Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1931-02-23
Highways, Carriers and Taxes

Missouri lawmakers are grinding. And the row Is on
between the railways and the trucks and buses. II
goes without saying that The Kansas City Star Is cne
Of the leading newspapers OF inland America. This
editorial comment made by the editor Of The Star is
very much TO the point:
The trend OF discussion In the Missouri senate on
the use Of state highways by commo carriers. trucks
and buses reflects q popular feeling on this subject.
There is O general public belief. growing out Of OBJ
servation and experience on the highways, that more
effective regulation in the interest of safety and
convenience Is an imperative need. Various bills now
pending in the legislature are designed to afford the
protection required, protection both TO the public and
the highways.
There Is no occasion for a vindictive spirit in deal
ing with this question"
The highway carriers render a service that is de-
sired by the public. or good portions Of y, else Il would
not be used. But there should be no undue en-
croachments on the public roads for private ends.
Other travellers should not be endangered and fees or
taxes from the carriers should be adequate to COM
pensate for the wear and tear OF the highways. II the
legislature sees to 1t that these purposes are accom-
plished It will have acted fairly in response to a pub
lie sentiment In Missouri"
There Is another side Of II. Il Is the tax side. For
q third OF a century The Railway Age magazine has
spoken for the rail carriers Of America. 1t is well TO
present both sides o. a question. Speaking Of rail-
way taxes The Age says;
Railway taxes in 1880 are estimated at ss55.ooo,0oo
q reduction Of $4,000 900. or Of II per cent below the
peak 1929 total Of s402yooo.ooo This reduction was
principally due. or course. to the fact that federal
taxes are income taxes and fall as income falls. This
II per cent reduction in taxes. however. was accom-
panied by a drop OF i6 per cent in railway gross reve-
nues. so relatively the railways tax burden was the
heaviest that they have ever borne. Taxes in 1880
took 66 per cent out Of every dollar Of revenue re-
celved BY the steam lines. The corresponding proper
ton paid In 1929 wrs 63 cents and the peak, prior
to 1880, was &C. cents, paid IN 1928. Tracing the growth
OF railway taxation back by decades the proportion
Of railway revenue consumed by taxes amounted TO
a. per cent in 1880. s5 per cent in 1910. 3 per cent
IN 1880 and 2s per cent in 1890. It Is a far CRY from
this figure to the 66 per cent paid in 1890. Taxes
in 1880 took approximately % per cent Of the net
revenue. IN other words. on the average. more than
one quarter Of the entire railroad network Of the
United States was operated for the sole benefit OF the
tax collector"
Lawmakers are the servants Of the people. They
repeal laws and they make laws. They provide taxa
ton systems for the people. They certainly have many
knctty problems before them calling for solution This
should be a constructive age and the lawmakers should
do their best to enact constructive legislation fair o
all classes and conditions. sanely speaking the voters
Of Texas did an excellent days work when they ad-
opted the new system OF legislative procedure for
their commonwealth. TASTY legislation is often H.