The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-02-14
MARTIN FOR
GOOD ROADS. !.
Heartily Favors egisIation Pro-
viding for National Aid for
Highway improvements.
CRED DUE. MAJOR 0TEY
Late Member From Sixtl, Vir-
girlia District Revived Interest
/ in the Movement

rom m Our Regular Correspondent

(From Our Regular Correspondent0
WASHINGTON, D. C.. Feb. 1s.-sena-
tor Martin is heartily In favor OF leglsla-
ton providing for national aid In the
permanent Improvement of tie roads of
the country, He has devoted much
thought to the subject, and Is satisfied
that the general government should take
It up and begin as soon as possible to
Improve the highways Of the entire coun-3
try.
81 am heartily In favor OF the passage
Of a bill giving Federal aid to the con-
structlon OF good system of permanent
roads," said Senator Martin, In the course
Of conversation at. the Capitol to-day.
ct do not unders tand." he continued,
''whyf ference iEiconstantly made to Mr.
Brownlow in this connection. Mr.. Brown
low did not originate the idea of Federal
aid for the construction OF good roads.
nor did he originate Legislation looking
TO that end. Several times il past years
bills have been introduced with this OBJ
ject, and then seemed to attract little
attention.. Senator Manderson, OF Nebras-
ka, and Senator Penrose. Of Pennsylvania.
hove proposed legislation OF this chaTaf-
ter, and the late Peter J. Otey, of tho
Sixth Virginia District. introduced q bill
on the 18th OF March, 1902. providing for
Federal aid In the construction OF a sys-
ten or good roads in this country, and
TO him should be accorded the credit OF
revIving tho subject In Congress IN re-
cent years, Tho bill which he introduced
was n very comprehensive measure. II
attracted wide attention and was very
generally discussed in the press OF the
country After tile death of Major Otey,
Judge William +, Rhea, who olWasl then the
representative from the Ninth Virginia
District introduced practically the same
measure on the 7th OF May, 1902 ISL
Brownlow Bill Later.
"The Brownlow bill camo. after these
bills, and after Judge Rhea had retired
from Congress-, The first Brownow bill
was introduced November 10, 1909, The
provisions of the bill, however, appear to
have been entirely, unsatisfactory, and
several others on the same subject have
been introduced In each branch OF Con-
rress. The bill which now seems to be
attracting most attention and TO be the
most satisfactory is the olle introduced
some weeks ago by Senator Latimer, Of
South Carolina, However, none ot these
bills have yot been reported from the
committees to Whc hthey were referred,
and have no doubt they Will be mate
rally changed In committee,
a great deal OF attention In Congress, and
even more throughout the country. am
in constant receipt OF letters from Vlr-
giniuns urging mo to give my support TO
n good roads bill. feel the proposition
is one of deep Interest to the people Of
the country, and is certainly Of great
Importance to their welfare. am ny
self In thorough hsympathy WIN me op1ee1
s sourht hi by the bills, and viii do all in
nv bower 10 perfect Il measure and pass
lit through. the Congress. giving liberal
aid for The purpose OF constructing q
system of good and permanent roads !
believe a bill of this character VIII event.
.ually meet with approval and pass both
branches of Congress- #