Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-12-29
FEDERAL AID FoR ROADS
Senator Latimer Of South Carolina Will
Soon Introduce Measure.

SOON l0gIO0uc0 u 9Ac4SuI0
A sentiment favorable to some general
plan of permanent road building by Coop
Grafton between the United States and the
various states or civil subdivisions thereof
is developing in all parts of the country.
Not only has the Brownlow bill. which Is
the parent measure Of the whole scheme.
been reintroduced in the House of Represen-
tatives Of the present Congress. but Senator
Gallinger of New Hampshire has introduced
In the United States Senate bill almost
Identical with the Brownlow BILL 1t might
appear on account Of this measure being in
troduced by republicans that 1t would be
considered partisan measure. but fuii
review Of the situation shows quite the con-
trary to be the fact. Senator Latimer OF
South Carolina has formulated bill and Is
about to introduce It in the Senate. provid-
Ing In similar manner for q general sys-
tenn of cooperation In permanent road
building between the United States and the
various states or their civil subdivisions. All
these bills agree as to the principle of ma
tional aid. the only points Of disagreement
being in the matter Of details in legislation
especially pertaining to the execution OF the
work when the money is once appropriated
to carry on the same.
The Latimsr bill provides for a commits
sion of three persons to be appointed by the
President Of the United States This might
result in some political pressure being APP
piled in the appointment of the commission
ers or in the execution of the work. 1t Is
considered desirable that the entire ques-
ton, being an industrial one, should be de-
veloped along non-partisan lines simil;-c to
the way in which the free rural delivery of
mail has been developed. So far the work
done by the United States government
through the office of public road inquiries
has been entirely non-partisan and the indf-
cations so far in reference to the enlarge
ment of this work are that 1t will be kept
non-partsan in the future.
1t is probable that Senator Latimer Is to
be one of the strongest advocates of this
general measure of any member of either
house OF Congress. He attended the st.
Louis convention for good roads, April q
to 20, at which time he made strong
speech favoring national aid. Since then
he has been to Iowa addressing the people
there on the same subject, and has been
very favorably received. During the last
political campaign in his state he stumped
the entire state on the good roads PROPOSE
ton and was supported everywhere by his
people. Within the last two weeks he has
been to the state of Delaware on the re-
quest of the new senator from that state.
DR.. L. H. Ball, and has discussed the road
question in every county in that state, and
reports that the people are with him on the
issue. He will go on the Goth and 21st OF
January to Little Rock, Ark, to address
what is expected to be the largest state con-
vention ever assembled to. consider this or
any other Industrial question in the United
States, on which occasion he will elaborate
fully upon the principles of his bill, and
especially that part which pertains to ma
tional aid.