Measure No. 35 in no
other way effects the gasoline tax law
or the refund law. AS required by the
Constitution, Referendum Measure No.
35 restates a portion of the existing
gasoline tax law because this is the
source of revenue for the payment Of
the warrants to be issued. The refer
endum does not provide for new or adj
dtional taxes, does not change the ex-
isting five cent gasoline tax, and in
no way alters the law regarding re-
funds. The Measure specifically states
that the State Treasurer shall set
aside funds for the payment Of the
warrants latter the payment of draw
backs or refunds"
The Measure does not provide for
a new tax but refers to a source
Of revenue by the Constitution. There
was no doubt about this in the minds
of the legislators, who in such over
whelming numbers, voted for the bill
nor in the mind of the Governor who
signed it. If there should be any ques-
ton whatever as to the intent and pur-
pose of the measure, the final decision
would rest upon the intentions Of the
legislative and executive branches of
the Government, and it is certain, that
the iwntentio mis-, the warrants shall be
paid from the revenues of the original
and only five cent gasoline tax which
will remain in operation until 1941.
This opinion comes directly from the
attorney general Of the State of Mon
tana.
The primary purpose of R%eferen-
dunn Measure 35 is to secure for Mon
tana, the $4,000, 900 in federal funds
for the construction Of highways in
the state. Under the Federal aid plan,
Montana matches federal funds at the
rate of $44.0O from the State and
$500 from the federal funds. Under
this plan, started in 1919, a federal
state highway system of 4,944 miles
has been laid out in the state. On jan
uary /, 1881, 2,777 miles had been laid
out in the state. On January l, 1881,
2,777 miles had been improved and
there remained 2,167 miles to be i'm
proved.
1t will cost approximately S25, 900
900 to finish the system as now PLAN
ned. The issuance of $4,000, 900 of gas
oline tax warrants to match the ad-
ditional federal funds, plus the regu
lar federal and state money, which
will be available will provide approx
imatey $23, 1000, 900 for construction
during the next four years; almost
enough to complete the present sys-
tenn.
While Montana people appreciate
good roads for their own use, the
tourist business deserves considera-
tion. In 1929, a quarter of a million
cars from other states visited Mon
tana, On conservative estimates this
brought at least $4,000, 900 to the
State and the gasoline purchased by
tourists added more than $500, 900 to
the States road fund, through the
gasoline tax. With the completion of
its main truck lines, it is conservative
to estimate that the tourist business
will be at least doubled and perhaps
trebled.
The money contributed by tourists
! to Montanas' road fund is an item Of
particular significance in considering
Referendum Measure No. 35 for the
tax revenue from tourists will more
than pay for the warrants to be is
sued.
Of Importance too, at this time is
that the passage of Referendum Mea-
sure No. 35 and the additional con-
struction work it will put approx
imately three thousand men to work
orthy Of careful consideration also
is the fact that there is increasing
effort originating largely in states
which have their federal highway sys.