The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1933-01-05

that body for the construction of ar
terial routes into and through Balti-
more. For 1888, however, the COM
mission has decided to make the city's
share of this tax available for high
way maintenance, installation of
storm-water drains and the acquisi-
ton of rights of way for new streets,
in addition to construction work. The
arrangement is intended to help the
city in its present emergency, and is
not intended to be a permanent
change. The sum, which has been
estimated to be $743,000, has enabled
i the city to cut approximately cents
from the proposed 1888 tax rate.
The half-cent tax for the elimina-
ton of railroad grade crossings has
attracted attention recently through
proposal to divert it into the general
tax fund. This work of eliminating
railway grade crossings, by building
either overhead or underpass struc-
lures, is paid for equally by the State
and the railroad concerned. The tax
revenues are divided among the coun-
ties and Baltimores city in the same
ratio as are other parts of the gaso-
line funds.
1t has been stated that the railroads
are not financially able to go ahead
with their share of embarrassing
elimination at present, and it is also
claimed that the diversion of this tax
would materially lower the State tax
rate. But protests have arisen from
other citizens who contend the roads
should receive all the proceeds Of the
gasoline tax, and that embarrassing
elimination is an important feature
which can be carried out in many in
stances by road relocations instead of
special structures, and those who
favor direct taxation point out that
to divert part of the gasoline tax into
the general fund would be to move
farther from their objective.
***
In past years various counties have
financed new roads with special bond
issues, the object being to secure the
roads at once instead of building
them from year to year with proceeds
from the gasoline tax. The counties
liquidate these bonds from their share
of subsequent gasoline taxes, but at
present not many are embarking on
such ventures. State funds, derived
from the sale of bonds, are usually
authorized by the General Assembly
for a particular purpose, as certain
stretch of road or specified bridge.
1t appears likely that the matter
of roads and gasoline taxes will be eX-
amined closely during the session of
the General Assembly. County Off
Gals have advanced plans calling for
a change in the distribution of funds
obtained from gasoline tax, auto
mobile license fees and fines assessed
for violation Of the State motor laws.
By obtaining larger share of these
funds for county highways, as dis
tinguished from the State system of
roads, the counties hope to be able
to reduce their own tax rates. They
now maintain some county roads from
their general funds, and part of the
plan is to make the gasoline tax and
other automobile fees pay all, or near
ly all, of county road expenses. Legis-
lation in the General Assembly to eff
feet a change in the present system
has been predicted by E. Brooke Lee,
a member of the State Roads Com
mission.
The question of who pays for the
roads under the present system APP
parently is attracting more and more
attention. Motorists who contribute
cents tax on each gallon of gaso-
line (the Federal tax Of 1 cent added
to the States Accent impost), along
with taxes on oil, tires and tubes and
other items, probably feel that they
are bearing the cost on their own
shoulders, but even these taxes have
not been sufficient to meet the entire
bill. A few years ago, when the gaso-
line tax idea was first advocated, it
was predicted that automobile license
fees would be lowered corresponding
ly, but despite the fact that the gaso-
line tax now is an integral part of the
system, license fees and property
taxes on automobiles remain I'M
changed-or have gone higher. Even
with these taxes it appears that many
| persons who do not own or drive auto
mobiles are still paying for part of
the costs of new roads, through real
property taxes within the State and
through income taxes to the Federal
| Government.
This system probably has its merits
because roads and streets are general
| ly regarded as part of the public i'm