Henderson daily dispatch. (Henderson, N.C.) 1914-1995, 1936-08-29

present oral argument in opposition
to any of the claims which have been
submitted
Doomed to Disappointment
Although neither Chairman Bailey
nor any of the members of the coun-
ty road claims adjustment commits
sion will make any comment, the
belief in most political and State gov
ernmental circles here is that the
counties which have filed claims are
doomed to disappointment, and are
not likely to get anything refunded
to them by the State, or at least only
very small per cent of the amount
requested. One reason for this belief
is the greediness of the counties in
asking so much and in making it
apparent that what they are really at
tempting to do is raid the State high
way fund for about $60,OOO,OOO. An
other reason is the fact that while
the counties got the idea Of getting
some money back from the highway
fund because of the large surplus in
that fund in 1885, virtually all of this
surplus will either have been spent or
obligated by the time the 1887 legisla-
ture meets to consider the findings
and recommendation of the county
road debt commission.
Had They Been Reasonable.
If the counties had been content to
limit their claims only to amounts
which could be regarded as legitimate
claims and had not tried to include
most of their county bonded indebted
ness for roads and bridges in these
claims, as many have done, there is
a possibility that part of the claims
might have been recommended by the
commission as being valid, it is
agreed For the commission has no
power to allow any claims itself, but
can only make recommendations to
the 1887 General Assembly which in
the final analysis must pass on the
claims. The commission will merely
examine the claims and transmit it's
findings and recommendations to the
General Assembly. While the 1885
General Assembly was in session, a
bill was introduced to refund some
$8,50O,000 to A counties. But the
house and senate roads committees
thought this amount excessive, lack
ed the time to go into the claims
carefully and thoroughly and refused
to report the bill favorably. Instead
they brought out the bill creating the
present county road debt adjustment
commission to look into these claims
and those any other counties might
make, and report back to the 1887
General Assembly.
How 1t Would Work.
But instead of only A counties sub
hitting claims for $S,500,O00 in re-
funds from the State, 70 counties are
now asking approximately 100000, 900.
f. for the sake of argument, the debt
adjustment commission and the 1897
General Assembly should approve all
of the claims filed by the 70 counties
asking for refunds, two things would
be necessary, as follows:
4 1. The State would have to stop all
maintenance and construction of
roads for three years, and close up
the highway department and dis
charge some 5000 employees, since it
would take all of the revenue from
the gasoline tax and sale of licenses
some $20O0O,O00 a year for three
years-to pay this $6O,O0O,00O back to
the counties.
2. The State would have to issue |
$60,0O0,O0O worth of long term road |
bonds--provided it could sell them
to pay this amount to counties for
roads already built and in many cases
worn out and rebuilt by the State. |
This would increase the States pre- |