Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1931-04-23
Argues In
FavOrGaSTaX
DebentureS
Kalispell Attorney Says To
Take Advantage of Fed
eral Aid Before Too Late.
COUNTIES COULD NOT
COMPLETE PROGRAM
BY Sidney M. Logan.

Montana must build thousands OF
miles of highways before the people of
the state can travel with comfort, get
their product to market or invite tour
lists to come in and spend their money.
These roads may be constructed by
by general taxation, or
They may be constructed by the
Highway Commission with gas tax
funds matching federal aid, just so
long as congress continues to make ap-
preparation for that purpose and no
longer.
The counties alone, could not COM
plete the program in hundred years.
The Highway Commission without
federal aid could not complete it at all
Federal aid may be withdrawn at
any time. In that event we would be
required to take care Of our road con-
struction alone and unaided
The Federal government now says
to us-For every A cents you put into
your main highway system, | will give
you Sc cents for the same purpose
but | do not guarantee that this offer
will not be withdrawn at any time
and without notice.
BY anticipating our gas tax receipts
we can now take advantage of this
offer-complete our highway system in
four years approximately--hav the
benefit Of good roads, increase travel
by outsiders within the state, secure
a market for our scenery and our
products, actually save money in gas
oline consumption, wear and tear on
tires, springs and other parts of our
cars and trucks, increase our revenue
Z from gas taxes by reason OF increased
travel by outside car owners If the
debenture proposal should be defeated
these benefits would be indefinitely
postponed and should the federal gov
eminent cease to appropriate money
for federal aid we would continue to
travel in the mud until long after the
youngest of us shall have passed on
The whole thing looks SO simple that
it seems strange that even the most
stupid of men can fail to see the adj
vantages of the debenture plan or the
most ingenious find plausible ar
gument against it.
One thing is observation-disclosures roads
are Montanas problem. We must solve
this problem with or without outside
help. Outside help is now offered
tomorrow it may be withdrawn. With
the debenture law in force we can avail
ourselves in full measure of the bene-
fits of this help. The debenture proposal
defeated we can avail ourselves OF this
help only in part and in annually d.
minishing amounts facing the certainty
that in very few years the diminu-
ton would carry lis to the point of
complete exhaustion of our resources
Ask yourself this question, and the
intelligence with which you answer it
will measure the intelligence with
which you have considered our road
problem.
If some man should say to you
For every Al cents you put into your
business, whether it be farming, man
ufacturing, mercantile, numbering min
ing or what not, | will give you SIS
cents to put into the business, you to
own the whole thing and the profits
thereof. What would your answer be?
Now can you point to any distinction
between that proposition and our road
problem?
In considering how you shall vote
on this proposition why worry over
questions Of law? The election will be
held in any event 1t will result one
way or the other If favorable to the
debentures the Supreme Court will
pass on their validity. Why should each
voter waste time discussing that phase
of the question? Why worry over the
question whether the tax will be five
cents or ten cents per gallon? Do you
think for a moment that the highway,
the legislature or the Montana Motor
Club, the American Legion and the
dozens of service clubs and chambers
of commerce supporting the measure
would try to put over anything crooked
on the people or even believe them
selves clever enough to do it if they
wanted to?
The best lawyers IN the state have
said that the proposed law will not in
crease the tax over the present rate,
that it does not affect the rebates for
tractors and stationery engines Why
look upon your fellow citizens who
are trying to do something for the good
of the state, who are trying to put
Montana on the map, who are trying
to take some Of the burden Of road
building off the shoulders of the gen.
eral tax payers, as bunch OF crooks!
Why?
OF course, there will be people who
will oppose the plan. There will be
sea-lawyers who will ponderously ar
que this way and that-who will OBJ
scure the issue in a mess OF words.