The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1941-02-12
FROM EDITORIAL COLUMNS
Better Than $4,000 Per Year for Bait

Among the proposed legislative for public hear
ing and discussion H. 1922 This bill is designed to divert
100000 of highway department moneys for the
of advertising the state Of Montana to other sections
of the country Proponents that this
money spent for advertising purposes would big div
idends in increased tourist traffic alone
There question that money spent
good advertising produces results deal of
already been expended advertise the beauties of Mon
ana by private agencies such the railroads The Great
Northern for instance has spent times this amount adj
vertising Glacier Park.
The question, however arises minds whether
not the legislature really getting the of the matter by
this proposed expenditure for outright advertising Referring
the railroads. they offer in their advertisements
duced cost of travel in order Montanas scenic wonders
Now the legislature the offer reduced
travel in Montana provided the travelling is done by auomo
bile
Montana is large state third largest in the union takes
La lot gasoline this there
Montana produces and exports gasoline to other saeset the
price of gasoline higher here than these other states that
buy their gasoline from Montana.
Directly tourist from another state makes purchase of
gasoline in Montana he confronted by increase price of
from five to ten gallon prices elsewhere in
great country AS most tourists endeavor to budget their ex
this sudden increase in price of gasoline Montana
does not exactly create favorable impression By the time
the tourist leaves Montana he has done much state
ages increased the price gasoline amounts
haps ten dollars Upon returning home the tourist
talking his trip with his friends will mention the fact that
Montana produces gasoline but costs much that state
This advertising of that would rather not have and
hardly think that 100000 per year offset this
brand Of advertising carried home each by annual
crop of tourists.
Therefore we say would not be far cheaper and much
beneficial only people that live
Montana if the legislature take time
that the state really benefits from her natural of
crude OIL In short why should twenty-five cents
gallon for Montana gasoline when Montana gasoline is sold in
the Dakotas and other states for fifteen cents gallon?
Regardless of whether the legislature approves
OF to appropriate for direct advertising let them also
the price of Montana gasoline thorough and
bring about reduction in price No doubt it far easier
fund to finance rotOgravures and brochures than
is to buck the oil companies yet minds better
extend benefits to tourists rather than to induce them with
honeyed words and then skin them after catch them
1t the legislature really DESTROYS of benefing the
of Montana by bringing in tourists then let them investigate
vicious system that holds the price of gasoline in Montana
After ALL the oil companies the biggest benecares
tourist An equitable price for gasoline in Montana will
do far good than fifty thousand dollars worth
bait.
to point out that the $4,000 advertising fund
referred to above not merely single appropraon-he
bill to change the state laws governing the highway
funds that $4,000 will be taken of the state gasoline
tax EVERY YEAR without any further legislative ac
ton In other words this legislature would be approprang
100000 for the coming twoyear period instead of
and all would be taken from the gasoline money you
and and everyone who drives contribute to the
FOR THE PURPOSE OF BUILDING AND MAINTAINING
GOOD ROADS.
divert highway funds other nearly always the
legislature has wisely refused such msappropraon We
believe in good advertsngbu firmly opposed
of gasoline tax for any other than maintaining
state highway system and developing
roads,
To sum the matter this particular BILL if becomes law
will take $4,000 PER YEAR from the fund to build
and maintain highways in order to help during summer
months the big oil corporations who the
ana day in the with price for gaso
line. Incidentally of course $50 900 YEAR is mighty nice
patronage to be handed out to the corporation press
porting the Observation-Disclosures Messenger a
Irespassing %sy p t19 ess with limited dependents