Evening star., 1953-10-21
Byrd Attacks
DaIton's 5 Road
Bond Proposal
Senator, Gov. Bottle
To Broadcast on
Campaign Issues
BY the Associatsd Press

Senator Byrd jumped into the
Virginia campaign for COVER
nor last night with an attack on
a Republican proposal that Vir-
ginia modify it's time-honored
"pay-as-you-go" policy of high
way construction.
And it was disclosed at the
same time that, both Senator
Byrd and Gov. Battle have sched-
uled radio hookup political
speeches, as the pace of the
campaign took on the appear
ance of the home-stretch gallop.
The election is two weeks away.
Senator Byrd called "com-
pletely illogical" plan advanced
Monday night by Ted Dalton,
@. .O.P. candidate for governor,
for paying for needed additional
road construction.
To Broadcast Friday.
"I intend to oppose with all
the vigor I possess the plan of
Senator Dalton to junk our
sound fiscal system based upon
freedom from debt" Senator
Byrd said. He said he would
speak over a Statewide hookup
at 8 pm. Friday and that he
plans especially to IDEAL with
the proposal by Senator Dalton
to bond Virginia for a hundred
million dollar debt"
Democratic headquarters an
nounced, that Gov. Battle would
make IAN important political
speech at 8 pm. Tuesday over
% stations.
Mr.. Dalton told a Republican
rally at Staunton Monday that
he believed Virginians were op-
posed to an increase in the gas
tax and that the only alterna-
tive, in order to keep Virginia
roads from falling behind, was
to adopt his plan. He would
have the Highway Commission
issue revenue bonds in the
amount of $40 million a year
for five years, with a portion of
anticipated revenues from the
gas tax pledged to pay off the
bonds.
"Pay-aS-YOu-USe" Plan.
Mr.. Dalton called it a "pay-
as-you-use" plan. The bonds, he
said, would not be obligations of
the State but would be special
obligations.
Senator Byrd, in his first
major speech of the campaign.
took issue with Senator Dalton
on this point, that the proposal
was similar to the revenue bond
plans for financing the James
River Bridge system. the Cole
man Bridge at Yorktown and the
projected Hampton Roads
Bridge-Tunnel.
"The $100 million debt pro-
posed by Senator Dalton is in no
way similar to the plan for con-
struction of tunnels and bridges
in Virginia" he said. THE loans
for these projects are not made
to the State and the State has
no ownership. The agencies which
own these projects have borrowed
funds without obligation on the
part of the State by giving a
deed of trust to the lenders and
pledging the revenue secured
from those who pay tolls"
Cites Bond Defeat.
Senator Dalton said in his
speech" the Senator continued.
that the trouble with the pay
as-you-go road plan in Virginia
is that you don't pay and you
don't co. In making this state
ment, he has not in my judg-
ment given credit to the great
progress that the Virginia roads
system has made since 1928 when
a $50 million bond issue was de-
feated at the polls by an over
whelming majority. ..
Virginia is one Of the three
States completely out of debt.
Virginia is the only State
that maintains a complete high
way system, including the farm
to-market roads, and has not
issued bonds"
Senator Byrd was asked if he
intended in his radio talk to
discuss the Federal grand jury
indictment and subsequent resig-
nation of Sidney S. Kellam, the
State Democratic campaign
manager. Senator Byrd said he
planned to discuss the overall
issues in the campaign.