Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-01
HIGHWAY BUILDING
TOBREAK RECORDS
Construction for 1891 Gets
Unprecedented Impetus,
Says A. M. A. Head.

Highway construction in 1881 Is GER
tain to break all existing records and Is
receiving an unprecedented impetus at
the present time, according to an analy-
sis Just made by the Legislative Com
mittee of the American Motorists As
ISOLATION of the annual messages of
Governors to the State Legislatures now
in session.
"Of the 43 Legislatures converting in
January, 40 Governors devoted a con-
siderable portion of their message to
highway problems" it was pointed out
by Thomas j. Keefe, general manager
Of the A. M. A.
with the exception Of Gov Roland
II. Hartley of the State of Washington,
each Governor urged on his Legislature
an increased highway program. Gov.
Hartley ,as distinguished from the
rest, declared retrenchment in high
way construction, due to finances, was
necessary.
Gas Taxes Increased.
'"The Governors of Alabama, Arkansas
and North Dakota recommended in
creaseS in the gasoline taxes. New Jer-
sey'S chief executive declared the recent
gasoline tax increase in that State was
wisely adopted. The Governors of Maine,
Michigan, Nebraska and Ohio urged
there be no increase in gasoline taxes.
Motor vehicle license fees should be in
creased In the States Of Arkansas and
North Dakota, the Legislatures Of those
States were informed by their respec-
tive Governors. Gov. G. d. Buck told
his Legislature that he believed motor
license fees in Delaware could be re-
duced from So to 50.
Emphatic denunciation of the ten
denotes of some States to divert motor
vehicle revenue to other than highway
construction and maintenance was
voiced by the Governors Of Illinois, In
diana, Iowa, Michigan, Nevada and
Utah. To divert motor vehicle revenue
means self qualification" Gov. q. H.
Dern Of Utah declared.
Pay-As-YOu-Go Basis.
Gas a matter of highway financing,
the States of Delaware, Indiana and
Minnesota are now on pay-as-you-go
basis, Governors of those States de-
clared The chief executives of eight
States, however, informed their law
making bodies that bond issues are
necessary for highway construction.
These States were Alabama, Iowa, Mon
tana, Nevada, New Jersey, oregon,
Texas and West Virginia.
Gov. Albert G. Richie of Maryland
recommended a diScontinuance of an
annual bond issue each year, in his
State, Of $1,052,000 used to match Fed
eral aid. This sum, he tells his Legisla-
ture, can be taken annually from license
fees and gasoline taxes, thus shifting
the burden from the general taxpayer
to the motorists.
1.-THE need for secondary highways
was urged by the Governors of Arkansas,
California, Connecticut, Illinois, Yer
mont Iowa and Ohio. Gov. EN-
merson of Illinois stressed the need Of
a definite program for the elimination
of grade crossings in his State, while
Coy. Hammill of Iowa declared in
terstate toll bridges adjacent to Iowa's
State borders must 60.
Avert Motor Carriers.
"On the subject Of motor carriers,
buses and heavily loaded trucks, of
both intra and interstate character,
the Governors of 10 States recommended
to their legislators adoption Of regu-
latory legislation as to size, Overlooking
and special taxation. These States were
Alabama Arkansas, Indiana, Kansas,
Maine. Minnesota, Michigan, Missouri,
New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma,
Vermont and Wyoming" the A. NJ. A.
survey concluded.
las a whole the Governors messages
indicate a trend of thought on the sub
ject of highways and motor vehicle
trafic and regulations, indicative of the
growing demands of motorists through
out the country" General Manager
Keefe declared In commenting on the
survey.