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

uIdICtu lid 90 lOT TIep. wv OOQy Hall
died the pro-weight-mile rebuttal.
Rep. Wood explained he first be-
came interested in an improved high
way financing plan due to the lack
of good farna-to-market roads and
highways in his county of Chouteau,
which, although one of the larger
counties in the state, has only one
highway cutting across it. AS fresh
man legislator in 1853, Wood said
he went to the railroads for help in
providing material on weight-mile.
"They almost threw me out" he said.
He soon learned that two of the major
railroads also are two of the major
trucking operators in the state.
Wood carefully explained the diff
ference between the ton-mile method
of truck taxing which he said was
doomed to failure wherever tried be-
cause of the administrative and en-
forcement problems involved, and the
weight-mile which, as shown in the
Oregon experience is quite inexpen-
sive to administer (41a% of total
revenues) and also not impossible TO
enforce. The Standard Research In
stitute in a study found that less than
five per cent evasion was occurring
in Oregon.
Under Woods HB So, all lighter
$4,000 gross vehicle
would continue under pres
ent GVW regulations since they do
Hall Jo,1o n Tho
highways. Primary object is to get
the huge, over-the-road carriers
which cause the major damage to
our highways, and also, to accommo-
date which, it is necessary to spend
far more money on road construction
than for smaller vehicles.
Wood stated he had figured prob
able revenue returns from weight
mile by several methods and that he
was convinced that by this method,
the state would receive about four
million dollars more revenue off the |
trucks than under the present law.
Taking note of one oft-repeated
assertion by truckers interests that
freight rates would have to go up
20 to Is per cent if the weight
mile were put on the books, Wood
stated that Oregon's freight rates
are slightly higher than in Mon
tana-but that the higher rates had
gone into effect before adoption
of weight-mile eight years ago.
Oregon truck freight rates are at
present about one per cent higher
than Montana's.
AS for by-passing Montana, Wood |
pointed out that Canada has no
highways suitable for trans
continental truck traffic. Likewise,
in view of the comparatively insight
ficant amount long-haul truckers
would have to pay for going across
he said he doubted If 1t
would be worth the time and delay
IF such haulers to attempt to bypass
The state. I'm connection with this
point, Attorney Wertz on rebuttal
pointed up that trucks value their
Interstate Commerce Commission IL
,ense and that it is inconceivable that
any trucker would risk almost GER
ain loss of that license should he
attempt to bypass Montana.)
James Leary, of CLIO, speaking in
behalf of HB 283, told the joint
committee meeting
hat users of the highways should
,ay in proportion to the weight car
led and the miles travelled. "The
tax" he said, Golfers
solution to the tax problem with re-
pect to heavy motor transport. 1t
$ not theory any more than the
yasoline tax or the license fee are
heories. 1t is a sound and tested
method of applying a highway use
AK to operations for which the fuel
AK is inadequate and unsuitable. 1t
$ more than method of allocating
highway costs; it is an effective meth
ID of distributing those costs in the
;orm of an equitable tax
Concluding, Leary told the hear
ng:
81. The weight-mile tax is directly
.elated to the cost of providing faclll-
les for each class of vehicle and,
therefore, is in keeping with the prl-
nary objective of highway tax.
tso r. .o,oxr ba adiIctpd Tn return