Smyrna times., 1935-03-28
HOUSE VOTES
ROADS TO STATE
Measure Passes Lower House
End of Special County
Tax on Realty
GAS TAX BOOSTED CENT

for substantial reductions in the
tax on real estate and which were
part of Governor c. Douglass
Bucks legislative program to re
lieve property owners throughout
the state of some of their tax bur-
den were passed by the House
Wednesday afternoon, and later by
the Senate and now approved by
the Governor. All of them were
supported by the Republican
majority members, with one ex-
ception, while the Democratic min
ority members voted against all of
them. One of these measures
makes it mandatory upon the Levy
Court in each county to discontinue
the levying and collection of road
taxes after July i, this year, and
fixes the maximum amount the
counties can levy for all purposes;
another directs the State Highway
Department to take over control,
management and maintenance of
all the highways and bridges now
under control of the Levy Courts
beginning July ] this year, and the
third increases the tax ON gasoline
from three to four cents per gallon,
the additional revenue to go to the
highway department toward the
additional expense it will have in
assuming charge Of the highways
now maintained by the counties.
G. 0. p. Opposition Fades
While there had been some OBJ
lection among the Republicans to
the transfer of the roads to the
highway department all opposition
was swept away in caucuses held
and this bill as well as the other
two received the unanimous sup
port of the majority members ex-
cept for Representative Hutchin-
son, of Townsend, who voted with
the Democrats against them. The
bill to transfer the roads in the
counties to the highway depart
ment and the one prohibiting the
counties from levying and collect
ing any taxes for highway purpos-
es have been passed by the Senate.
The House added an amendment to
the road bill which later was re-
ported back to the Senate where it
was adopted by a vote of 10 to 5,
the Republicans supporting it and
the Democrats voting against it,
The original bill as it came from
the Senate specified the road trans
fer should me made Immediately
upon the approval of the bill by
the governor. The House amend
ment changes this to make it eff
fective July 1 when the road taxes
will end. Representative Morris
Simon, Republican floor leader, in
urging favorable action on the
road bill said it is estimated it will
save the property owners through
out the state between S50O,00O and
SS6OO,OO0 a year by the reductions
in the taxes for road maintenance.
He also stressed the fact that the
increase in the tax on gasoline will
fall only upon those who use the
highways. The Senate adopted
the House amendment to the road
bill and is expected to pass the bill
increasing the gasoline tax. Its
adoption in the upper branch is
said to be assured. The three bills
will then be ready for submission
to Governor Buck and as he is
known to have been especially anx-
ious that all of them be passed by
the Legislature executive approval
is accepted as assured
Simon Directs Passage
Representative Simon took
charge of the program to engineer
the bills through the House i'm
mediately after the gavel fell call
ing the body to order. The first
measure he called up was Senator
Wright's bill to discontinue the
levying and collection of all taxes
for road purposes. This measure
also provides that the total tax
rate for all purposes to be fixed by
the Levy Courts in each county
shall be limited to so cents on the
S100 of assessment in New Castle
county; so cents on the S100 of
assessment in Kent county and so
cents on the S1OO of assessment in
Sussex county Mr.. Simon ex-
plainel this bill will make it pos
sible to reduce the tax rate in Will
mington 20 cents on the 500 of as
sessment. A Senate amendment
makes null and void any levy that
may have been made for road pur-
poses in any county in the state af-
ter July 1 and it also prohibits any
Levy Court from collecting such
taxes after that date. The amend
ment was adopted by vote of 21
to 13. Representative Bailey, Dem
ocrat, voting with the Republicans
for it and the other Democrats vot-
iDo AGAINST If The hill itself was