The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1931-03-06

HIGHWAY PLAN GOES TO H PEOPLE


Perhaps the most important enterprise of the new year is t
Fastening of the completion of the states federal highway syste
the disbursement of great sums of new capital in the state, the e
ployment of considerable labor, and best of all it means highwa!
through the state that will bring thousands upon thousands of vs
obaro nd haan+v 81 or s+ato The biqbwav easnre nnw mere
awaits the approval of the people, at a special election to be he
May 5h.
Falls Tribune, published by o. S. Warden who is chairman of tn
Montana State Highway commission:
"The governor has signed house bill No. 45O. If we recall
correctly, this measure passed the house with only four dissent
ing votes and was approved by the senate with only eight mem
bers voting no. If the legislature reflects measurably the sen
tment of the people at home, then it is clear that there is
abundant public favor behind the measure which is intended to
bring about a reasonable completion of the federal aid highway
system in the state during the next four years. Following the
suggestion on the part of the supreme court that this would be
the proper procedure, bill No. $50 will be passed upon by the
people at a special election to be held May {.
ANY me who has followed this legislation will easily re-
call that house bill No. 45O follows the same procedure as was
provided in house bill No. /, which was passed by the Iegisla-
ture almost unanimously, and was then referred to the state
supreme court for a test of validity under our constitution.
blouse bill No. l and house bill No. $50 are identical in
their revenue provisions. The concrete purpose of this legsla-
ton is to secure anticipated revenue, over a fouryear period, so
that we may take up the federal government appropriation now
available to this state. which carries a surplus at the present
time Of between s5,OOOOOO and S6,0OOOOO. There will be no
property tax resulting from approval on the part of the people
at the May 5 election.
standing of the situation, it may be set forth that the original
proposal acted upon by the Legislature in house bill No. 1. was
prepared a!eI many "eeAS o @e-u 7'u"' FeVlou 10 ne
converting Of the Legislative session, on the part of the Montana
Automobile association and the state highway commission. The
computation finally accepted as most advantageous for the
state under all of the circumstances, provided for the sale of
Sl,0OUJUUU OF anticipation RdSOln6 tax Wafrdnt per year Tor
four years-$6OOO000 in all 1t is easily understood that this
amount was agreed upon because of the corresponding sum of
federal money now standing to our credit. It may readily be
calculated that the result over this mentioned four year period
would bring about S1OOOOOOO or S12OOOOOO worth of highway
construction now that otherwise would have to be put Off until
a later day.
"The hope, Of course. was entertained that house bill No. /
through Legislative action alone, would bring about the desired
result. House bill No. l contemplated a sale of warrants IS has
been done in five other states up to this time. A majority of
the supreme court of Montana. however, found that a proposal
of this kind coming from the legislature could not be approved
under our constitution, but must be referred to the people.
THE decision of the supreme court having come down after
quite prompt consideration, it was found that a great majority
OF the legislature was in favor OF going straight ahead with a
submission to the people of this most important question SO
that we may use our federal money as speedily as it is possible
to do.
eff the people shall approve the sale of these warrants at
the May 5 election, it will enable just about 100000 in high
way construction per year during the next four years that can
not otherwise be done. 1t will give employment to 1000 men
all the while during the fouryear period. 1t will help and
hasten the building of desired bridges over the Missouri river.
1t will speedily bring about a situation so that the travelling pub
lie and the foreign visitor may enjoy comfortable and economi-
cal transit for the business there is to do over our primary sys-
tenn Of highways. The direct saving will soon be more than +
the cost, and the indirect benefit will add In many ways to the
prosperity of the state. We will be reaching in the next few
years, a highly desirable consummation without any increase in
taxation at ALL l.
1T is understood that the Montana Automobile association
will sponsor the passage of this bill No. $50, just as 1t champion
ed referendum bill 81, the foundation measure of highway prog
ress in this state. This organization will, we believe, supply h
SO that every voter may understand the issues and d
benefits that attach to the plan now proposed. Y
1T has been suggested that an appeal will be made to n
county commissioners, who will ask for volunteers to serve at o
this election as judges and clerks without recompense and it a
is believed if the people share the enthusiasm that has been a
shown by the legislature for this highly important highway g
effort, that there will be many volunteers and that house hill I
NO. 400 Will win an approval from the electors just about as c
as was shown when the measure came up for consd. g
eratlon IN noh the house and the senate at Helena. o
"Manifestly, this is the most important progressive move.
before the people of Montana at this time"
-
A fa~eOroo bo~c4 =.