The People's Voice

Weight-Distance Passes House, Now Under Senate Consideration

More equitable highway financing came a step nearer last Friday when HB 326—the weight-distance truck taxing bill—was passed 47-44 by the House and sent on to the Senate for consideration.

Before passage, two hours of debate were consumed with opponents attempting various parliamentary tricks to kill the measure drafted by the Highway Fact Finding Committee after 18 months of research and study.

Once in the confusion, and to the momentary relief of the huge throng of trucking representatives in the galleries, HB 326 was killed. Proponents immediately realized what had happened—that some of the bill's supporters had become confused—and the measure was quickly revived. It wasn't until the House had recessed Friday evening—the final day for transmittal of regular measures by each House—did proponents rest easier, since with that recess all chance of a reconsideration vote in the House died.

Needed Amendments Added

During floor debate of the bill, several needed amendments were written into its body. These included: a 60 per cent of full rate for logging trucks, recognizing the fact that much log hauling is done on lower cost responsibility roads than the public highways; a 75 per cent of full rate schedule for vehicles, such as tankers, livestock vans, etc., which as a rule run fully-loaded only one way; an exemption amendment for vehicles operated primarily within incorporated limits of cities and towns.

At earlier public hearings, it was brought out that the proposed weight-distance schedule for trucks operating in and across Montana was somewhat lower than the taxing schedules in the Oregon law which is recognized the nation over as a very equitable truck taxing method. In those hearings it was further brought out that contrary to wide-spread assertion, the price of consumer goods would be affected little, if at all, should the weight-distance tax method replace the present Gross Vehicle Weight law.

One final and extremely important point brought out at the hearings was that: if the legislature does not see fit to enact HB 326 and yet continues to profess a belief in the need for equality of highway costs between the big trucks and motorists and smaller trucks, then the legislature should reduce the gasoline tax 3½ cents a gallon.

The roll call on HB 326 was taken on final passage. "Aye" votes were for approval. Ten Democrats joined 34 Republicans in opposition to HB 326. One Republican, Thomas of Blaine, voted with 46 Democrats for passage. Democrats are in bold-face type, Republicans regular type.

For More Equitable Highway Financing
Ayes (47)
Against More Equitable Highway Financing

Absent: Cerovski, Glancy, Goodgame.

Abel	Jenson
Anderson (Cas.)	Johnson
Barnard	Karlberg
Barnes	Langston
Barrett	Lee
Beck	MacDonald
Bick	Mangan
Clark	McAndrews
Clowes	McInnis
Conklin	McKenna
Cumming	McOmber
Daniels	Meagher
Devier	Mernin
Emmons	Michels
Eskildsen	Nelson
Frank	Parker
Gray	Picard
Healy	Reeder (Gall.)
Helding	Reider (Jeff.)
Hess	Thomas
Holecek	Wayrynen
Holtz	Wood
Hooks	Mahoney

Nays (44)
Allen	Howard
Anderson (Yel.)	Juedeman
Atkinson	Kiff
Babcock	Loughran
Bentz	MacHaffie
Berg	McGarvey
Broeder	Morrison
Crist	Mysse
Cullen	Nelstead
Cunningham	Nichols
Dempsey	Norby
DeWolfe	Paulsen
Evans	Pierce
Felt	Powell
Fraser	Regan
Gebhardt	Sales
Gerard	Siderius
Gled	Smeltzer
Haines (Msla.)	Tange
Haines (Pr.)	Thompson
Hancock	Tonner
Hawks	Walton