The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1955-02-11

use WHICH 10 maui VI 1iiC 1dSliltlCS
and all vehicles in each class pay the
same tax per mile.
"a. 1t may be administered with
efficiency. In Oregon the
cost of collection has averaged ap
proximately AZ per cent of the gross
revenue for the past several years
and losses have been negligible :
Rep. Frank d. Reardon (D-Silvel
Bow and a co-sponsor of HB 283
stated that he was looking at the
highway financing problem strictly
from an ordinary highway users
view. Montana roads are not wide
enough or heavy enough, he said, tx
carry the truck loads they are re
quired to carry.
Raising the question as to "who
is going to pay for the highways
we need" Reardon quoted some
figures for committee considera-
ton. His car, he said, weighs about
two tons. He gets Is miles to the
gallon of gasoline. Therefore for
30 ton-miIes (15 miles per gallon
two-ton auto weight) it costs
him two cents federal gasoline tax.
A Bottom truck gets four miles
for every two cents a gallon paid
in federal gasoline tax. The latter,
therefore, gets 40 ton-miles for
every two cents federal tax. The
same ratio would apply to figuring
tax cost per ton-mile on basis of
Scent state tax. Commercial us
ers," Reardon showed, "are get
ting four times as many ton miles
as car owners for highway uses"
on the tax paid.
Not only is weight-mile the fairest
method, and the only method to get
The revenue needed, he continued, but,
'the people aren't going to pay any
more gas tax until truckers are pay
ing their sharep'
Rep. M. K. Daniels (D-PoWell) re-
viewed the four revenue-raising pro-
Oosals recommended by the Govern
or's interim commission, and con-
ended those recommendations do not
provide a fair deal for the ordinary
,ar operator. These proposals, he
noted, would break down the sources
If additional revenue accordingly:
/. One cent gas tax
increase ----- $2,25O,0OO
2. Increase diesel tax
to 9 cents --------- ) 425,0OO
8. Increase GVW
schedule - S $4,000
CAS- originally proposed by Gov
ernor's committee, farm truck rates
would have gone up 200 per cent and
accounted for about 100000 of
,otal. Big trucks would have paid
other $250,000.)
4. Tighten up evasion loopholes
in diesel tax law : S 100000
Continuing his objection to the
recommendations Daniels told the
committee that were going to
have to answer to the people" on
the type of highway financing we
approve. "The people," said he,
are Wiling 10 Poy AhoA AoA A5
ways-but they want everybody
else to also pay their fair share
I submit that the weight-mile, al
though it may not be the whole
solution, is one means to help bring
this about -"
Daniels also called attention to
IARPERS magazine for October
952 and an article by Senator Rich
.rd Neuberger in which the author
discussed fair taxation for highways
nd cited figures proving that com
nercial truckers pay only about one
bird as much per ton-mlle as does
he ordinary automobile owner.
The Powell representative left no
Ioubt that a solution to our highway
roblem is of utmost Importance
he number one problem" as stated
v Governor Aronson. We must solve
his problem, Daniels emphasized if
re are to continue to expand the de-
and prosperity of Mon
ana and also attract an ever-increas-
ng number of tourists.
Attorney Wesley Wertz, carrying
he rebuttal for proponents of weight
aile legislation, took note of the
ewly-found interest in a two-year
study of the weight-mile as plugged
or by spokesman for trucking in
erests. Noting that we've been