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. It
goes without saying that The Kansas City Star Is one
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 common carriers, trucks
and buses reflects q popular feeling on this subject
There Is q 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 70 afford the
protection required. protection both to the public and
the highways.
There is no occasion for q vindictive spirit in deal
ing with this question"
The highway carriers render a service that l. de-
sired by the public. or good portions Of It, else i 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 70 It that these purposes are accom-
plished II will have acted fairly in response 10 a pub
lie sentiment In Missouri"
There Is another side OF II. It is the tax side. For
q third OF q century The Railway Age magazine has
spoken for the rail carriers Of America. i Is well %
present both sides Or a question. Speaking Of rail-
way taxes The Age says:
Railway taxes in 1880 are estimated AZ sS56000000,
q reduction Of s46. 600 600. or OF II per cent below the
peak 1929 total OF s402.0oo.000. This reduction was
principally due, or course. to the fact that federal
taxes are income taxes and fail as income falls. This
IL per cent reduction in taxes, however. was accom-
panied BY a drop OF rs per cent m railway gross reve-
nues. SO relatively the railways tax burden was the
heaviest that they have ever borne. Taxes IN $3.50
took SIS per cent out OF every dollar OF revenue re-
ceived by the steam lines The corresponding proper
ton paid In 1929 was So cents and the peak. prior
to 1880, was Ga cents. paid IN 1928. Tracing the growth
Of railway taxation back BY decades the proportion
Of railway revenue consumed By taxes amounted t.
"A per cent In 1890, 35 per cent in 1910. 2 per cent
In 1880 and 2e per cent in 1890. II Is a far CRY from
this figure to the e6 per cent paid IN 1880. Taxes
in 1880 took approximately 26 per cent Of the net
revenue. In other words. on the average. more than
one quarter or 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
knotty 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 adj
opted the new system Of legislative procedure for
their commonwealth. Hesty legislation is often Ill