The people's voice., 1958-09-19
Highways, Highway Taxation,
And Highway Safety

AS Democrats, we recognize that the future
progress, development and welfare of the
State of Montana, and the prosperity of its
cltizenry, depends in large measure upon
expanded and improved system of highways,
both primary and secondary. and farm to
market roads, and the consequent improve
ment of transportation facilities at lower
cost. To that end we deplore the lack of prog
ress made in highway development during
the past several years, together with the
exorbitant costs of the present highway pro-
gram, and to the end that Montana's progress
and development should be encouraged, we
propose the following:
1. A thorough overhauling of present pro-
cedures under which annual maintenance costs
OF Montana highways have risen far above
those of adjoining states, due largely to i'm
proper classification of projects, with conse-
quent failure to properly utilize available
Federal funds. We advocate greater use of
reconstruction techniques. for which Federal
funds are available. and lesser use of main
tenance betterments, done solely with state
funds
z. We advocate close and careful recon
s1deration of the location of rights of way
for highways to the end that the future pro-
ductlve capacity of Montana's fruitful farm
Lands be not damaged more than absolutely
necessary to secure adequate transportation
facilities on our interstate system.
g. We deplore the constantly rising over
head costs of our highway department, caused
by such things as the excessively costly en-
ployment of private engineering firms We
advocate greater and more efficient usage of
the undeniably competent engineering talent
within the department itself and not presently
being utilized in full capacity. Poor admins
tratlon and lack of organization, in addition
TO unnecessarily increasing costs, are seriously
impeding the development of our highway
program
a. We advocate an equitable highway fl
nanclng program, including weight-distance
tax, which recognizes the principle of high
way use taxation, and which reaches those
segments of the transportation industry not
presently bearing their share of the tax bur-
den, and recognizes also the necessity of
Montana's population for low cost transporta-
tlon. we deplore any system of taxation which
permits escape from just burden which should
be assumed by all highway users. and advocate
the extension of the principle of highway use
taxation to all highway users, including pro-
pr1etary and uncertificated trucks. Due con-
sderatlon must be given to all vehicles using
the highways as a part of their operation
and to non-highway users
5. We do not favor increased gasoline and
diesel taxes or highway fees without equity
among highway users
o. We will resist any attempt to withdraw
the tax exemption of fuel used for nom
highway purposes
Z. We oppose use of highway debentures
except in those cases where federal funds
are available and are in danger of being lost
for lack of necessary matching funds. In case
II such emergency we advocate restricting
he use of such bonds to construction purposes
)nly, and permitting their use only when
otherwise Federal funds would be lost Tn
his way wasteful recurring crises in high
way construction could be avoided, and costs
eveled out over period of years through
Continued On Page Seven)